Click Here for Game Photo's by Denis Concordel
SANTA CLARA, Calif.—The Bronco men's soccer team fell to Bay Area rival Stanford by a final of 1-0. The loss puts the Broncos at 0-3-0 and the Cardinal at 1-1-1.
The Cardinal outshot the Broncos 12-5 and shots on goal 6-1.
"I liked that we had moments where we tried to settle the ball and play," said Bronco head coach Cameron Rast. "But we still have to do a better job up front, be able to turn corners and put some teams on their heels. We'll have a little bit more time to regroup and get ready for our trip to New Mexico."
Santa Clara will be on the road for the remainder of the month with its first stop at New Mexico as the team competes in the 2013 TLC Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Lobo Invitational. The Broncos will face New Mexico on Fri., Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. Pacific time and Central Arkansas on Sun., Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. Pacific time.
In the 15th min. of the game Cardinal Eric Verso scored the first and only goal of the night. Santa Clara goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh made a low diving save from a shot at the top of the Broncos box but the Broncos were unable to clear the ball up the field. The ball was served back into the penalty area for Verso to float a header just over McIntosh's reach.
With 24 minutes left in the first half, Santa Clara's Brennan Castro juked his Stanford marker down the left side flank and crossed the ball to the top of the Cardinal box. Santa Clara's Max Ornstil one-time shot the cross that just narrowly missed over the goal.
In the 59th min. of the game, a long throw-in into the box by the Broncos landed at the feet of Carlos Montes who shielded it from a Cardinal defender. Montes crossed the ball for Santa Clara's Michael Gates to shoot but the ball was deflected away by the Stanford defense.
Santa Clara and Stanford played an aggressive back and forth match with the Broncos leading the foul count at 18-17.
Rast was very happy with a number of the men's play tonight including senior Phillip Muscarella, freshman Parker Holland, senior Mark Daus, and sophomore Matt Escobar.
Game Notes: Yellow card cautions were given to Stanford's Tyler Conklin and JJ Koval … A yellow card caution was given to Bronco senior Phillip Muscarella … Attendance at the game was 867.
Written by Lauren Matheson '13, Sports Assistant