Oct. 1, 2006
Santa Clara, Calif. - The 15th ranked Santa Clara men's soccer team responded to its loss on Friday night with a big 2-1 West Coast Conference victory over No. 10 San Diego on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Broncos (6-3-2, 2-1-0 in WCC) jumped out to a 2-0 first half lead and then held on for a 2-1 victory against the Toreros. Senior Keith DeVey scored his fourth goal of the year just five minutes into the match and sophomore Brian Martin scored just before halftime to send the Broncos on their way. Despite a goal by the Toreros in the second half, the defense, anchored by goalkeeper Joseph Buttitta's six saves, held strong as SCU moved its home record to 2-1-2.
After the loss on Friday night to Loyola Marymount, the Broncos came out with some lineup changes, as Brian Martin moved out wide to the left, while Sean Danzeiser made his second career start. Also, Garrett Frechette played left back in place of Matt Hatzke, who was forced to sit out the game following his red card on Friday night.
The changes appeared to help as SCU jumped out to an early lead. Just as he did last Sunday in San Francisco, DeVey scored an early goal with an opportunistic strike in the fifth minute. Martin beat his man to the endline on the left wing and whipped a cross in that headed straight for the near post upper corner. Toreros goalkeeper Lance Friesz was forced to make the save, but he could not prevent a rebound. The ball fell to DeVey who left-footed the ball into the open goal for his fourth of the season and 18th of his career.
USD appeared poised to tie the game less than 10 minutes later on a well executed counterattack. After forcing a turnover, the Toreros moved the ball wide to the right wing. A low cross then found Tannen Wels just inside the 18-yard box, where he side-footed a low shot to the corner. Buttitta got down low to block the shot, and then recovered to gather in the rebound.
The Broncos then went on the offensive as DeVey nearly scored his second of the day off a corner kick. Freshman Jeff Cosgriff sent the corner to the back post and the ball was knocked back to the near post for a waiting DeVey. He elevated and powered a header to the near post, but Friesz reacted well to make the stop in the 36th minute.
Friesz was unable to stop Martin seven minutes later as the sophomore's great work rate led to his first career goal at Santa Clara. Martin forced the defense into a turnover and then beat a man before sliding a low shot under Friesz and into the far corner for a 2-0 lead.
The Broncos victory would not come easy as USD came out hard after halftime and was rewarded with a goal in the 56th minute. Ryan Guy picked up the ball on the right wing after a foul by SCU. He fed a pass ahead to Kevin Meissner, who spun his defender and got into the box before finishing into the far post to cut the deficit to one.
San Diego continued to send players forward looking for the equalizer, but the Bronco defense stiffened and limited the Toreros chances in the final 30 minutes. Buttitta easily stopped San Diego's final dangerous chance with a save on a long-range blast by reigning WCC Player of the Week Ciaran O'Brien in the 84th minute.
Santa Clara heads out on an important two-game road trip next weekend in the Pacific Northwest. On Friday, Oct. 6, the Broncos play the Gonzaga Bulldogs at 3:00 p.m. PT at Martin Field in Spokane, Wash. Then on Sunday, Oct. 8, SCU invades the Clive Charles Soccer Complex in Portland, Ore. to take on the University of Portland Pilots at 2:15 p.m. PT.
