April 19, 2001

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's soccer team launches its quest for a third NCAA College Cup appearance in the last four seasons on August 31 at San Diego State in the first of its19-game regular-season schedule, Head Coach Mitch Murray announced today.

The Bronco men's soccer schedule, which is annually one of the toughest in the country, features seven teams that played in last year's NCAA Tournament, including four during a nine-game stretch in the month of September.

In addition to its West Coast Conference schedule, which includes home games against San Diego, Gonzaga and Portand, the Broncos will play Bay Area rivals San Jose State and Stanford at Buck Shaw Stadium (capacity 6,800). Santa Clara will also host Bradley, Sacramento State and Washington in non-conference matches, as well as hosting its annual Adidas Classic. This year's event features Long Island University, Marquette and San Francisco.

Santa Clara will travel to San Diego State, Cal, San Francisco, Saint Mary's and Loyola Marymount and will face Oregon State and UCLA in the Diadora Classic at San Francisco. The Broncos will also participate in a tournament at Florida International against host FIU and James Madison.

"I think our fans and our team will really enjoy our schedule this season, particularly at home" said Mitch Murray, who enters his 11th season as Santa Clara's head men's soccer coach. "We set our schedule to give us the best possible chance to develop the younger players through the early part of the season. But, at the same time, we play some of the best teams in the country and maintain a high level of competition that gives us a taste of what it takes to win once we get into the NCAA Tournament. This year's schedule gives us a chance to do both of those things."

The Broncos return eight starters from last year's team that finished the season with a 10-7 overall record and 4-2 mark in the WCC. Leading the way will be WCC defender of the year Jeff Stewart, who will be considered a candidate for national defender of the year honors in 2001. Also returning are two of the league's top senior performers in forward Anthony Chimienti and goalkeeper Rusty Johnson.

2001 Santa Clara Men's Soccer Schedule
A. 31 at San Diego State
S. 4 Bradley
S. 7 ~Oregon State
S. 9 ~UCLA
S. 12 San Jose State
S. 15 Sacramento State
S. 20 +Long Island University
S. 22 +Marquette
S. 28 ^Florida International
S. 30 ^James Madison
O. 5 Washington
O. 7 at California
O. 12 San Diego*
O. 19 at San Francisco*
O. 21 Stanford
O. 27 Gonzaga*
N. 3 Portland*
N. 11 at Saint Mary's
N. 16 at Loyola Marymount*

~Diadora Classic, San Francisco, Calif.
+Adidas Classic, Santa Clara, Calif.
^Florida International Tournament, Miami, Fla.