USD Magazine, Winter 2001

ALCALA ~ ALMANAC

GOOOOAL:

USD's Soccer Teams Advance to NCAA Tourneys U SD women's and men's soccer teams made a mark on the nation– al soccer scene this year, with both reaching NCAA postseason play and the Torero men ranking third in the nation. The men's team won the West Coast Conference tide fo r the third straight year and made it ro the second round of the NCAA Tournament before getting knocked out at home, 3-0, by Creighton University. The men defeated UCLA, 1-0, in the fi rst round, ending the year with a 16-2-2 record. The women's team advanced to the postseason for the second straight year, losing its fi rst round match to USC, 2-1 , and fi nishing the year with a 13-7 record. USO men's coach Seamus McFadden was named WCC Coach of the Year fo r

the seventh time, and sophomore forward Ryan Coiner led the team with 17 goals and 42 points, earning him co-WCC Player of the Year. T he Torero women had eight players selected for All– WCC honors, including First Team members junior Stephanie Barnier and freshman Alexis O beji.

Pro Women's Soccer Scores at USD Torero Stadium could undergo major facelift

called for under the university's master plan for facilities. Under the first phase, which is hoped to be completed by April, the franchise would install new turf, a new scoreboard, upgrade the sound system and lighting,and install modular seat– ing along the south side of the field , bringing the capacity to between 6,000 and 7,000. The second phase calls for widening the 65-yard field (the minimum standard for soccer fields) to between 72 and 75 yards and building out the stadium. If the plan comes to fruition, athletic director Tom Iannacone says USD would benefit not only from having its stadium upgraded without having to foot the bill, but also by gaining more national exposure. A slate of games is scheduled for broad– cast on the TNT network, and San Diego Cox Channel 4 is

wants to make Torero Stadium its home for the league's inaugu– ral season, which begins in April and runs through August. The league includes such notable players as Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett and Shannon MacMillan. "Torero Stadium is the best facility by far from a game-day situation," says Kevin Crow,gen– eral manager of the Spirit. "The atmosphere we're trying to achieve is nice and cozy, and from that standpoint, it's the best facility." Franchise owner Cox Communications has pledged $2.S million to improve the sta– dium, which is carved into a hill– side and seats about 3,000, all on one sideline.While terms are still being negotiated, initial plans call for work to be done over the first two seasons, with an ultimate goal of an entirely new 8,000-seat stadium as

expected to televise all other Spirit home and away games. The success of the league ultimately hinges on fan support of professional women 's soccer, which Crow and league officials are banking on after the USA Women's Team won the 1999 World Cup in a shootout over China, creating such media stars as Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain. "We're not trying to fill 50,000-seat arenas," Crow says, "but to have a great experience for fans ."

U SD's Torero Stadium may get a host of free improve– ments - from new turf to an improved sound system to thousands more seats - under a plan to share the field during the football off-season with a new women's professional soc– cer team. The San Diego Spirit, one of eight teams in the new Women's United Soccer Association ,

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