Ryan Finley

San Diego

Sports Editor at The San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego Union-Tribune sports editor. Hot Lava podcast co-host. Twin who has twins.

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Articles

Three matches in 7 days a first for San Diego FC

6 days ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

San Diego FC is fast running out of firsts. Still, this weekend’s match at St. Louis City SC marks new territory for Major League Soccer’s newest club. The 5:30 p.m. start is the first of three matches SDFC will play in during a seven-day stretch. The club’s first-ever midweek game is scheduled for Wednesday against the Colorado Rapids at Snapdragon Stadium; SDFC will wrap the stretch on May 17 with a home match against Sporting Kansas City.
USD wins NCAA Tournament opener, will play USC on Sunday at noon

1 week ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

USD made program history on Saturday, hosting the NCAA Division I men’s tennis tournament for the first time. The Toreros — ranked No. 7 nationally — made the home fans happy. Playing in front of 575 at the Hogan Tennis Center, USD beat No. 44 UC Irvine 4-1 to advance to Sunday’s second round. The Toreros will play USC at noon after the Trojans advanced with a 4-0 win over Arizona State on Saturday afternoon. The teams played earlier this season, with the Toreros beating the Trojans 4-1.
San Diego FC’s challenge: Win games without changing style, losing soul

1 week ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

Mikey Varas lingered at the end of Thursday’s practice, talking with one of San Diego FC’s players on a distant practice field at the club’s Singing Hills headquarters. Nothing animated, no drama. Just some one-on-one time. The first major challenge of Varas’ Major League Soccer head coaching career has arrived, a job made even more complicated by SDFC’s expansion status.
Kimmi Ascanio scores first professional goal as Wave beat Stars 3-0 in Chicago

2 weeks ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

The visiting San Diego Wave made history on Saturday, starting three 17-year-olds as they visited the Chicago Stars. It was extra special for one of the three teenagers. Midfielder Kimmi Ascanio scored her first-ever professional goal in the waning minutes of a dominant 3-0 win over the Stars at SeatGeek Stadium.
For San Diego FC and local soccer fans, there’s no place like home

2 weeks ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

Long before San Diego FC had a name, logo, coach or general manager, the men running San Diego’s Major League Soccer expansion franchise discussed what they wanted the club to be. Some of the best insight came from Cody Martinez. The chairman of the Sycuan tribe and vice chairman of SDFC, Martinez wanted a club that would represent all of San Diego County. Not just for the coast. Not just for North County. Not just for downtown.
TCU to replace Kansas in Rady Children’s Invitational this November

3 weeks ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

The Rady Children’s Invitational field is filled, again. TCU will play in the Thanksgiving tournament at USD’s Jenny Craig Pavilion, joining national champion Florida, Providence and Wisconsin for the two-day event. The Horned Frogs replace Kansas, which was initially announced as a tournament participant before opting to play elsewhere. The Rady Children’s Invitational begins Nov. 27, with the championship and third-place games scheduled for the next day.
Chihuahua beats Sockers twice, denies San Diego its 17th indoor soccer title

3 weeks ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

La Arena Corner Sport continues to be a house of horrors for the San Diego Sockers. The Chihuahua Savage’s tiny arena and short field give the Mexican club one of the best advantages in the Major Arena Soccer League. And on Sunday night, the hosts used every edge to beat the Sockers and capture their third consecutive Ron Newman Cup title.
Roundup: San Diego Wave win in Louisville; SDFC falls in Charlotte

3 weeks ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

The San Diego Wave took on facing Racing Louisville on Saturday, and the only team in a hurry was the visiting one. The Wave’s Melanie Barcenas and Delphine Cascarino scoed in a 10-minute span in the second half and Cascarino added her second goal 17 minutes later, and the Wave beat Racing Louisville 4-1. The offensive explosion was big for the Wave, who had scored just five goals in their previous four matches before Saturday.
SDFC’s gauntlet continues with trip to Charlotte; Wave race off to Louisville

3 weeks ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

San Diego FC spent last weekend a mile high, huffing and puffing on the way to a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rapids outside Denver. Things won’t get any easier Saturday, when they take on Charlotte FC more than 2,300 miles away from home. The trip east is SDFC’s longest of the young season — the club is traveling roughly twice as far as it did a week ago and in a March trip to Austin, Texas. SDFC coach Mikey Varas knows what his club is up against.
Oceanside native, LJCD grad Te-Hina Paopao taken in WNBA Draft

1 month ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Ryan Finley

Since her days at La Jolla Country Day, Te-Hina Paopao has played alongside some of the best in the country. Now, the Oceanside native will line up with one of women’s basketball’s legends. The Atlanta Dream drafted Paopao in the second round (18th overall) of Monday night’s WNBA Draft. The University of South Carolina grad will join a team that recently signed Britney Griner to a one-year, free-agent contract.