SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco mourns the loss of men's soccer Hall of Famer Eduardo Rangel who passed away last week.  Rangel was a member of the Dons first National Championship in 1966 and was inducted into the USF Hall of Fame in 2017.
 
Rangel was a forward on USF's soccer team which came to national prominence in the mid-1960's under legendary head coach Steve Negoesco. Rangel's team-leading 21 goals in 1966 helped USF to its first of four NCAA Championships under Negoesco, as the Dons turned back San Jose State, Saint Louis, Army and Long Island en route to the national title.
 
In a quarterfinal match in rainy conditions at Saint Louis, Rangel accounted for the game-winning goal when he converted a rebound off the Billiken goalkeeper to lift the Dons to their first-ever NCAA semifinal appearance. After defeating Army, 2-0 in the national semifinals, Rangel and the Dons routed LIU, 5-2 to claim their first-ever NCAA Championship. Along with teammate Luis Sagastume, Rangel was named an All-American by the National Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association of America following his remarkable senior season.
 
Rangel came to the Hilltop after graduating from Mission High School in San Francisco.  He was one of the players from Coach Negoesco's very successful Hakoa Juniors Championship team, the group formed the core of USF's first championship.  He graduated with a degree in biology and business.
 
Jim Spagnole, who was a teammate of Rangel's on that '66 team had this to say: "I was a new player at USF and not a member of the Hakoa group, but Eduardo welcomed me from the first day and became my friend in those early days and over the next four years.  His was a voice of encouragement, and leadership, to me making the challenging transition to competitive collegiate soccer. He had an infectious smile and easy demeanor - until the whistle blew.  He was a tireless competitor whose easy demeanor was deceptive to the opposition who learned to their dismay that he was a force to be reckoned with. As a member of the USF Hall of Fame Selection Committee I was honored to submit and shepherd his nomination for induction into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame."