Sept. 20, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The seventh-ranked Santa Clara University men's soccer team captured the title of its own tournament, cruising past George Washington by a 6-0 score for the Santa Clara adidas Classic Championship. With the win the Broncos move to 6-0-2 on the year while dropping the Colonials to 1-6-0.
"We were able to work on a lot of things during both games of this tournament," said head coach Cameron Rast. "Tonight was a good result against a team that made it to the NCAA Tournment a year ago. I am especially pleased with the resolve of our defense tonight, maintaining their consistency despite the differential on the scoreboard this evening."
As a team the Broncos took 21 shots while not allowing George Washington to get off a single shot in the match. Santa Clara's stifling defense increases its scoreless streak to 447:46, dating back to the only goal they have allowed in 2003 which came in the 23rd minute against then No. 4 SMU.
Ryan Wolfe started the scoring for the Broncos at the 3:05 mark as he slid a shot into the lower right portion of the goal off two passes from Jeff Scott and Will Weatherly. Kelechi Igwe netted the second goal and his shot went almost into the same spot after a deft touch pass from Kirk Fonseca set him up perfectly inside the goal box.
Will Weatherly connected on a penalty kick in the 26th minute after he was take down from behind in the box. Tannen Wels picked up his first collegiate goal in the 43rd minute to wrap up the scoring in the first half, taking a pass off the foot of Alex Tablin-Wolf and hammering home the shot from four yards out.
Fonseca added a goal of his own in the second half, his first of the year, as he took a pass from fellow senior Kellen Gilmore and slotted his shot past Eric Lund from 18 yards out. Sophomore Ryan Purtell scored the final goal for the Broncos, the first of his career as well, taking a corner kick pass from Scott and one-timing it with his right foot.
Ryan Cochrane was named the tournament's Defensive MVP as the junior anchored a Bronco defense that allowed only four shots in the two games of the adidas Classic. Eric Irvine was named the adidas Classic offensive MVP as the sophomore picked up both goals in the Broncos' 2-0 win over Cal State Monterey Bay in the evening match on Thursday.
SCU netminder Steve Cronin and defender Jason Pan were named to the adidas Classic All-Tournament team alongside Cochrane and Irvine.
The Broncos return to the road next weekend with two matches in Kansas City, Mo., as part of the UMKC Tournament. Santa Clara will take on the host Kangaroos of UMKC on Friday evening before going up against No. 20 Tulsa on Sunday.
Santa Clara adidas Classic Honors
Offensive MVP:Eric Irvine, Santa Clara
Defensive MVP:
Ryan Cochrane, Santa Clara
All-Classic Team Members:
Steve Cronin, Santa Clara
Jason Pan, Santa Clara
Ben Stuart, San Francisco
Nick Kounalakis, San Francisco
Kevin Long, San Francisco
Tommy Hernandez, CSU Monterey Bay
Nick Lackey, CSU Monterey Bay
Steve Anderson, George Washington
Robert Kirchner, George Washington