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.