April 1, 2001

SPOKANE, Wash. - Two of three soccer players with ties to the Gonzaga program made professional soccer rosters as Major League Soccer and the Women's United Soccer Association made final roster cuts over the weekend.

Brian Ching, the 1998 West Coast Conference player of the year, signed a contract to play on the final 18-man roster for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Ching was selected in the second round of the MLS draft becoming the first Gonzaga player and first Hawaiian to be selected by the professional soccer league. Ching was also the PDL rookie of the year with the Spokane Shadow during the 1998 season. The Galaxy open the 2001 season this Saturday.

Former Gonzaga assistant women's coach Kim (Stiles) Calkins made the final roster for the Boston Breakers of the new women's professional league. Stiles, a former standout performer at the University of Portland, was an assistant coach with the Bulldogs program during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Two-time All-West Coast Conference selection Sara Streufert was offered a spot on the San Diego Spirit farm team after being one of the final three players released from the WUSA team. Streufert is currently undecided about either returning to play for the San Diego farm team this summer or pursuing her playing options in Europe. Streufert ended her four-year Gonzaga career as the school's all-time leading goal scorer.