Nov. 8, 2001
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This Week
The Broncos close out the home and regular seasons next Saturday when they host Colorado College (11-4-2). That contest is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Buck Shaw Stadium. Santa Clara seniors Kerry Cathcart, Ynez Carrasco, Anna Kraus, Katie Sheppard and Danielle Slaton will be honored prior to kickoff, as they will be playing in the final regular-season home match.
WCC Champions
Santa Clara returned to the top of the league leaderboard with its fourth West Coast Conference Championship in five years, and fifth overall. The Broncos went 6-1 in league play for the 2001 crown, and earned the WCC's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Santa Clara's other titles came in 1993, '97, '98 and '99.
Live on the Internet
Santa Clara's regular season finale against Colorado College on Saturday can be heard on a live Internet audio broadcast on www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. Additionally, the contest can be followed online with a live statistical tracker, also located on Santa Clara's official athletic website. By logging on, fans can receive real-time updated statistics direct from the official scoring computer allowing users to listen to the audio broadcast and keep up with the statistics simultaneously. The features were introduced this season and have been enjoyed for the team's entire home schedule. Ram Fletcher and Will Saso will share duties as the voice of the Broncos with SCU men's soccer alumni Mark Wojciechowski adding color commentary. Logistics for broadcasting NCAA Tournament games are currently being sorted out.
Wagner Repeats WCC Player of the Month Selection
Aly Wagner was named the West Coast Conference's Women's Soccer Player of the Month for October after registering six goals and six assists to lead the league in both categories. She was also named the league's player of the month in September. Last month, Wagner led Santa Clara to a No. 2 national ranking with wins over three top-seven opponents. Wagner started every match and had a hand in at least one goal for six of those eight contests with a 2.25 points per game average. Three of her goals were game-winners: a free kick against Stanford in overtime, and another in the 89th minute to upset previously undefeated Saint Mary's. Wagner also netted two goals and assisted on a third in the Broncos' 3-0 win over previously unbeaten UCLA. She posted 22 shots on goal and averaged 4.88 shots per game. During the month, she earned two WCC Player of the Week honors, two Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week honors and three recognitions on the Soccer America Elite Team of the Week.
Up Next: NCAA Tournament Selection Show
On Monday, November 12, the NCAA will announce which 64 teams will make it to the 2001 Tournament. Santa Clara earned an automatic berth into the Championship by winning the WCC Championship. An expansion from last year's 48-team draw, this year's tournament will see 27 other conferences awarded automatic berths with 36 teams receiving at-large selections. Four teams will be selected to 16 sites with the first and second rounds being played on November 16 and 18 respectively. The third round will be held November 23-25 and the quarterfinals will be played November 30-December 2. The 2001 Women's College Cup will be held December 7 and 9 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, hosted by Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Bronco Offense is Second in the Nation
Santa Clara is ranked second the nation in total offense, averaging 3.3 points per game with 60 goals in 18 matches. The Bronco defense is also ranked, eighth with a 0.55 goals-against average. Individually, junior Aly Wagner leads the nation in assists, averaging 0.88 per game while ranking 14th in goals per game, with a 0.81 mark. It averages to place her fourth nationally in points per game with a 2.5 average. Freshman Alyssa Sobolik is ranked ninth nationally in goals against average (.54 pg), having allowed on 7 goals in 14 matches and 1170 minutes of action. She is one of two freshmen ranked in the top 20.
The Broncos at Buck Shaw Stadium
Santa Clara has posted a 138-20-9 record at the 6,800-seat Buck Shaw Stadium over the last 15-plus seasons, including an 11-0-0 record in 1999. Over the last five-plus seasons, the Broncos are 62-6-3 (.894) at Buck Shaw.
Wagner Moves Up in WCC, SCU Top-10 Lists
Aly Wagner moved into 18th place on the West Coast Conference's career points list, with 89 in 57 matches. This season, she currently leads the league in both goals (13) and assists (17) for 43 points, which is tied for 14th best in the conference for a season. Additionally, her 13 goals ties for 10th in the league's list for goals in a season. Wagner is also ninth in Santa Clara's recordbook in points, and has vaulted to No. 4 all-time in assists with 37. She registered 12 as a redshirt freshman in 1999 and added eight last season.
WCC Statistics
Santa Clara leads the conference in every offensive category: shots (351), goals (60), assists (57), points (177), goals per game (3.3) and assists per game (3.2). Individually, five Broncos are listed in the league's top 10 list for goals, assists and their respective per-game averages.
In the Rankings
Santa Clara is currently ranked second in all four polls: Soccer America, NCSAA/adidas, Soccer Buzz Magazine and Soccer Times. Five of Santa Clara's final seven opponents were ranked nationally, including four conference opponents. In fact, for the first time in league history in any sport, the West Coast Conference had five teams ranked in the top 25 nationally, in No. 4 Portland, No. 12 Saint Mary's, No. 18 San Diego and No. 21 Pepperdine last week. Overall, Santa Clara went 7-2 against ranked opponents, with three wins over top-five foes: No. 2 UCLA, No. 4 Stanford and No. 4 Portland.
Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner are also candidates for the 2001 Hermann Trophy, college soccer's oldest and most prestigious player of the year award, the Hermann Foundation and TEAMtalk, Inc., announced in August. Fifteen finalists were named. Wagner was named one of five finalists for last year's honor, while Slaton and former standout Heather Aldama were named semifinalists. Mandy Clemens became the first Bronco to be honored with the Hermann, when she was announced as the 1999 winner. Clemens was only the second SCU player to capture the title of national player of the year. Former standout Brandi Chastain earned postseason honors following the 1990 season as she was named the 1990 ISAA Player of the Year. Three finalists will be announced on December 1 and the winners will be named at the College Cup, held December 8 in Dallas, Texas. The Hermann Trophy, soccer's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, has been given annually since 1988.
MAC Player of the Year Finalists
Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner were named candidates for the 11th annual Missouri Athletic Club's Collegiate Player of the Year Award, as announced by the Missouri Athletic Club Sports Foundation. Last season, Slaton finished fourth while Wagner placed fifth in the final ballots. The award is the official National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas award for Division I players. The winner will be presented with the award on January 11, 2002 in St. Louis. Former standout Mandy Clemens won the award in 1999.
Senior Bios
Bronco Bios: Danielle Slaton
As a Senior in 2001: Named a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and MAC Player of the Year finalist... also named a preseason All-American... named to the all-adidas Classic team... has started all 18 matches... has one goal and five assists... scored first goal of the year off a corner kick against second-ranked UCLA in the match's seventh minute... notched two assists in the Broncos' 10-0 defeat of Gonzaga... began the season at left back but was moved to the center in late September to secure the defense... has effectively shut down opposing team's attacks... with fellow senior Anna Kraus, anchors a defense that is flanked by two freshman and a freshman goalkeeper... has only allowed three goals all season in the run of play with 10 shutouts.
Bronco Bios: Kerry Cathcart
As a Senior in 2001: Scored first goal of the season in the first half against Dayton... capped a 5-2 win against SMU with a goal in the 90th minute... has started all 18 matches and has nine points on three goals and three assists...
Bronco Bios: Anna Kraus
As a Senior in 2001: Named a preseason All-American... has started all 18 matches... named to Soccer America's team of the week after holding Portland's Christine Sinclair without a shot and shutting down San Diego's attack... with fellow senior Danielle Slaton, anchors a defense that is flanked by two freshman and a freshman goalkeeper... has only allowed three goals all season in the run of play with 10 shutouts...
Bronco Bios: Ynez Carrasco
As a Senior in 2001: Saw first collegiate soccer action against Fresno State, when substituted in the contest's 78th minute... a four-year standout on the SCU volleyball team, had never played soccer before working out with the team last spring... did not record a save in 12 minutes of action... also saw 13 minutes against Gonzaga, preserving the team's shut out.
Bronco Bios: Katie Sheppard
As a Senior in 2001: Has not seen action yet... is currently sidelined by stress fractures...