Jan. 28, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Former Broncos Ricky Davis and Steve Cronin were both listed among the top players who ever were members of the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team by ussoccer.com this week. Davis played for Santa Clara in 1976 before becoming a professional a year later. Cronin was a three-year letterwinner for the Broncos from 2001-03 before he was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes.
"Ricky Davis is one of the early pioneers for Santa Clara soccer and U.S. soccer," said Bronco head coach Cameron Rast. "Although he played at SCU for a short time, his ability allowed him to go on and achieve one of the most storied careers of U.S. Soccer. He is one of the most recognizable soccer players to come out of the U.S. Soccer program."
Davis was one of five midfielders named to the best of the U-20 team. He was the first member of the U-20 team to ever score a hat trick, a feat he accomplished in 1977 against the Dominican Republic in an opening round qualifier in Puerto Rico. It would take 28 years for another U-20 player to register a hat trick as Eddie Gaven matched the accomplishment in January of this year. In eight games with the team, Davis scored eight goals including three in the final round wins over Guatemala and Canada. Following his performance with the Under-20 team, he would become a member of the U.S. Men's National Team in the same year. He earned his first full cap with the team in 1977 as he went on to earn 36 caps and score seven goals in the next 11 years and take part in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. He also served as the team captain of the National Team from 1984 through the 1988 Olympics.
A 2001 inductee to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Davis spent 11 years playing professional soccer in the United States. He was a member of the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League from 1978-1984, Davis scored 15 goals and registered 41 assists in 129 games in New York. Following his time with the NASL, Davis became a member of the St. Louis Steamers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. In his six years (1983-1989) with the league, he played for three different teams, including the New York Arrows and Tacoma Stars. Davis went on to score 129 goals and post 124 assists in the MISL.
Cronin, who was the Broncos starting goalkeeper through out his three years with the program, was named an Honorable Mention to the best of the U-20 list. A member of the 2003 Under-20 U.S. National Team, Cronin posted two shutouts in the Youth World Championships in the United Arab Emirates and led the team to an appearance in the quarterfinals. The Fair Oaks, Calif. native was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2004 and spent the following season in San Jose. On January 12, Cronin was traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.
"Steve had a tremendous career at Santa Clara, which cumulated in a great showing at the Youth World Championships," commented Rast. "He is now positioning himself to become one of the premier goalkeepers for U.S. soccer."
While at Santa Clara, Cronin was instrumental in leading the Broncos to the 2003 College Cup. Over the course of his Bronco career, Cronin posted 12 shutouts and recorded 89 saves. His 0.83 career goals against average ranks fifth in the Bronco record books, while his 0.60 mark in 2003 is the fifth-best single season output in school history.
