Sept. 8, 2001
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Former Santa Clara University men's and women's soccer standouts Joe Cannon and Megan Horvath, currently two of the more successful players in professional soccer, will be be the keynote speakers at a pregame youth rally on Sept. 14 prior to the highly-anticipated Bronco women's soccer match against Notre Dame.
The pregame event will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Stanton Field, adjacent to Buck Shaw Stadium and all kids in attendance are invited to participate. Youth groups and members of Bronco Kidz are encouraged to attend the event. For information on the event, group and team ticket plans, or to RSVP, contact Lindsay Amstutz at 408/554-4690.
A Bronco regular-season record crowd of over 4,500 is expected for the match, which features two of the top college soccer programs in the country. Both teams are currently ranked among the top five in the national polls and have developed an intense rivalry over the past few years. The Irish defeated Santa Clara 2-1 in overtime last season in the NCAA national quarterfinals, preventing the Broncos from advancing to their fifth-straight College Cup, college soccer's version of the Final Four. In 1999, Notre Dame took a 1-0 win in the semifinals of the College Cup at Spartan Stadium.
A former Bronco All-America Cannon was Major League Soccer's top vote-getter at the goalkeeper position at this year's MLS All-Star game as a member of the San Jose Earthquakes. He has the second-best goals-against average (1.09) heading into the final three regular-season matches of the season prior to the MLS playoffs. He owns San Jose single season records for saves and catches/punches. He was an All-America in 1997 as a Bronco and was a three-time all-West Coast Conference selection.
Horvath, the older sister of current Bronco freshman Bree Horvath, appeared in three College Cups while a member of the Santa Clara women's soccer team. As a member of the Bay Area CyberRays, she was a member of the first champions of the women's professional league and a teammate of three other former Broncos: Brandi Chastain, Jacqui Little and Lisa Nanez.
Buck Shaw Stadium is located near the entrance to campus at 500 El Camino Real. Parking is available in the garage adjacent to the athletics facilities For a campus map, click here.