The University of San Diego nationally ranked women’s soccer team gathered in a conference room Monday at the Jenny Craig Pavilion to hear the 64-team NCAA tournament bracket announced on ESPN.
Nothing unusual about that. The nationally ranked USD baseball met there last spring and the USD’s nationally ranked women’s volleyball team will gather in the same room soon.
USD’s women’s soccer team, ranked No. 9 in the nation, learned it will open against Oklahoma State on Friday at UCLA. UCLA will face Cal State Fullerton and the two winners advance to meet each other Sunday.
Two of USD’s best players are from San Diego — junior striker Amy Epstein of Our Lady of Peace and senior Leigh Ann Robinson of Mt. Carmel. Epstein already owns the school career record for goals with 30.
But the Toreros are long past the stage of being happy to be part of the tournament. They finished the regular season with a 15-3-2 record, which featured a tie against No. 1-ranked UCLA.
“We’re a little bummed we’re going to UCLA,” Robinson said. “We thought we should get a seed and play at home, but we have to take it as it comes.”
— TOM SHANAHAN