Torero Athletics: Soccer's Olsen Selected in MLS Super Draft; Women's Hoops Sweeps WCC Foes

Thomas Olsen, a standout senior goalkeeper for the University of San Diego men’s soccer team, was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the third round of the Major League Soccer Super Draft on Jan. 21.

Olsen was the 50th overall pick and the sixth goalkeeper selected in the draft. He is the 12th player in the Toreros’ program history to be selected in the MLS draft.

Olsen completed his USD career as one of its most accomplished goalkeepers ever, ranking second in games played (71) and games started in goal (70), third in saves (203), fourth in wins (33), fifth in shutouts (18), and sixth (1.19) in goals-against average (GAA).

Olsen had an outstanding senior season, earning an All-WCC second-team selection. He registered career bests in save percentage (.778) and saves (63), while holding a 1.00 goals-against average.

Women’s Basketball

A productive last week for the USD women’s basketball team consisted of two West Coast Conference victories — one on the road at Portland and a home triumph against BYU — and Maya Hood became the program’s all-time leader in rebounds.

On Jan. 18, Hood needed two rebounds — she got four — to surpass the 868 recorded by Amber Sprague (2004-09) in a 75-60 victory at Portland. Aubrey Ward-El scored 21 points to lead the Toreros. Hood added 11 points and Sydney Williams had a quality game, contributing 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. Caroline Buhr provided a spark off the bench with nine points, while Myah Pace led the team with seven rebounds.

On Jan. 20 on Family Day in the Jenny Craig Pavilion, a career-high 18 points from sophomore guard Ana Ramos helped the Toreros edge BYU, 70-69. Ramos was joined in a balanced offensive attack by Ward-El (16 points), Madison Pollock (10 points), Buhr (nine points) and Hood (eight points, 13 rebounds). The win improved USD’s record to 12-7 overall and 5-3 in the WCC standings.

After a 35-30 halftime lead, the Toreros continued their impressive play through the third quarter to take 58-52 lead into the final quarter. Ramos and Ward-El each had seven points in the third quarter. Early in the final period, BYU pulled to within 60-58 and a 3-pointer from BYU’s Brenna Chase gave the Cougars a 63-62 lead but an 8-0 Toreros run was capped off by Sydney Williams for a 70-63 advantage. Chase’s lay-in pulled the Cougars to the eventual final score with 1:48 left, but both teams were unable to score.

Next Games: USD Women’s Basketball at Santa Clara, Thursday, 7 p.m.; USD hosts Loyola Marymount, Saturday, 2 p.m., Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Men’s Basketball

Coach Lamont Smith’s basketball team dropped a pair of West Coast Conference games — at home against Portland and on the road at BYU —  to fall to 13-7 overall and 4-4 in WCC action.

Despite season-highs from junior Isaiah Pineiro, who notched his second double-double of the year with 26 points and 11 rebounds, the Toreros dropped a 55-49 decision to Portland on Jan. 18.

Behind most the game the Toreros battled back to take their first lead at 46-44 and held their final lead of 48-46 with just under three minutes left. From there the Pilots closed out the game with a 9-1 run.

Tyler Williams had eight points, Juwan Gray and Olin Carter each had six, but Carter fouled out. Despite only three points, Isaiah Wright did have 10 assists and four steals for the Toreros.

San Diego’s struggles continued on the road Jan. 20 in Provo, Utah. Carter scored 14 points, Wright had 13 and Pineiro added 12 but it was not enough to take down BYU as the Toreros fell, 74-58.

The Toreros battled through foul trouble but shot well to remain within striking distance of the Cougars. USD shot 41.2 percent from the field and went 7 for 19 from 3-point range (36.8 percent).

After trailing for a majority of the first half, the Toreros went on a 12-2 run to open the second and take a 38-37 lead. USD stuck with the Cougars throughout the half but were ultimately undone by a late BYU run that included six consecutive made field goals.

Next Games: USD Men’s Basketball hosts Santa Clara, Jan. 25, 7 p.m., Jenny Craig Pavilion; USD at Loyola Marymount, Jan. 27, 1 p.m.

Women’s Swimming/Diving

Danielle Taylor and Mackenna Briggs each won an individual event but it was not enough as San Diego fell 153-131 at San Diego State on Jan. 19.

Taylor paced the field in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.67 seconds. She added a second-place result in the 200 free (1 minute, 52.96 seconds) and contributed to USD’s second-place finish in the 400-free relay.

Briggs led the Toreros in the distance events, finishing first in the 1000 free (10:37.74) and second in the 500 free (5:11.76). Sam Terranova followed close behind Briggs in each of the distance events, placing third in both with times of 10:43.88 and 5:14.67. Alex Hubel earned a third-place finish in the 100 fly in 57.29.

Elizabeth Petty represented USD in the diving events, placing seventh in both, scoring 187.43 in the 1-meter and 205.28 in the 3-meter.

Next Meets: USD hosts UC San Diego, Saturday, noon, at Sports Center pool; USD at Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, Feb. 14-17, East Los Angeles College.

Men’s Tennis

San Diego opened its spring season Jan. 19 with a perfect showing against UC Irvine, 7-0, winning each doubles and singles match at USD’s Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center.

The Toreros (1-0) dominated in doubles play, dropping only three games combined, and won four of their six singles matches in straight sets.

Nico Borter and Gui Osorio set the tone early with a convincing, 6-1, decision against the Anteaters’ Sasha Krasnov and Luis Lopez. August Holmgren and Joel Gamerov secured the doubles point with a 6-2 decision against Mason Hansen and Luca Marquard.

”Overall, we were very pleased with our doubles play,” said USD Coach Ryan Keckley. “We worked at improving the basic fundamentals and it showed. There is still progress to be made but we managed to gain some skills in that area that will help us in matches to come."

Osorio got USD going at No. 1 singles with a 6-4, 6-2 victory. Holmgren battled Krasnov at No. 2 to earn a gritty 6-3, 6-7, 10-3 victory. Gamerov and Borter earned straight-set victories against Hansen (6-4, 6-2) and Vatsal Bajpai (7-5, 6-2), respectively. David Norfeldt cruised to a 6-0, 6-4, win against Takeru Wanatabe. Alexandros Araouzos capped the day with a come-from-behind victory against Antoine Barthe, 5-7, 6-2, 10-5.

Rain wiped out a scheduled second USD match on the day against UC San Diego.

Next Matches: USD Men’s Tennis vs. TCU, Saturday, 2 p.m., in Fort Worth, Texas; USD vs. Duke or Louisville, Sunday, 1 p.m., Fort Worth, Texas.

Women’s Tennis

The USD women’s tennis team suffered a 6-1 loss against visiting Oregon at the Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center on Jan. 21.

Despite Gemma Garcia and Carolin Nonnenmacher teaming up at No. 3 doubles to defeat Paiton Wagner and Nia Rose 6-3, the Ducks won the doubles point.

In singles play, Maria-Paula Torres earned a solid 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 5 singles over Rifanty Kahfiani, but the Ducks closed out the match with four straight singles victories.

The deciding match came at No. 3 singles with Oregon’s Shweta Sangwan topping Kait Kukaras in a 6-4, 6-2 decision. Nicole Anderson and No. 1 singles and Gemma Garcia at No. 4 singles each went three sets before falling.

Next Matches: USD Women’s Tennis at Grand Canyon University, Feb. 2, 10 a.m., Phoenix; USD at Arizona, Feb. 3, 10 a.m., Tucson.

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