Back to School

The Labor Day weekend traditionally sees the college soccer season get under way in earnest. Here’s a program by program look at what’s going on where.

Bruins Rule

Or at least the No. 1-ranked Bruin’s men’s team did until today when they lost 2-1 to No. 9 Notre Dame in their 2007 season opener at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. Sophomore Chance Myers of Thousand Oaks High scored for UCLA.

Next up Sunday is seventh-ranked Indiana.

UCLA has 22 returning players, including 17 with starting experience this season.

They include the team’s top two goalscorers from last year, sophomore forward David Estrada (12 goals) and junior midfielder Jason Leopoldo (8 goals).

Also back is junior forward Maxwell Griffin, who was leading UCLA in scoring with five goals before going down in the eighth game of the year with a knee injury; Palos Verdes Estates’ Kyle Nakazawa (4 goals 8 assists); U.S. Under-20 National Team starter Tony Beltran; and 2006 UCLA Rookie of the Year Michael Stephens.

The major loss was Sal Zizzo who turned pro after the U-20 World Cup in July, forgoing his final two years of eligibility.

Zizzo made his debut with the full national team Aug. 22 in Sweden.

Detailed preview here as well as Cal State Northridge and LMU.

More Roaring

LMU’s men’s team opens its season at home Saturday for the first time since 2002, welcoming Cal Poly to Sullivan Field.

LMU then hits the the road for two consecutive tournaments, returning home for the LMU/UCSB Tournament that also features Ivy Leaguers Harvard and Columbia.

LMU’s season preview is here.

Meanwhile, the LMU women lost 1-0 away to UC Santa Barbara Friday night on Joe Mallia’s head coaching debut.

LMU hosts Dayton 1 p.m. Sunday in its home opener.

Beach beats Bakersfield

No. 25-ranked Long Beach State won their season opener Friday 5-0 at CSU Bakersfield with Nikki Myers getting two second half goals.

The CSU Long Beach womens program is coming off a 14-5-1 season, the best in school history.

Their toughest schedule to date sees Beach face six of last year’s NCAA Tournament teams, including Utah in its home opener 9 a.m. Sunday at George Allen Field. It’s the only home game for Beach in the first five.

Toro Tech

CSUDH Athletics now offers live stats, a Monday emailed newsletter, Toro text messages, and an RSS feed to keep fans up on its sports programs including soccer.

Details at the newly-redesigned site.

Lakewood’s Kelly Matosian scored two goals to lead the CSUDH women Thursday to a 4-0 win over host Grand Canyon University.

Also, the first of four soccer web casts on www.toroslive.com. is set for 6 p.m. Sunday against Seattle University. The others: 7 p.m Sept. 24 against Cal State San Marcos; 11 a.m. Oct. 21 against Chico State; 5 p.m. Oct. 28 verses Cal State San Bernardino.

CSUN Downs Detroit

The Matador men beat Detroit 6-1 Friday in the valley heat.

Trojans Trounce Weber State

Ali Khosroshahin, Jim Millender’s successor at USC, started the season Friday with a 5-1 win over Weber State.

Millender, a long-time Torrance resident and former El Camino College and LMU head coach, did not have his contract renewed last November after 11 seasons.

Here’s a belated season preview.