VIDEO: SCU Men's Soccer Spring Training Update

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Your 11-time WCC Champion Santa Clara University men's soccer program will get a unique chance to host a top-level foreign club Monday, May 21 when Sunderland's U18 side visits Buck Shaw Stadium at 7 p.m.

The Broncos are in the midst of their 2012 spring training schedule, which will take the team to Stanford University for a match against the Cardinal Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. SCU's upcoming schedule of two-games in three days is aimed at mimicking a WCC weekend slate, where the team plays every Friday and Sunday.

"Anytime you play a foreign team, your going to take on a group that has a different style and different approach to the game," said Santa Clara head coach Cameron Rast. "If you are going to play an English squad, your playing a team that probably trains everyday at a high level and has some good physicality to their approach; that should make it a good match."

Sunderland's U18 is the academy side for the Premier League's Sunderland A.F.C., located in Northeast England. They will play three games during its postseason development trip to California, facing Stanford Friday, May 18.

"Sunderland is a young aspiring group that will have guys go on and play at the higher levels of English soccer," says Rast. "So we are excited about it. Any time we get a chance to work on our game, no matter who the opponent is, we'll need to solve problems and see what we can do to adjust, play well and approach it properly to get a good result."

The Broncos are 2-0-1 this spring, which includes wins over San Jose State and UC Davis. Admission to Monday's match against Sunderland will be free of charge.