Titan Soccer Teams to Open With Tournament

The Cal State Fullerton men’s and women’s soccer teams will open the season this weekend in the Reebok Invitational at Titan Stadium.

Play in the men’s division begins Friday and continues Sunday. The Titans meet Vanderbilt at 7:30 p.m. Friday, after a match between UCLA and Santa Clara at 5 p.m. Fullerton and Santa Clara play at 7:30 p.m. Sunday after UCLA and Vanderbilt meet at 5.

The women’s division starts Saturday, when Fullerton plays Brigham Young at 7:30 p.m. after a 5 p.m. match between San Diego and Alabama. The four teams return Monday, with the Titans playing Alabama at 6 p.m., following the San Diego-Brigham Young game at 3:30 p.m.

Both Fullerton teams have been troubled by injuries. Freshman forward Duncan Oughton from New Zealand had been impressive in early workouts with the men’s team, but he will be out two to six weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery. Barbie Gill, who led the women’s team in assists last season and scored six goals, had knee surgery Monday and will be sidelined indefinitely.

The Fullerton men advanced to the NCAA playoffs last year but were beaten in the second round. Two of the top scorers on the team, which finished 11-4-6, are back. Striker Sheldon Thomas was the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s player of the year last season, when he had 17 goals and five assists. Forward Charlie Lynch also returns after scoring 20 points on eight goals and four assists.

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Huntington Beach High has hired two coaches, Athletic Director Dave Van Hoorebeke said Tuesday.

Mario Parker is the new girls’ tennis coach, replacing Sergiu Boerica, who resigned to devote more time to his coaching job at Chapman University.

Erin Everest Rands is the new boys’ and girls’ cross-country coach. She replaces Eric Anderson, who will be an assistant coach at Saddleback College.

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Former UC Irvine assistant basketball coach Joe Cravens has been hired as an assistant at Weber State.

Craven spent last season with the Anteaters. He was the head coach at Idaho for three seasons before coming to Irvine.