Paul Mcdonnell

The Titans had two players named first-team all-Pacific Division. Eddie Soto, a sophomore forward, and Ken Hesse, a junior midfielder, were the first-team selections. Titan goalkeeper Mike Ammann was named to the second team, as were defenders Paul McDonnell and Demain Brown and forward Rick Rodriguez.

Paul McDonnell's 23rd birthday was filled with great personal disappointment as well as great personal revelation. "It was a bad birthday," he said, "because we didn't win . . ." McDonnell scored three goals on July 24, but the Splash lost to the Sockers in San Diego in a first-place showdown. And McDonnell, as a rookie professional playing indoor soccer for the first time, had already learned the bottom line from his more experienced teammates. The bottom line is winning.

The Cal State Fullerton soccer team squandered several close-range scoring opportunities against San Diego State Thursday night, so with time winding down in a scoreless game, Titan junior defenseman Paul McDonnell decided to dial long distance. It turned out to be a collect call. McDonnell's perfectly placed 27-yard shot with 15 minutes 17 seconds remaining sailed over Aztec goalie Shannon Storey and into the net to give Fullerton a 1-0 victory before 1,014 in the Titan Sports Complex.

The Titans had two players named first-team all-Pacific Division. Eddie Soto, a sophomore forward, and Ken Hesse, a junior midfielder, were the first-team selections. Titan goalkeeper Mike Ammann was named to the second team, as were defenders Paul McDonnell and Demain Brown and forward Rick Rodriguez.

Paul McDonnell's 23rd birthday was filled with great personal disappointment as well as great personal revelation. "It was a bad birthday," he said, "because we didn't win . . ." McDonnell scored three goals on July 24, but the Splash lost to the Sockers in San Diego in a first-place showdown. And McDonnell, as a rookie professional playing indoor soccer for the first time, had already learned the bottom line from his more experienced teammates. The bottom line is winning.

FC Keli Linz, a men's professional club soccer team, defeated Cal State Fullerton, 3-0, in an exhibition game Saturday at Titan Stadium. The game was a final-performance showcase for five Titan seniors--Mike Ammann, Todd Patrick, Paul McDonnell, Mark Vaught and Ken Hesse--who played on the 1993 men's team that was the first in school history to qualify for the NCAA final four.

A major financial agency upgraded the county's credit rating, citing strong economic growth and sound fiscal management, a move that will save the county millions in financing costs. Standard & Poor's boosted the county's rating from AA-minus to AA last month, county Treasurer-Tax Collector Paul McDonnell said. Fitch Ratings also rated the county AA last month for the first time. The bond ratings will help defray costs of major construction projects, including proposed jails, McDonnell said.

The Splash continues to be hot at the right time, getting its fifth victory in six tries with only two games remaining in the regular season, as it doubled up Arizona, 10-5, Saturday night in Phoenix. It led, 3-2, at halftime, but put the game out of reach in the third quarter, outscoring Arizona, 4-1. The Splash held on to win despite being outshot, 43-21. Paul McDonnell scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Splash (15-11) with three points.

The Seattle SeaDogs scored a goal early in overtime to beat the Splash, 8-7, Wednesday at Key Arena in Seattle. Olu Moloma scored the winning goal for the SeaDogs off an assist by Tim Bartro 1 minute 22 seconds into overtime. Moloma had a game-high three goals. The Splash, playing without Dale Ervine, their top offensive player, led, 5-1, at the end of the first half.

Cal State Fullerton scored four goals in the second half and beat Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 5-1, in a nonconference men's soccer match Sunday at Fullerton. Matt Bradbury scored twice in the second half, and Mark Vaught, and Paul McDonnell also scored for Fullerton (6-2). Ricky Rodriguez scored in the first half for the Titans.

The Cal State Fullerton soccer team squandered several close-range scoring opportunities against San Diego State Thursday night, so with time winding down in a scoreless game, Titan junior defenseman Paul McDonnell decided to dial long distance. It turned out to be a collect call. McDonnell's perfectly placed 27-yard shot with 15 minutes 17 seconds remaining sailed over Aztec goalie Shannon Storey and into the net to give Fullerton a 1-0 victory before 1,014 in the Titan Sports Complex.

The Splash gave up seven unanswered goals in the second half and lost, 8-3, to the Houston Hotshots in a Continental Indoor Soccer League game Saturday at The Summit in Houston. The loss, its fourth in the last six games, drops the Splash (9-7) a game behind San Diego (11-7) in the Western Division. The Splash was outshot, 39-24, in the game, including, 25-10, in the second half. Goalkeeper Ruben Fernandez stopped 21 shots.

Twenty victories. There is something about the number that is important to Splash Coach George Fernandez. The Splash beat the Arizona Sandsharks, 10-6, Saturday before 8,336 at The Pond and closed out the regular season with record of 20-8. Only the Dallas Sidekicks (23-4) have as many victories in the Continental Indoor Soccer League. "It (20 victories) puts us above and beyond everybody else," Fernandez said.