April 18, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The national champion Santa Clara University women's soccer team will be honored at the San Jose CyberRays/U.S. Soccer doubleheader on Saturday, April 27, as part of Women's Soccer Championship Night.
The Broncos, who defeated North Carolina 1-0 in December to take the NCAA title, will be recognized at halftime of the CyberRays' 4:30 p.m. match against the Carolina Courage and will be one of three championship teams on the field that evening. The CyberRays are the defending WUSA Champions and the U.S. Women, who are beginning qualifying preparations for the 2003 Women's World Cup, are the defending World Cup Champions.
Santa Clara players will be represented in both the WUSA match and the 7 p.m. international friendly. Six current and former Broncos have been called up to the national team for the Finland match-one third of the 18-player roster- including Brandi Chastain '91, the CyberRays captain, Danielle Slaton '02, who was the most valuable defender of the NCAA championship and the WUSA's No.1 draft pick, going to the Courage, Mandy Clemens '00 of the Philadelphia Charge, Kylie Bivens '00 of the Atlanta Beat, and rising senior midfielders Aly Wagner and Devvyn Hawkins.
Combined with the additional two reserves on the CyberRays roster in Lisa Naņez '99 and Megan Horvath '01, Saturday's activities will feature 27 Santa Clara women's soccer players in the national spotlight. The matches will mark the first-ever doubleheader with the U.S. Women's National Team and WUSA squads.
Activities begin at Spartan Stadium in San Jose at 4:30 p.m., when San Jose hosts the Carolina Courage. That contest will air live on local cable channel 36. During the halftime of the WUSA contest, the Broncos will be honored for bringing home the first women's NCAA Championship in University history. The United States will then take on Finland, a match that will air live on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. Pacific Time.
The 2001 National Champions will be on hand after the ceremony to sign autographs in between matches. Additionally, the SCU Alumni Association is sponsoring a pre-match tailgating party that will begin in the East Lot at 3 p.m. Lark Chastain, Brand's mother, will co-host the Bring-your-own-food event.
SCU alumni can reserve tickets through the Alumni Office for $10 by calling 408-554-6800. Current students, faculty and staff members will also be admitted for the group price. To purchase tickets, please call 408-998-TIXS or visit one of two locations: the CyberRays Tower at 1991 Park Ave. between 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or the Compaq Center at 525 W. Santa Clara St between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Media may contact Jody Meacham of the San Jose CyberRays at 408-261-7724 or Lisa Eskey of Santa Clara Athletics at 408-554-4659 for more information.