USD women's soccer coach Ada Greenwood saw his team's draw in the NCAA Tournament, saw it would have to go through mighty UCLA once again, and had this reaction:
“I'll play anybody. I feel we're good enough.”
Greenwood and the Toreros will find out soon enough. Last night's dramatic 1-0 victory against Long Beach State at UCLA's Drake Stadium put them into the second round against the No. 1-seeded Bruins tomorrow at 1 p.m., also at Drake Stadium.
USD's all-time record against UCLA: 1-14-3, including a 3-0 loss last month.
Senior Ashley Kirk provided the game's lone goal in the 81st minute by slotting home a rebound of a shot by Christine Mock.
The Toreros (15-4-2) beat the 49ers (14-5-4) by the same score last month.
“We were better,” Greenwood said, “and eventually it went our way.”
UCLA (19-0-2) beat Fresno State 5-0 in the first game. USD likely will be without starting midfielder Elissa Magracia, who injured her knee.
USF 2, USD 1
The USD men had their improbable run toward the NCAA Tournament ended by the University of San Francisco when the Dons scored in the 87th minute to clinch at least a tie for the West Coast Conference title.
The Toreros (6-10-3, 6-5) were trying to win the WCC and claim its automatic NCAA berth despite going winless in the nonconference season. And they were comfortably in first after starting WCC play 6-1.
Last night's loss, though, was their fourth straight and mathematically eliminated them from title contention with one game remaining.
USD tied it on Eddie Ahman's penalty kick in the 83rd minute, only for USF (9-8-2) to get the winner from Conor Chinn.