UCLA men’s soccer coach Jorge Salcedo and other athletic
department officials were among those who gathered for a memorial
service at Pepin/Rood Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday in honor
of former Bruin men’s soccer coach Tom Fitzgerald, who died
Saturday. Fitzgerald, who was coaching at the University of Tampa
this year, passed away after sustaining injuries from an auto
accident when his Harley-Davidson was hit by a sport-utlity vehicle
in Tampa, Fla. To keep Fitzgerald’s legacy alive, there are
plans in place to dedicate scholarships and events in the former
coach’s name. According to the Tampa Tribune, there will be a
game played in memory of Fitzgerald on Feb. 12 between Major League
Soccer’s Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake. Fitzgerald, who
coached at Tampa from 1987-95 and 2004, took home an NCAA Division
II title in 1994. He later went on to coach at the Major League
Soccer level for the Columbus Crew (1996-2001) and at UCLA
(2002-03), leading the Bruins to a national championship in his
first year at the helm. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife Debi and
sons Shane and Jesse.
2004 NCAA College Cup: This weekend’s College Cup for
men’s soccer features second-seeded Indiana, third-seeded
Maryland, ninth-seeded UC Santa Barbara, and unseeded Duke. The
College Cup, hosted by UCLA at the Home Depot Center in Carson, is
being held in California for the first time since 1981. Defending
champion Indiana will face Maryland in the first semifinal match
Friday at 5 p.m., followed by Duke against UCSB at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are on sale for $15 at the Home Depot Center.