November
17, 2003
Slug Soccer Team Number One on the West Coast: Advancing to
Final Eight
JUMPING
FOR JOY: Slugs kick in 21 wins in a row.
Photo c. University of Redlands
REDLANDS, CA -- The UC Santa Cruz men's soccer team can handle
the second-ranked Division III school in the nation. This
Saturday, the Banana Slugs will get a shot at the nation's
top dogs. With over 200 Banana Slugs faithful in the stands
for Sunday's WesternRegional final between UCSC and host University
of Redlands, the Slugs handed the No. 2 Bulldogs their first
shutout of the season, 1-0, and advanced to the
Final Eight of the NCAA D-III Men's Soccer Championship for the first time in school history.
"This is a special moment because the character these guys
showed over the weekend was truly inspiring," Slugs coach
Paul Holocher said. "They had a warrior mentality." The Slugs
will need to preserve that warrior mentality for this
weekend, when they travel to San Antonio, Texas, to face
the top-ranked D-III school in the nation, undefeated Trinity
University.
"We feel it's a great opportunity (to play Trinity). We get
to see what the No. 1 team in the nation is like, and, as
the underdog, we feel we can give them a game and go on to
compete in the Final Four," Holocher said.
Sunday's game was scoreless until the 81st minute as both
teams struggled to keep their footing on a field dampened
by overnight rain. In the 81st, Slug Bryan Baird received
a direct pass from the backline on the right side and was
cut off by a defender, but was able to cross the ball to Kevin
Anderson, who beat goalie Geoff Raives for the score.
Outside midfielders Josh Lederer and Sam Krow-Lucal anchored the Slugs' defense, which limited the Bulldogs to
just two shots on goal, both of which were stopped by goalie Dan Chamberlain. Subs Eric Bucchere, Timmy
Anderson and Adam Smarte provided valuable minutes
off the bench, Holocher said.
"They showed complete lion heart, winning 50-50 battles, dominating
in the air, structuring against Redlands and Linfield with
passion and energy, a tremendous effort," Holocher said, referring
to the team's two wins at the Western Regional. "We are competing
to get to the final four in the nation. Everybody on this
team doesn't want this season to end."
In front of over 400 rowdy and supportive fans, the
Bulldogs prevailed after two scoreless halves and two additional
overtimes by ousting the Gusties of Gustavus Adolphus College,
4-3 in penalty kicks. It was a defensive battle at Farquhar
Field that ended on the side of the Bulldogs. Redlands oustshot
Gustavus 15-3 but couldn't get past goalkeeper Andy Moulton.
The Bulldogs remained composed and patient to rally back during
penalty kicks, advancing to the West Regional Final on Sunday.
Redlands' record is now 18-1-1, while Gustavus Adolphus College
ends its season at 16-1-5 overall, as the penalty kick game
counts as a tie for both teams.
In the second regional semi-final of the day, the Banana
Slugs defeated the Wildcats by a score of 2-1.
In another physical, fast-paced match, Linfield opened the
scoring in the 54th minute through a header by senior Yoshi
Kawase (Seattle, WA). Sophomore Bryan Baird (San Anselmo,
CA) headed Santa Cruz's equalizer eight minutes later before
senior Kevin Anderson (Redwood City, CA) and senior Erik Gibbs (Carlsbad, CA) played a one-two for Anderson
to slot home the winner in the 72nd minute. Linfield finishes
at 16-3-1 while Santa Cruz advances with a 20-1 record.
October 20, 2003
Slug Soccer Kicks It Closer to Playoffs
SANTA CRUZ, CA -- The UC Santa Cruz men's soccer team is
so close to qualifying for the NCAA Division III tournament
the Slugs can almost taste it. With only three games left
in the regular season, UCSC posts an impressive 16-1 record, and has outscored its opponents 82-7. In
their past three games, the Slugs have found the net 22 times,
and have yielded not one goal.
Despite these impressive stats, the Slugs still have to win
at least two of their next three games to qualify. UCSC is
1 of 4 NCAA D-III teams unaffiliated with a league competing
for one playoff spot. "It's nice to be 16-1, but that won't
get us into the playoffs," said junior midfielder Eric
Bucchere. "We're definitely taking it one game at a time
right now" Bucchere and the Slugs held that mentality in Sunday's
5-0 blanking of the visiting Cal State Hayward Pioneers. The
Pioneers (3-7-2) are fighting for the same playoff spot as
the Slugs. The Slugs opened the scoring early, with a goal
from junior midfielder Aaron Lanes two minutes into
the game. Five minutes later, junior midfielder Sam Krow-Lucal added a goal. Senior midfielder Kevin Anderson scored
two late goals and assisted on another for the Slugs.
October
14, 2003
Coach Paul Holocher Inducted into Santa Clara Hall of Fame
SANTA CLARA, CA -- Santa Clara will induct eight members
into its hall of fame, including national soccer team member
and former CyberRay Brandi Chastain (1991) and former Green
Bay Packer Gary Hoffman (1983).
The others are Bill Connolly (1965, baseball), Bill Duffy
(1982, basketball), Paul Holocher (1991, soccer), Melissa
King Fisher (1993, basketball), Gary Podesta (lacrosse coach)
and Eric Yamamoto (1990, soccer).
==> See
full article in the San Jose Mercury news.
October
5, 2003
Men's Soccer Wins a Straight Dozen Games
SANTA CRUZ, CA -- The Men's Soccer team beat Dominican University
on Sunday, 4-1. This extends the team's winning streak
to twelve games dating back to September 7th. Erik
Gibbs, Davey Cochrane, James Anderson, and Stephen Wondolowski all had goals for the Slugs, who
outshot Dominican 28-8. Goalkeeper Dan Chamberlain had six saves on six shots in 45 minutes of work and
continues to be a brick wall for the Slugs.
The Slugs next take on Chapman here at UCSC on October 12th
at 1:00pm. Come out to the field and watch the Slugs try and
make it thirteen in a row! Related:
Slugs Ranked #14 in NSCAA Listing, 10/6/03
==> See
related article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
September 22, 2003
Men's Soccer Kicks It Up a Notch
SANTA CRUZ, CA -- UC Santa Cruz came from behind to beat
visiting Puget Sound, which came into the game ranked 18th
among D-III schools nationwide, 3-1.
Barr Haney scored off an assist from Erik Gibbs in the first half to tie the game, while Nick Kowba and Sam Krow-Lucal put goals away in the second half
to seal the win. The Slugs improve to 8-1.
==> See
full article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Advertisers do not speak for the University and are not a representative of the university or any of its offices or units.
No part of this site, including any images or graphics, may be reproduced in anyway without the expressed written consent of the University of California Santa Cruz Athletics Department
• Basketball
• Basketball
