USD women's soccer coach Ada Greenwood didn't wait for NCAA tournament representatives to officially postpone yesterday afternoon's second-round game against No. 1 seed UCLA in Los Angeles due to poor air quality from wildfires burning across Southern California.

He figured it out the night before, when he stepped outside the team's hotel.

“The ash was like snow,” Greenwood said. “Some of the kids started having chest problems. They kept saying we were going to play at 1 o'clock (Sunday), and it was so obvious we weren't going to play. It was beyond obvious. I took the chance and called their bluff. We just left, mate, and drove home.”

It wasn't until yesterday morning that the NCAA announced the postponement. The current plan is to try again today at 6 p.m. at UCLA's Drake Stadium – maybe.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District listed pollution levels in the L.A. area as “unhealthy” with an AQI (air quality index) over 150. Today's forecast still calls for an AQI in the low 100s, which is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

USD officials offered to move the game to Torero Stadium, where air quality is at healthy levels, but UCLA refused.

“Why would they (play in San Diego)?” Greenwood said. “That's not a good scenario when you're a No. 1 seed. They earned home-field advantage. It's obvious they're trying to do everything they can to play the game there.

“I don't care about playing at our place. That's not the issue. It's about the welfare of the student-athlete. . . . We don't want to play if the air quality is still bad.”

The Toreros (15-4-2) beat Long Beach State 1-0 in Friday night's first round and returned to their hotel in Woodland Hills, northwest of UCLA. But the smoke from the fires was so bad Saturday morning that they moved to a hotel in Culver City.

The smoke and ash began to accumulate there, too, and by Saturday night at 11 Greenwood had them back on the bus, this time for home.

“Hopefully the air quality clears up (today) and we can play,” Greenwood said. “I will get upset if we drive up there and they tell us we're not playing. If that happens, someone needs to step in and say (to UCLA): 'Drive down to San Diego or Irvine and just play.' ”