1986_11 The Daily Collegian November 1986

              Sports
page
To Bowl or
not to Bowl
Bulldog
Rat* 1*1
Mike Butwell
With a win over Long Beach State
^Spanan Stadium Saturday,
Sanjlose State. 8-2 overall and
6-0 in PCAA play, would clinch a spot in
the California Bowl Dec. 13 in Fresno.
So where does this leave FSU? Surely
the 'Dogs won't be forced to sit by their
fireplaces through December enduring
Bowl games but not participating?
With FSU clinging to an 8-1 record.
Bowl committees must at least smirk at
the opportunity of featuring the NCAA's
all-time pass-yardage quarterback. Kevin
Sweeney, not to mention his colorful dad.
Coach Jim. (The above information will
be correct assuming Sweeney gets 303
passing yards, thus erasing Doug Flutie
from atop the list.)
As star status as he may be. Kevin will
be the firstto tell you that the running of
either Kelly Skipper or James Williams is
well-worthy of being offered post-season
play. And the only way Bowl represent¬
atives could not be impressed with Stephen
Baker's a-na/ing play is merely because
they blinked and missed No. 86's gifted
ability oJ catching passes or returning
punts.
Coach Sweeney, sounding a lot like a
realtor said, "We have a lot to sell. If we
only win 3-0 in Hawaii (this weekend),
hallelujah! I'd"still be pleased and say we
got an excellent shot for a (Bowl) bid.
The Freedom Bowl Dec. 30 in Anaheim
could be the perfect ticket for Fresno
State. Ironic? After all, weren't people
inventing a way the Bulldogs could "free"
themselves from the "doom" of playing at
home in Cal Bowl VI versus the unheralded
Mid American Conference champs.
MAC champ? After Miami of Ohio
faltered by not generating a win against
Kent State (Kent State won 24-23), the
race for a conference winner turned into a
Chinese fire drill.
Going into this weekend's final confer¬
ence competition, the possibility remains
that six squads could tie for the title, but
alas through the tie-breaking method only
three teams (Miami, Bowling Green, and
.Kent State) have a realistic chance of
booking a flight, to Fresno in December
Currently, all three arc 5-2 in MAC play.
Returning to the Bulldogs, who would
serve as the most appropriate opposition
if FSJJ were chosen to play in the Freedom
Bowl\
WAC va. PCAA: Dec. 6 the Western
Athletic Conference's best (BYU and Air
Force) go head-to-head in Provo, Utah to
determine the league title. The winner, in
all probability will go to a bigger Bowl,
but still fne Freedom Bowl committee
would surely be delighted to get the W AC's
No. 2 team (as in FSU's case in the PCAA).
East va. Weat: Temple, touting a record
of 5-3 had a case to plead with their staY-
stuttered running back Paul Palmer why
they should travel to Anaheim over the
holidays, but the Owls dropped a 29-38
decision to Boston College, resting their
. case a bit.
Red Wave va. Big Red: How about
them'Hoosiers from the University of
Indiana? Not usually a competitor in the
prestigious Big Ten, IU sports a spiffy 6-3
mark against a variety of prominent con¬
ference opponents. Thejr current record is
their best in quite some time. Also. Hoos¬
iers fans arc widespread (as in California)
See BARK, page 7
Moore/ The Daily Collegian
With four game-winning goals, Mike Sotelo has led the Bulldogs into a post-season playoff against the University of San
Francisco Dons.
Sotelo's 'Dog days limited
By Jim Bohannon
Associate Sports Editor
At the beginning of the season, the
Fresno State soccer team had one thing
in mind, and that was to make it to the
NCAA championship tournament.
Being a senior and playing what
could have been his last game at home,
Mike Sotelo wanted badly, to make
that pre-season goal, a post-season
reality.
So it was only fitting that it was
Sotelo that took a pass from Femi
Olukanni and kicked it into the goal for
Sunday's 1-0 overtime win against US
International to give Fresno State the
win it needed to qualify for the tournament.
"It was my last game and 1 was
willing to work hard," Sotelo said.
"Whether 1 scored a goal or not, I like
being in a situation where there is a lot
on the line."
He must. Sotelo led the Bulldogs
with fourgame-winning goals this season,
but not one of those was more important
than Sunday's winner.
"Wc were playing for the seniors.
Everyone was trying hard because we
knew that we had to win." he added.
~"I'm just glad for Tom (Gleason), Dan
(Dutra) and myself that things worked
out like they did."
Sotelo hopes that he has some more
game-winners left in him, as the 'Dogs
start their bid for a national champion¬
ship against the University of San
Francisco 2 p.m. Sunday at Bulldog
Stadium.
"We'll come out fighting, and if we
don't win. it's our fault," said.Sotelo.
"Well play with confidence, have fun
and win at all cost."
The opening round game against
USF will be a rematch between the two
>teams. USF beat the 'Dogs in overtime
2-1 back in October.
"We should have beaten them, but
we had a couple of lapses on defense
.that cost us two goals. Also, we didn't
have Femi or Luis (Damian)."
Another difference will be that this
time the Bulldogs get the Dons on their
own turf. "It's a big time advantage to
have the crowd. It's like having a twelth
man," Sotelo said.
Since he came to FteSn© lrf *983,''
Sotelo has been on some pretty good
Bulldog soccer teams. He feels this
year's squad is the best.
"Last year's team was good, but I
think we're better this year. We're in
control more now and Femi's made a
big difference, he's a fantastic player
that creates things for everyone on the
field."
Sotelo. as much as any Bulldog
player, has benefited from thc piay of
Olukanni. In his first three seasons,
Sotelo totalled six goals and six assists.
But this year's been a different story.
He ended the regular season as FSU's
second leading scorer tied with Gleason.
They both had eight goals, while Sotelo
added five assists.
"I had a goal of scoring ten times this
year. I came close and up to this point,
it's been nice. It would be nicer if I
could score some more to help us win
the West."
He has not been a scorer throughout
his career, but Sotelo has been able to
See SOTELO, page 7
Bulldogs get NCAA bid; host USF
By Jim Bohannon
Associate Sports Editor
The Fresno State soccer team received
the good news it was hoping for Mon¬
day, as the Bulldogs learned they had
qualified for the NCAA playoffs.
It majks the third consecutive year
(the fourth time in five seasons) that the
FSU soccer team has made it to the
post-season tourney. But the 'Dogs
have yet to win a tournament match
and will be paired against a tough
University of San Francisco team
Sunday at 2 p.m. in Bulldog Stadium.
The Bulldogs traveled to USF earlier
this season and came up on the short
end of a 2-1 overtime game.
"Wc must play USF like we played
them earlier. 1 think that match was
one of the best collegiate matches I
have seen." said Bulldog Coach Jose
Elgorriaga. "The Dons are very well-
balanced and they show tremendous
maturity, skill and poise."
Along with FSU and USF in the Far
West region are UCLA and PCAA
champion Fullerton State. UCLA (15-
0-5) is the defending national champion
and will play host to the Titans, who
are 8-10-2. The victor will play the
winner of Fresno State's match.
Thc 'Dogs played their last several
games knowing that they had to win
every <-ne to earn a tournament bid.
The players on the team responded by
pulling out three/tight wins.
"I feel extremely happy for the
program and for the seniors on the
team," Elgorriaga said. "There are so
many good teams in the west, and with
our record of 15-4-2. wc deserve to be
in the playoffs."
The USF Dons, ranked No. 11 in the
country, have been a perenial power by
- winning four national championships
and making the NCAA playoffs 24 of
the 28 years they have existed.
This year USF finished with a 17-2-4~"
record and were unbeatable on the
road going 11-0*2.