San Diego Colleges / Rick Hazeltine : Ready or Not, USIU Women Field Soccer Team

SAN DIEGO — The United States International University women’s soccer team has not only begun its first season of competition, it has probably set a first for area colleges.

When the USIU athletic department and Athletic Director Al Palmiotto agreed to field a women’s soccer program two years ago, there was one major stipulation: All 11 scholarships had to be awarded to players from San Diego County.

Coach Ron Pietila found the task of giving scholarships to local players more difficult than anticipated.

In fact, Pietila was not able to sign his final player until last Thursday.

Until then Pietila was singing the blues with just 13 players on his roster.

But thanks to the vocal abilities of his latest signee, Pietila is whistling a happier tune.

Erin Paterson, who played at Mira Mesa High School, was turned down by the university for admittance because she did not meet the academic requirements of a 2.7 grade average.

Pietila said Paterson scored well above the 700 required on the SAT test, but had a 2.60 GPA.

“I was going to call and beg (the admittance office) to get her in on a special admittance,” Pietila said.

But a school official commented that it was too bad Paterson hadn’t specifically applied to the School of Performing Arts, whose admission requirements aren’t has high.

As it turned out, Paterson is interested in voice. So Pietila set up an audition for her.

“She did a couple of Linda Ronstadt songs and got in,” Pietila said.

Fortunately, all of Pietila’s signings have not been as difficult although the season may prove to be.

“We are very young,” Pietila said. “Not one of our girls has played a single game of college soccer.”

The only collegiate experience on the team is in softball.

Three players who had used up their four years of softball eligibility, joined the team for their final year of athletic eligibility.

Terry Esquivel, who went to Southwest High and was an All-West Coast Athletic Conference pitcher, joins the team. Esquivel also was an All-San Diego Section soccer player at Southwest. The Gulls signed several top players from the county, including San Diego Section 3-A co-player of the year, defender Kim Grzanka of Bonita Vista and utility player Jaquie Santos, a first team San Diego Section 2-A selection from University of San Diego High School.

The San Diego State men’s soccer team has been ranked No. 11 in the country by Soccer America. The Aztecs should once again offer a high-scoring brand of soccer with the return of four of its top five scorers.

Senior Kyle Whittemore returns after leading the Aztecs with 20 goals and 10 assists last season. Senior Curt Lewis was SDSU’s third leading scorer with seven goals and five assists.

Whittemore, a Far West Region All-American last season, enters the 1987 season with a seven match scoring streak. The streak broke the mark of six that Whittemore set as a sophomore.

Coach Chuck Clegg also signed one of the top high school players in the nation in Eric Wynalda of Westlake High School. Wynalda scored 35 goals as a senior and was the Southern Section 4-A Player of the Year.

The San Diego Sockers’ Kevin Crow will be an assistant coach, aiding Clegg. Crow was a two-time All-American soccer player at SDSU.

College Notes

USIU men’s basketball Coach Gary Zarecky revoked the scholarship of Shaun Manning, a transfer from Grossmont Community College. Manning did not finish his AA degree at Grossmont, making him ineligible at USIU. Manning, a 6-3 guard, was expected to start for the Gulls. Manning led Grossmont to the regional playoffs each of his two years at the school . . . Zarecky also said that Rade Milutinovic of Yugoslavia has returned to USIU. Milutinovic played at USIU as a freshmen, but returned to Yugoslavia last year. Milutinovic, a 6-7 guard, averaged 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds as a freshman . . . Erin Tomblin, an honorable mention All-West Coast Athletic Conference setter for USIU last season as a sophomore, has left school. Tomblin was a two-year starter for USIU and led the Gulls to their first-ever NCAA playoff appearance last season . . . Southwestern Community College is ranked No. 14 by the JC Athletic Bureau in its preseason football poll. Southwestern was 7-3-1 and finished tied for second in the Mission Conference with San Diego Mesa. Other Mission Conference teams ranked are No. 5 Saddleback and No. 10 Riverside.