SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The reigning West Coast Conference Champion Santa Clara University men's soccer program is back on the field and has announced its six-game 2011 spring schedule.
 
Top collegiate games in Stanford and UC Davis and of course the reserve side from the San Jose Earthquakes are the focal points of the Broncos spring training schedule, which has the team practicing five to six times a week during the spring quarter.
 
The Broncos, who went 8-1-5 to close out the 2010 regular season, qualified for the NCAA College Cup tournament for the 19th time last fall. Santa Clara's WCC title was its 11th and fourth in nine seasons under head coach Cameron Rast.

"The spring will be an important time for us to work on attacking principals, particularly mobility," said Rast. "The results are still important but this is a development period that will allow us to try various combinations of players to see what works without too much risk. We look to gain momentum heading into the fall season."

SCU was loaded with young talent in 2010, and is expected to return All-WCC honorees Erik Hurtado, Mykell Bates, Kevin Klasila, Eric Masch, Brandon Zimmerman, Keigo Kameya, Mark Daus, Murphy Campbell and Wesley Culver.

"With a large number of returners we have several guys that will influence the group," adds Rast. "Captain Mykell Bates will continue to lead the group in competitiveness and responsibility.  A strong senior core of (David) Castellanos, Klasila, Zimmerman and Campbell will also push the entire group.  I am also excited to see Hurtado and Daus continue their quality play to help the team."
 
2011 Santa Clara Men's Soccer Spring Schedule
Fri. Apr. 22 @ San Jose State 7 p.m.
Sat. Apr. 30 vs. SANTA CRUZ/ALUMNI - 10 a.m.
Wed. May 4 @ Stanford – 7 p.m.
Sat. May 7 vs. UC DAVIS/CSU EAST BAY – 11 a.m./2 p.m.
Tue. May 17 vs. SJ EARTHQUAKES (Reserves) – 2 p.m.