Few countries emphasize college soccer quite like the United States, but the U.S. has until this year struggled in the World University Games soccer competition. A poor showing at the ’95 competition proved to be undoing of Olympic coach Timo Liekoski. This year’s U.S. entrant, though, came home with a bronze medal after beating Ukraine 2-1 in the third-place game in Trapani, Italy. The U.S. had fallen to host Italy 1-0 in the semifinals on a penalty kick in overtime. Three players were ejected during the game, two Italians and American Scott Vermillion. Portland’s Andrew Gregor and Creighton’s Johnny Torres scored against Ukraine. “We proved Americans can play soccer,” said Gregor. “We’re good at more than just the American sports of basketball, football and baseball.” The Americans were hot in Sicily, scoring 16 goals in six games. Torres led the team with five goals. Virginia’s Ben Olsen and South Carolina’s Clint Mathis had four. Mathis’ Gamecock teammate, Josh Wolff, had two. The third-place finish was the best by a men’s outdoor team at a world championship. The U.S. lost in the semifinals of the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay ù no third-place game was played ù and finished fourth at the 1989 Under-20 World Cup.