Torero Athletics: Men's Soccer Rallies, Wins WCC Opener

The USD men’s soccer team scored a pair of second-half goals to rally and defeat host Loyola Marymount, 2-1, in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams on Oct. 9.

Patrick McGrath scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute for USD (4-4-3 overall) after receiving a pass from Djordie Babic from the back line. Babic juked the charging goalkeeper and sent a pass through a LMU defender's legs to McGrath, whose shot bounced in off the crossbar. Babic has a team-high four assists this season.

After a scoreless first half, the Lions broke the tie with a 50th-minute unassisted goal from Grant Sampson. USD tied it in the 73rd minute when Jared Hegardt scored his first goal as a Torero. McGrath sent a cross in and Hegardt volleyed the ball over the Lions’ goalie.

The Toreros return to action with a home WCC game at 7 p.m. Friday against Saint Mary’s and then a 2 p.m. Sunday game against University of the Pacific. These are USD’s first home games since Sept. 11.

Football Cruises Past Davidson, Eye Big Game at Drake

Jonah Hodges rushed for 176 yards and scored four touchdowns on runs of 2, 6, 68 and 2 yards in the first half to lead the Torero football team to a 52-3 Pioneer Football League rout of Davidson (N.C.) in USD’s homecoming game on Oct. 8.

Hodges tied a school record for rushing touchdowns in a game and was named the PFL’s Offensive Player of the Week. Jereke Armstrong added two touchdowns on runs of 2 and 36 yards, Ross Dwelley caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Lawrence and Patrick Murray’s 24-yard field goal gave USD (4-1 overall, 3-0 PFL) a 52-0 lead through three quarters. Hodges

Davidson avoided the shutout with a 35-yard field goal with 11:17 left in the fourth quarter.

The Toreros now head to Des Moines, Iowa, for a key PFL game against Drake (3-3, 2-1) at 10:30 a.m. (Pacific) on Saturday. The teams have met 23 times and USD holds a 13-10 series lead.

Kramer Keeps No. 5 Volleyball on Win Streak

USD, the nation’s fifth-ranked women’s volleyball team, earned a five-set victory over Pacific on Oct. 6, then celebrated USD’s Homecoming with a sweep of Saint Mary’s to remain undefeated in WCC play and improve its overall win streak to 14. Lisa Kramer and Lauren Fuller each had 14 kills against Pacific and then Kramer had a team-high 16 kills in the win over Saint Mary’s to pace the Toreros (15-2, 6-0).

The Toreros now take their successful season start on the road with matches this Thursday, 6 p.m., against Gonzaga, and at noon on Saturday at Portland.

Men's Basketball Celebrates "The Rise" Era

The USD men’s basketball program hosted its annual Sixth Man Night, a fundraiser to support its program, by honoring players from the era it calls “The Rise.” Players from 1973 to 1984, along with former Torero Coach Jim Brovelli, were celebrated at the Oct. 6 dinner at the Hahn University Center Forums. 

The Rise decade got its name because of the huge impact these players made on the rise of the program. USD’s program moved from a top Division II school to competing in Division I and in the West Coast Conference. USD also reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. 

Almost every player from The Rise decade was in attendance. While the night was filled with old friends and new acquaintances, friends and family also showed up to support second-year head coach Lamont Smith and his current team, the youngest in USD’s history, to encourage a new rise for a new year. 

Women’s Soccer Shutout Twice

One week after earning a pair of WCC victories, the women’s soccer team was shutout on the road against Pepperdine, a 2-0 defeat on Oct. 6, and in a 1-0 setback at Loyola Marymount Oct. 9.

Pepperdine scored early, in the eighth minute, and late, in the 86th minute, for the victory. The Toreros were outshot 12-4 with USD goalkeeper Amber Michel making five saves on 7 shots on goal. Against LMU, the Lions scored the game’s lone goal in the 61st minute. LMU outshot USD, 15-8 (8-4 shots on goal). Michel had seven saves for USD.

The Toreros (7-6-1 overall, 2-2-0 WCC) play their next two WCC games at Torero Stadium, against Gonzaga at 7 p.m. this Saturday and against BYU at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21.

Runners to Compete in Final WCC Tune-Up 

The men and women’s cross-country teams will vie in Santa Clara University’s Bronco Invitational on Saturday morning. The men’s 8K race is at 9 a.m., the women’s 6K race is set for 9:45 a.m.

This is the last meet for USD’s teams before they will host the WCC Championships on Oct. 28 at USD's Mission Bay home course.

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