USD to Face Stanford in Opener

The University of San Diego men’s soccer team opens the NCAA Division I playoffs on Saturday at home (7 p.m.) against unranked Stanford, it was announced Monday after the official draw in Kansas City.

Tickets ($6 and $4) go on sale Thursday at the university box office.

In the last match between the teams, which came during the 1991 season, USD lost to Stanford, 1-0.

USD (15-4) upset then-No. 1 Portland, 3-0, on Friday and moved up seven places to No. 13 in the latest rankings. Portland (13-4) fell all the way to 18th.

If the Toreros get by Stanford (11-7-2), they will play UCLA the following weekend. UCLA received the Western Region bye through the first round of the 28-team tournament.

USD has never beaten UCLA, but earlier this year it came close as the two sides went to overtime before the Bruins pulled out a 3-2 victory.

“We have a good situation for ourselves,” said Coach Seamus McFadden, who was pleased with the draw. “But it is something we played ourselves into. We had the big win on Friday. We had to beat them by two goals (to win the West Coast Conference championship and an automatic bid into the playoffs), and we beat them by three. Our kids raised their game and played like they are capable of.”