Seven Former Broncos Will Battle for Inaugural WUSA Title

Aug. 20, 2001

Click here to listen to head coach Jerry Smith talk about seven former players taking part in the WUSA title game.

Seven former Santa Clara University women's soccer standouts will take part in the inaugural Women's United Soccer Association Championship match this Saturday, August 25, making the Broncos the most represented collegiate program in the title contest.

The event will take place at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., and will be televised live nationally on TNT at 11 a.m. pacific time.

The league's first Championship will feature the Bay Area CyberRays and a Bronco foursome of Brandi Chastain '91, Megan Horvath '01, Jacqui Little '00, and Lisa Naņez '99, taking on the Atlanta Beat, featuring former SCU players Kylie Bivens '99, Nikki Serlenga '99 and Dayna Smith '96.

North Carolina State is second with five players, while Clemson, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Southern Methodist and Texas A&M will have two players each

"I'm very proud that we have seven players representing the two teams in the inaugural championship," Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith said. "I think it speaks well for our program that we are developing our players in the right way. They're moving on from their college experience well prepared to help their team at the next level. Win or lose, I think our players will help their team have a successful game. They represent themselves and Santa Clara very well and we wish them the best of luck in the final."

Smith, who coached all 14 of the Broncos that participated in the WUSA this season, led Bivens, Horvath, Little, Naņez and Serlenga on the 1999 SCU squad that went undefeated during the regular season and reached the NCAA College Cup.

Santa Clara University the second-most represented Division I program in the league during the regular season, behind North Carolina's 19, but had a league leading nine former players participating in last weekend's semifinals, including Philadelphia's Mandy Clemens '91 who posted a goal and an assist in the playoffs and New York's Jennifer Lalor '97, who also added a goal in her team's losing effort.

To round out the Santa Clara contingent is the San Diego Spirit duo of Erin Martinez '97 and Kim Pickup '00, while last year's West Coast Conference Player of the Year Heather Aldama '01 was a starter with the Boston Breakers. Emmy Barr '96 of the Washington Freedom and the Carolina Courage's Mikka Hansen '97 were also key contributors this season.

Athletes Playing in this weekend's WUSA Title Game, by School