USD Plays Host to Portland in Soccer Showdown

USD puts its ranking and playoff hopes on the line at 7:30 tonight when the Toreros play host to top-ranked Portland in a game that will shape the West Coast Conference championship.

Going into the weekend, USD, Portland and Santa Clara all have a chance at the WCC title, with Portland (12-3, 3-0, eight consecutive victories) in the driver’s seat.

The 20th-ranked Toreros (13-4, 3-1, three consecutive victories) must defeat Portland by two goals and hope San Francisco defeats or ties Santa Clara on Sunday for a shot at an automatic NCAA playoff bid and the WCC championship.

Portland simply has to defeat or tie USD outright for a playoff berth and its fourth conference crown in a row.

USD has some history on its side. In 1990, USD played host to Portland in the final weekend of the regular season and won, 2-0, which earned it an NCAA tournament berth. The Toreros went on to defeat Portland, 4-2, in the playoffs.

Individually, USD’s Guillermo Jara leads the WCC--he’s second in goals, first in assists--with 36 points (12 goals and 12 assists). Teammate Chugger Adair is the West Coast goal leader with 13.

Bill Demke, a junior forward at San Diego State, has been named to the first team of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Demke, from River Grove, Ill., led the Aztecs in goals (8) and points (20). Teammate Aaron James, a junior sweeper from Wichita, Kan., made honorable mention.

BASEBALL

The Padres have added three full-time scouts and promoted three others within the organization. New to the club are Ross Sapp, who becomes national scouting supervisor; Logan white, Midwest supervisor; Scott Lovecamp, Florida scout.

Damon Oppenheimer, formerly the Padres’ Florida scout, becomes East Coast supervisor, and Don Lyle and Bruce Seid have been promoted to full-time scouts.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The U.S. women’s team defeated the Commonwealth of Independent States, 15-3, 13-15, 15-4, 17-16, in the final day of round-robin play in Osaka, Japan.

It was the third time this year the U.S. has defeated the Olympic silver medalists.

Caren Kemner of Quincy, Ill., led all players with 28 kills, and Elaine Oden of Irvine had 19 kills and a match-high 11 stuff blocks.

Tickets for the NAIA National Women’s Volleyball Championships at Point Loma Nazarene College are on sale now. The three-day event will be held Dec. 3-5.

MEN’S TENNIS

Fredrik Axsater was the only one of six players from the University of San Diego to advance to today’s round of 16 of the ITA Southern California Championships at UC Irvine.