MEN'S NEWS ... It's a long way from California to Storrs, Conn., but it's a testament to Coach Ray Reid's power of persuasion that he's convinced five Californians to play for the Huskies.

In his UConn debut, Alan Ponce, a JC transfer from Rio Honda Community College, scored the winning goal on a nifty header, and fellow California Kwame Siriboe-Watson scored the first goal, also a header, in his four years with the Huskies to lead them to a 2-0 win over St. Peter's in Wednesday's opener.

Also making his college debut was highly touted freshman Carlos Alvarez, who spent time in camps with both the U.S. and Mexican youth national teams. Like Siriboe-Watson, Shawn Nicklaw is a returning starter on the UConn backline. UConn's fifth Golden Stater, Cruz Hernandez, came off the bench against St. Peter's.

(Click here for extended highlights of UConn-St. Peter's.)

* Overshadowed by the final of the U.S. Open Cup at RFK Stadium was the opening day of the D.C. College Cup on Wednesday evening at George Mason Stadium. Parker Walton knocked in the game-winning goal in the 86th minute to lift No. 19 George Mason past Howard, 2-1. American shut out George Washington, 2-0, on goals by David Menzie and Karsten Smith.

* South Carolina's 3-1 win over Charlotte on Tuesday was costly. Senior defender Mark Wiltse, who had started 52 of 53 games at South Carolina, was lost for the season with a broken right leg. He will be eligible for a medical hardship.

* Soccer America's Men's College Scoreboard has all of Wednesday's results and the rest of the week's Top 25 matches.