Rachael Lau will have plenty of local company in the NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament that gets under way today.

Junior forward Caycie Gusman (Kamehameha '06) led Rutgers with eight goals this season, and the Scarlet Knights received an at-large bid in the tournament after losing in the Big East quarterfinals.

Sophomore midfielder Ashley Medcalf (Christian Academy '07) has started all 19 games and scored a goal for Rutgers, which faces Penn State today in Piscataway, N.J.

Denver is back in the tournament after winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament for the third straight year. Junior midfielder Lizzy Carlson (Punahou '06), who was first-team all-league for the second straight season, had assists in each of the first two tournament games before the Pioneers defeated Western Kentucky 2-0 in the final.

Denver takes on Kansas in the opening round today in Stanford, Calif.

Northern Arizona faces Portland in the first round after winning the Big Sky Conference championship last weekend. Sophomore Miya Quinn (Mid-Pacific '07) has a goal and four assists for the Wildcats this year, playing in 19 games and starting four.

Long Beach State senior Mariko Strickland (Mid-Pacific '05), who transferred from San Diego State after her sophomore season, will try to prolong her collegiate career with a win against San Diego today.

Strickland has appeared in all 22 games this season, making four starts, and is tied for the team lead with six assists. She's also scored two goals and is fifth overall with 10 points.

FOOTBALL

» Washington junior defensive lineman Daniel Teo-Nesheim (Hawaii Prep'05) had seven tackles and a sack for the Huskies in a 39-19 loss to Arizona State. Teo-Nesheim spent part of the game matched up against Sun Devils junior offensive lineman Shawn Lauvao (Farrington '05), who made his first start at right tackle after starting every other game at left guard this season.

» Oregon sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (Saint Louis '06) completed 11 of 21 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown and added 46 rushing yards in a 35-28 victory over Stanford. Cardinal sophomore Matthew Masifilo (Campbell '07) started at defensive tackle and finished with three tackles.

» Oregon State freshman linebacker David Paaluhi III (Waianae '07) had three tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in the Beavers' 34-6 win over UCLA. Brandon Hardin (Kamehameha '07) and Aaron Nichols (Kamehameha '06) each had a tackle and Al Afalava (Kahuku '05) had a quarterback hurry, while Micah Kia (Mililani '06) saw time on the offensive line for the Bruins.

» Southern California senior linebacker Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin '05) assisted on two tackles and added a pass breakup in the Trojans' 17-3 win over California. Golden Bears defensive lineman Tyson Alualu (Saint Louis '05) had three tackles and a sack and Mika Kane (Kamehameha '05) added two tackles.

» Weber State sophomore quarterback Cameron Higgins (Saint Louis '06) completed 18 of 23 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns as the Wildcats clinched the Big Sky Conference championship with a 59-27 victory over Idaho State. Higgins found Cody Nakamura (Baldwin '05) from 10 yards out for one of his three TD passes.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

» Pepperdine senior Taylor Smith (Kalaheo '05) had nine points, two rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes off the bench in a 104-51 exhibition win over Cal State Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Waves open the regular season today against Cal State San Luis Obispo.

» Gonzaga sophomore point guard Tatriana Lorenzo (Kamehameha '06) played 21 minutes off the bench and finished with five points, four rebounds and four assists with one turnover in a 94-32 exhibition win over Concordia. The Zags open their regular season tonight against Eastern Oregon.

» Cal State Northridge sophomore Analee Viena-Lota (Kamehameha '07) had 10 points, 15 rebounds and four assists off the bench in an 88-77 exhibition win over The Master's College.