Pac-Tending 11-08-06

"I believe that in my 12 years as athletic director at the University of Oregon that this is perhaps the biggest injustice of any of our programs."

- Oregon athletic director Bill Moos regarding the exclusion of the Oregon women's soccer team from the NCAA Tournament after they finished second in the conference.

There was copious quantities of controversy at the Creek this week as both the men's and women's NCAA tournament soccer selections were announced and four teams from both sports were included in the tourney but it was the teams that were not included – Oregon and WSU – in the women's tourney, that made headlines. Oregon finished second and WSU finished fourth in the final conference standings yet the NCAA selection committee picked fifth-place USC and sixth-place California to go to the tournament instead.

Both men's and women's pre-season hoop predictions were released and UCLA is favored to win the men's conference race while Stanford is selected to win the women's league race.

Meanwhile at NCAA HQ, the NCAA discovered that freshmen baseball student athletes tend to start off strong academically then tail off as they approach the end of their eligibilities. They will look at several methods of enhancing the retention of academic performances and some of these methods include increasing academic requirements for JC transfers, curbing the sport's high transfer rate and limiting roster sizes.

The Director's Cup announced that there will be changes in its scoring structure this year, most notably that all sports will be included in the tally of total points and that both indoor and outdoor track and field will count as separate sports.

Oregon

The 20th-ranked Ducks defeated Washington, 34-14, to improve to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play. Oregon received a verbal commitment from Myles Wade.

In women's hoop, junior center Kristen Forrisstall has left the team.

In women's soccer, Oregon swept UCLA and USC to finish the season at 12-6-2 overall and 6-1-2 in conference play. Senior forward Nicole Garbin was named as the conference's player of the week.

The 24-th ranked Ducks defeated WSU but lost to Washington to move to 17-5 overall and 7-5 in conference play in volleyball.

In men's cross country, sophomore Galen Rupp was named as the USA Track and Field athlete of the week after winning the eight-kilometer race at the Pac-10 championships and helping Oregon to the team championship

Oregon State

The 24th-ranked Beavers defeated Arizona State 44-10 to improve to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play. OSU received verbal commitments from Will Darkins and Kevin Frahm.

In women's soccer, Oregon State was swept by UCLA and USC to finish the season at 8-10-2 overall and 1-8 in conference play.

The Beavers were swept by Wazzu and Washington to fall to 3-18 overall and 0-12 in conference play in volleyball.

Arizona

The Wildcats defeated WSU, 27-17, to improve to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in conference play. Defensive back Antoine Cason was named as the conference's defensive player of the week.

In women's hoop, the Wildcats lost junior center Beatrice Bofia for a few weeks with a knee injury.

Arizona was swept by Wazzu and Washington to finish their season at 8-10-2 overall and 1-6-2 in conference play in women's soccer.

The Wildcats were swept by USC and UCLA to drop to 10-15 overall and 1-12 in conference play in volleyball.

USC

The seventh-ranked Trojans shutout Stanford, 42-0, to improve to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play.

In women's soccer, the Women of Troy beat OSU and lost to Oregon to finish their regular season at 10-4-5 overall and 3-2-4 in conference play in women's soccer. USC will play Santa Clara in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The sixth-ranked Women of Troy swept Arizona and ASU to improve to 21-3 overall and 10-3 in conference play in volleyball.

UCLA

The Bruins lost to California, 38-24, to drop to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Third-ranked UCLA lost to Oregon and beat OSU to finish their regular season at 17-3 overall and 8-1 in conference play in women's soccer. They will face UNLV in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The fifth-ranked Bruins swept ASU and Arizona to improve to 24-2 overall and 11-2 in conference play. Senior middle blocker Nana Meriwether was named as the conference's player of the week.

Washington

The Huskies lost to Oregon, 34-14, to drop to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

Washington defeated Arizona but lost to ASU to finish their regular season at 7-12-1 overall and 2-6-1 in conference play in women's soccer.

Fourth-ranked Washington swept Oregon and OSU to improve to 21-3 overall and 11-2 in conference play in volleyball.

WSU

The Cougars lost to Arizona, 27-17, to drop to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

In women's soccer, Wazzu beat Arizona but lost to ASU to finish their season at 9-7-4 overall and 4-3-2 in conference play.

The Cougars defeated OSU but lost to Oregon to move to 15-12 overall and 3-10 in conference play in volleyball.

Arizona State

The Sun Devils lost to OSU, 44-10, to drop to 5-4 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Arizona State swept Washington and WSU to finish their regular season at 8-8-3 overall and 3-5-1 in conference play in women's soccer.

In volleyball, the Sun Devils were swept by USC and UCLA to drop to 11-13 overall and 3-10 in conference play.

California

The eighth-ranked Bears defeated UCLA, 38-24, to improve to 8-1 overall and 6-0 in conference play. Sophomore quarterback Nate Longshore was named as the conference's offensive player of the week and punt returner DeSean Jackson was named as the conference's special teams player of the week.

The 27th-ranked Bears beat Santa Clara and rival Stanford to finish their regular season at 11-4-5 overall and 3-3-3 in conference play. The Bears play Auburn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The 12th-ranked Bears lost to rival Stanford to drop to 17-6 overall and 6-6 in conference play in volleyball.

Stanford

The Cardinal lost to USC, 42-0, to remain winless on the year at 0-9 overall and 0-6 in conference play.

The 18th-ranked Cardinal lost to rival California to finish their regular season at 13-6-1 overall and 6-2-1 in conference play in women's soccer. Stanford plays Nevada in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The second-ranked Cardinal defeated rival California to improve to 20-2 overall and 11-1 in conference play in volleyball.

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