Oct. 11, 2006

Santa Clara, Calif. - Former Santa Clara University men's soccer star helped the United States Beach Soccer team qualify for the 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which takes place in November in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Chimienti and the U.S. posted a 3-1 record in CONCACAF qualifying in September. Chimienti scored two goals in the qualifying matches.

The United States traveled to Puntarenas, Costa Rica for the qualifying matches and took on Jamaica, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. The U.S. defeated Jamaica 5-2 with Chimienti chipping in the fourth goal of the match. Following the win over Jamaica, the U.S. swept to wins over Canada (3-0) and Mexico (7-4) to move to the top of the standings. Despite a 3-2 loss in the final match of the tournament to Costa Rica, the U.S. advanced to the World Cup with a 3-1 record and +7 goal difference. Chimienti also scored in the Americans 3-2 loss to Costa Rica.

The San Jose native from Leland High School had a standout career for the Broncos, scoring 25 career goals and registering 61 points. Both of those totals place him in the top-10 all-time in those categories. He earned All-WCC honors in three out of his four seasons on the Mission Campus. He was also part of the team that advanced to the 1999 NCAA College Cup.

For more information about U.S. Beach Soccer, please visit the official website of U.S. Soccer, www.ussoccer.com.

In other Santa Clara men's soccer news, Real Salt Lake rookie and 2005 WCC MVP Mehdi Ballouchy scored a goal last weekend to help keep his team's Major League Soccer playoff hopes alive. With a win this weekend and a loss by the Colorado Rapids, RSL will qualify for the playoffs for the first time. Ballouchy, who was a first-team All-American at SCU, has appeared in all 31 games for RSL this season, making 26 starts and notching two goals and two assists. He is one of the leading contenders for the league's Rookie of the Year award.