The No. 15-ranked Toros lost 1-0 to No. 3-ranked Grand Valley State in the NCAA Division II title game today in Tampa, Fla.

Game story.

Stanford’s Christen Press celebrates her game-winning goal Friday in overtime against UCLA. (AP Photo)

Christen Press scored in overtime Friday to send unbeaten Stanford through to the College Cup final Sunday after beating UCLA, 2-1.

The Cardinal and Press will face North Carolina and Rolling Hills Estates’ Whitney Engen. The Tar Heels disposed of Notre Dame Friday

The game kicks off at 10 a.m. on ESPN2.

Game previews:

*The Cal State Dominguez Hills women takes on top-ranked West Florida (22-0) today in an NCAA Division II semifinal game at the University of Tampa.

*The UCLA women play Stanford Friday with a place in the final of the College Cup on the line.

*The UCLA men are gearing up for Wake Forest Saturday.

Goalkeeper Brian Perk also made two big second half saves in the 2-1 come from behind win Sunday at Drake Stadium.

Notable: The game was a rematch of the 2006 NCAA Championship – won by UC Santa Barbara.

Quotable:

“We have a pretty big core of seniors on our team, and it was in the back of our heads tonight,” said playmaker Kyle Nakazawa. “It is a bit of redemption … with a way better ending.”

Next: No. 6 seed UCLA (12-3-4) faces No. 3 seed Wake Forest (16-3-3) Saturday in Winston-Salem.

Game story.

More here.

The 2-1 overtime loss this afternoon means victor Sacramento State, making their first tournament appearance, plays UCLA at 5 p.m. Sunday at Drake Stadium (in a game masterfully scheduled against the Galaxy’s MLS Cup appearance).

In a good omen for next season, however, LMU will return 14 of the 19 players who suited up in the NCAA Tournament game.

Game details here.

From the Sac State press release:

Sacramento State heads into the match with the Bruins, who are 10-3-4 and ranked No. 8 in the latest NSCAA/Adidas coaches poll, riding a 10 match unbeaten streak. Sacramento State is 8-0-2 since a 2-1 loss at San Jose State on October 8. In the last NSCAA Far West region poll, published Nov. 10, UCLA was ranked third, while the Hornets were ranked eighth.

Winners of the Pac-10 title for the second straight year, UCLA is making its 27th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, having won the national title four times (1985, 1990, 1997, and 2002). They have advanced to the College Cup 12 times, with their most recent trip coming in 2006. The Bruins were members of the MPSF along with the Hornets from 1992-1999, and posted a perfect 4-0-0 record against Sacramento State. The last meeting between the two clubs came in 1998 at Hornet Soccer Field, a 3-0 victory for UCLA.

Bracket.

Loyola Marymount’s fate from the West Coast Conference press release:

Loyola Marymount, which was ranked No. 15 in the most recently published NCAA Ratings Percentage Index, will be returning to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in school history. The Lions finished third in the WCC with a 10-8-2 overall record, marking Head Coach Paul Krumpe’s fifth 10-plus victory season. The Lions will host Sacramento State (11-5-3) on Thursday, the official start date of first round play. The match start time is still to be determined. The winner of that match will move on to face No. 6 seed UCLA (10-3-4) at Drake Stadium on Sunday, November 22 at 5 PM.

Sacramento State is making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Said UCLA Coach Jorge Salcedo:

“We’re excited to be a Top 8 seed in this year’s tournament. Regardless of your seed or where you end the season, it’s the beginning of a new season, and whichever team we play will be a very tough, challenging match. Both LMU and Sac State had good conference seasons. LMU has proven to be able to go on the road and win big games, and Sac State winning the MPSF conference has proven their quality as well.”

The Bruins, winners of back-to-back Pac-10 titles, extended their streak of NCAA Tournament appearances to 27 years.

Tickets to the Nov. 22 game are $9 adults and $7 students/youth.

Former Galaxy player and goal hero Ned Grabavoy, left, and Real Salt Lake, which beat the Chicago Fire on penalty kicks to become Eastern Conference champions (let’s get rid of these silly conferences based on irrelevant geography, MLS) will face the Galaxy Sunday in Seattle.

Grabavoy scored the winning goal just before the picture was taken above, although former Galaxy striker Robbie Findley almost scored in the dying moments of regulation time only to be denied by Palos Verdes Peninsula product John Thorrington.

Game story.

Wonder how relevant the two games these clubs have played this season already will be next Sunday?

A Landon Donovan-less Galaxy were abysmal in a 2-0 home loss to Real Salt Lake in June, while a 2-2 draw to RSL the previous month in Sandy, Utah wasn’t much better.

Convinced next Sunday’s game will have a better outcome?

Then you might want to click here.

In other Saturday soccer news:

* The UCLA men tied San Diego State 1-1 in their regular season finale with Palos Verdes Estates’ Kyle Nakazawa getting the equalizer.

*And we have three newcomers to the party in South Africa next year.

Dont forget: We’ll find out who the Galaxy play next Sunday at MLS Cup in Seattle – Real Salt Lake or Chicago Fire – at 5 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.

(AP Photo)

A below-strength U.S. team lost 1-0 to Slovakia today in Bratislava, Chivas USA’s Jonathan Bornstein being called for what was a very harsh penalty decision in the 26th minute (I think this is the moment, above, he ‘brought down” Vladimir Weiss). That was Slovakia’s only first half shot.

Not a thriller by any means. And no U.S. player really caught the eye, including Eddie Johnson who came out of the international wilderness on as a sub.

Rolling Hills Estates’ Robbie Rogers went the full 90 U.S.; Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan came on in the 82nd minute to make his first appearance since the Confederations Cup.

U.S. lineup: 18-Brad Guzan; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 2-Jonathan Spector, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.) (25-Clarence Goodson, 72), 12-Jonathan Bornstein; 19-Robbie Rogers (16-Sacha Kljestan, 82), 5-Benny Feilhaber, 4-Michael Bradley, 8-Clint Dempsey (28-Dax McCarty, 72); 17-Jozy Altidore (32-Jeff Cunningham, 82), 9-Conor Casey (36-Eddie Johnson, 46)
Subs not used: 15-Jimmy Conrad, 35-Marcus Hahnemann

Next: in Denmark Wednesday.

Lineup changes/roster additions are expected.

TV note: The game will kickoff on ESPN Classic live at 11:30 p.m. and then switch over to ESPN2 immediately following the conclusion of the UEFA qualifying playoff match between Ukraine and Greece.

Finally, Friday’s college roundup is here.

*The Loyola Marymount men (9-8-2, 4-5-2 WCC) drew 2-2 with Santa Clara Friday, allowing the equalizer with a mere seven seconds on the clock. The Lions remain eleigible for a post-season at-large bid going into Sunday’s season finale at Saint Mary’s.

Read it here.

College soccer tournament games announced Monday:
* USC and UCLA women’s details here.

*CSUDH women’s and men’s details here

* Cal State Northridge men