OCC dominates novice race

Orange Coast College had a strong showing at the Newport Autumn

Rowing Festival Sunday, including a first-place finish in the men’s

novice eight event.

OCC actually had five teams among the top 11 in that event, including the winning boat, which finished the 2.5-mile course in

15:20. There were 40 crews in the competition and the Pirates also

took fourth, sixth, ninth and 11th.

In the men’s open eight, Orange Coast finished fifth with a time

of 15:11, four spots behind winner UC Davis (14:51).

In the men’s lightweight eight, an event the Pirates don’t

ordinarily compete in, OCC finished second (15:04) behind UC Davis.

In the men’s open four, OCC was ninth (16:44). USC won that race

(15:53) ahead of UC Davis and the San Diego Rowing Club.

Orange Coast will compete again Sunday at the San Diego Fall

Classic in Mission Bay.

UCI falls, plays on

* SOCCER: A seven-match unbeaten streak came to an end Sunday for

the UC Irvine women’s soccer team, as host Cal State Fullerton earned

a 3-1 Big West Conference triumph in the regular-season finale for

both teams.

The Anteaters (10-4-5, 4-2-3 in the Big West Conference) fell into

a fourth-place tie with Long Beach State. But, due to the Anteaters’

3-2 overtime win over the 49ers Tuesday, UCI advances to the

four-team Big West Conference Tournament.

The ‘Eaters face Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Friday in the semifinals

of the Big West Tournament at 5:30 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton’s

Titan Stadium.

Kandace Wilson scored for Cal State Fullerton (9-8-2, 3-5-1) in

the third minute Sunday, but the Anteaters had a quick comeback as

freshman Britney Webster launched a 25-yard shot past Titan

goalkeeper Laura Janke off a cross from senior Caroline Kabe in the

10th minute.

Erica Pryor knocked in a corner kick in the 60th minute to break

the tie and Lauryn Welch added an insurance goal in the 72nd minute.

UCI goalie Marissa Welliver had three saves, as did Janke.

UCI had not lost since a 2-1 conference setback Oct. 3 to Cal

Poly.

The Titans’ victory also ended a season-long Sunday unbeaten

streak for the Anteaters, who had gone 3-0-4 in previous Sunday games

this fall.

UCI’s Burkhardt lauded

* HONORS: UC Irvine’s Eric Burkhardt has been recognized as an

elite strength and conditioning coach through the National Strength

and Conditioning Association’s new coach practitioner program.

Burkhardt joins 17 other elite coaches from around the world

selected into this inaugural program that honors seasoned

practitioners and educators who make significant contributions to the

strength and conditioning profession. Each practitioner selected is

responsible for the physical advancement of individual athletes and

athletic teams at the professional, collegiate, or high school level.

“Never before in the strength and conditioning profession has a

distinction of this caliber been offered,” said Michael Barnes, NSCA

education director and a former strength coach for the San Francisco

49ers. “It is only appropriate that the most credible organization in

the profession offer this type of recognition to experienced strength

coaches.”

Through this program, coaches will not only be honored for their

achievements and contributions to the profession, but will also be

available to partner with aspiring students wishing to join the

profession through the NSCA’s student assistantship program.

The NSCA has sought to educate its members and increase respect

for the strength and conditioning profession. It provides a variety

of resources such as: exceptional professional journals; cutting-edge

conferences; scholarship and grant opportunities; educational text

and videos; and career services to its 26,000 members.

For information, visit the NSCA Web site: www.nsca-lift.org.

Trojans handle ‘Eaters

* WATER POLO: Freshman Trevor Clark scored four goals to lead No.

1-ranked USC past eighth-ranked UC Irvine, 15-8, in a Mountain

Pacific Sports Federation men’s water polo game at McDonald’s Swim

Stadium in Los Angeles Sunday.

Senior Phil Garcia and junior Rick Merlo scored three goals each

for UCI (10-12, 2-3 in the MPSF). Sophomore goalie Joe Wynne recorded

six saves.

James Shin, Juraj Zatovic and Predrag Damjanov had a pair of goals

each to help the Trojans improve to 16-3, 6-1.

Don Ricci had 12 saves for USC, which led, 7-3, at halftime and

13-5 after three quarters.

The Anteaters host No. 4 UCLA Saturday in a MPSF contest at noon

to begin a stretch of five straight home games to end the regular

season.

*--*

Mountain Pacific Sports Federation

USC 15, UC Irvine 8

Score by Quarters

UC Irvine 2 1 2 3 - 8

USC 5 2 6 2 - 15

UC Irvine - Garcia 3, R. Merlo 3, Noon 1, C. Merlo

1. Saves - Wynne 1.

USC - Clark 4, Shin 2, Zatovic 2, Damjanov 2, Hale

1, Reynolds 1, Delgadillo 1, Hadar 1, Healy 1.

Saves - Ricci 12.

*--*

Sailors finish fourth

* WATER POLO: The Newport Harbor High boys water polo team fell to

Long Beach Wilson, 7-6, in the third-place game of the Tru-West

Memorial Cup ivitational Saturday at Bellarmine Prep High in San

Jose.

Michael Bury scored four goals for the Sailors, who fell to 14-10.

Clay Jorth and Bryan Auer also scored for the Tars and Michael

Robinson had nine saves.

Newport was defeated, 10-6, by Harvard-Westlake in a semifinal

earlier Saturday.

Jorth scored five goals against Harvard-Westlake, while Robinson

collected nine saves.

*--*

Tru-West Memorial Cup invitational

Third-place game LB Wilson 7, Newport 6

Score by Quarters

LB Wilson 2 1 3 1 - 7

Newport 1 1 2 2 - 6 Long Beach Wilson - Sagehorn 2, Sherrin 2, Piercy

1, Arturovich 1, Swanson 1. Newport Harbor - Bury

4, Jorth 1, Auer 1. Saves - Robinson 9.

*--*

*--*

Semifinal Harvard-Westlake 10, Newport 6

Score by Quarters

Harvard 3 1 4 2 - 10

Newport 1 4 1 0 - 6 Harvard-Westlake - Vreeland 3, Rappel 3,

Hindle-Katel 2, Weintraub 1, Flacks 1. Newport

Harbor - Jorth 5, Gentry 1. Saves - Robinson 9.

*--*