Aug. 27, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara midfielder Jalil Anibaba was selected as a 2008 Soccer America Men's Preseason Second Team All-American; it was announced Wednesday by the publication. This is the first All-American honor for the sophomore from Davis, Calif.
Anibaba started all 22 games for Santa Clara in 2007 and led the team in minutes played with 2,035. He scored one goal on the season, a game-winning shot with two seconds left in regulation. It was an incredible side-volley against San Francisco on Oct. 12. For his efforts, he was named to College Soccer News' National Team of the Week on Oct. 15. Anibaba moved from midfield to central defense on Sept. 14 against Stanford and started at center back every game after that. The Broncos went 13-1-4 in games Anibaba started in central defense. Anibaba earned West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2007, was an All-WCC first team selection and was named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Season All-Freshman first team.
The No. 1 Broncos begin their season on the road on Saturday, Aug. 30 against the Ramblers of Loyola University-Chicago. Game time is slated for 5 p.m. PT.