Women's Soccer Hosts Virginia for NCAA Quarterfinal

Nov. 29, 2001

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This Week
Second-ranked Santa Clara remains at home and will face No. 14 Virginia in the quarterfinal round of the 2001 NCAA Championships. The Broncos, who are making their seventh straight quarterfinal appearance, are the tournament's second overall seed. SCU will face the Cavaliers at Buck Shaw Stadium at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Broncos (20-2) are making third 13th straight NCAA postseason appearance. Santa Clara received an automatic berth in the 2001 Tournament after winning the West Coast Conference Championship on November 4.

Live on the Internet
Santa Clara's quarterfinal NCAA match on Saturday can be followed online with a live statistical tracker, located on Santa Clara's official athletic website, www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. By logging on, fans can receive real-time updated statistics direct from the official scoring computer. The feature was introduced this season and has been enjoyed for the team's entire home schedule.

On Virginia
Virginia (17-3-2) advances to the quarterfinals for the second time in program history. The Cavaliers advanced with a 4-0 victory over Cincinnati last weekend in Charlottesville. Freshman Lindsay Gusick scored her second hat trick of the season in that victory. Virginia opened the tournament with wins over Liberty and William & Mary. The UVA defense has recorded 11 shutouts this season and has limited 17 of its 22 opponents to 10 shots or less. The Cavaliers are 4-0-1 in its last five postseason games, outscoring opponents 13-2 and allowing no first-half scores. The team is led by senior Lori Lindsey, a Hermann Trophy semifinalist who became only the second player in ACC history to earn Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons, joining former UNC standout Mia Hamm. SCU is 2-0 against ACC foes this season.

The Rest of the Field
Of the 64 teams selected, 11 were from the West Coast. Along with Santa Clara, California, Stanford and Saint Mary's were the other three Bay Area teams selected. Additionally, West Coast Conference opponents Portland, Saint Mary's, San Diego and Pepperdine were placed in the draw. SCU went 9-2 against the tournament field during the regular season. Undefeated North Carolina is the tournament's top seed, followed by the Broncos, UCLA, Portland, Stanford, Florida, Notre Dame and Connecticut.

Advancing Through the Championship
With a win this weekend, the Broncos will make their eighth trip to the final four. The 2001 College Cup will be held December 7 and 9 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. ESPN2 will air the first semifinal tape-delayed on Dec. 8 at 9 a.m. PT, followed by the second semifinal on Dec. 9 at 9 a.m. The title game will air twice on ESPN, live on Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. and rebroadcast on Dec. 11 at noon.

Bronco Offense is Second in the Nation
Santa Clara is ranked second in the nation in total offense, averaging 3.35 points per game with 73 goals in 22 matches. The Bronco defense is also ranked, third with a 0.50 goals-against average. Individually, junior Aly Wagner leads the nation in assists, averaging 0.81 per game while she adds 15 goals to her totals. It averages to place her fifth nationally in points per game with a 2.24 average. Freshman Alyssa Sobolik is ranked third nationally in goals against average (.53 pg), having allowed only 7 goals in 15 matches and 1196 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 139-20-9 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 63-6-3 (.889) at Buck Shaw.

Slaton Named One of WCC's 50 Best of All Time
Danielle Slaton was named one of the 50 greatest athletes in West Coast Conference history, league officials announced on Thursday. She is one of eight former Bronco standouts that were honored, and is the only selection on the 50-member squad who is currently an active participant. Mandy Clemens also of women's soccer, Dennis Awtrey, Steve Nash, Kurt Rambis and Ken Sears from men's basketball, Melissa King from women's basketball and Cameron Rast from men's soccer were also included as some of the greatest student-athletes to ever grace the courts, courses, and fields over the last five decades.

The elite list was compiled by the league as part of the celebration honoring its 50th year of existence. The list includes only individuals from the league's current membership who participated in WCC athletics while the conference sponsored each performer's particular sport. The full list is available at WCCSports.com, the official website of the West Coast Conference.

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.

Bronco Bios: Aly Wagner
As a Junior in 2001: Named a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and MAC Player of the Year finalist... also named a preseason All-American... Named the WCC's Player of the Year and a first-team All-WCC selection... also named the league's Player of the Month for September and October... scored first career-hat trick against Florida State... accomplishment earned her WCC Player of the Week honors and elite team status from Soccer America and Soccer Buzz... posted two goals and two assists at San Jose State... scored one goal and assisted on three others in Bronco win against SMU... added a goal against San Diego State to earn the adidas Classic MVP award... successful weekend also led to her second WCC Player of the Week honors and elite team status from Soccer America and Soccer Buzz... powered a free kick with just 7:43 left in the first overtime period to propel the Broncos to a 2-1 win over Stanford... that victory ended Stanford's 13-match win streak at Maloney Field and its undefeated season...attempted a free kick at the 10:01 mark that went just over the cross bar before she connected on the game winner just 3:00 later... added a goal and an assist against Gonzaga... added two goals and an assist in a 3-0 defeat of No. 2 UCLA... netted a free kick in the 89th minute to lead SCU to a 1-0 victory over Saint Mary's, ending the Gaels' undefeated season... added an assist in both Bronco goals against San Diego for the WCC Championship... did not play in regular season finale against Colorado College while resting a sore hip flexor... converted a penalty kick for the game-winner in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Syracuse... added another penalty kick conversion for the game-winner in the NCAA third round against Dartmouth... leads the WCC with 47 points on 15 goals and 17 assists... is ranked sixth nationally in points per game with a 2.75 average... has started 21 of 21 contests and has posted at least one point in 17 of them... has had a hand in more than one score in eight Bronco contests... is now in 15th place on the league's career points list, with 93 in 60 matches... is ninth in Santa Clara's recordbook in points and goals (29), and has vaulted to No. 4 all-time in assists with 37...

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 the WCC's Defender of the Year and a first-team All-WCC member... named one of the 50 best athletes all-time in the conference during the league's 50th anniversary celebration... is the only current student-athlete on that list... named to the all-adidas Classic team... has started all 22 matches... has one goal and 10 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... added two more on senior night against Colorado College... 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 13 shutouts... held Colorado College to one shot on goal... assisted on the game-winner in the NCAA first round against Evansville... held Syracuse to two shots in NCAA Second Round and Dartmouth to one shot in the third round...

Bronco Bios: Anna Kraus
As a Senior in 2001: Named a preseason All-American... earned second-team All-WCC honors... has started all 22 matches... named to Soccer America's and Soccer Buzz'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 13 shutouts... held Syracuse to two shots in the second round of the NCAA Tournament... and Dartmouth to one shot in the third round...

Bronco Bios: Veronica Zepeda
As a Sophomore in 2001: Named an honorable mention preseason All-American... earned first-team All-WCC honors... scored first goal of the season within first six minutes of first match against Cal Poly... added her second goal later that night... posted a goal and an assist against San Jose State... added an assist for Tahmassian's game-winner against Florida State... has teamed with Tahmassian to score a combined five goals, all within a match's opening six minutes of either half... netted a goal and an assist against SMU... added an assist against SDSU en route to all-adidas Classic honors... was fouled while breaking toward the goal against Saint Mary's, setting up Wagner's free kick that was converted into the game-winner... registered a game-winner against LMU... added her fifth game-winner of the season against Portland to guarantee a share of the WCC title... was taken down in the penalty box in the ninth minute against Dartmouth in the NCAA Third Round and was awarded a penalty kick that Wagner converted for the game-winner... has started 21 of 21 contests... sat out against San Diego while nursing some injuries... is third on the team with 23 points on the season with eight goals and seven assists...

Bronco Bios: Leslie Osborne
As a Freshman in 2001: Earned first-team All-WCC honors... registered first collegiate assist against Cal Poly in the team's season opener, passing to fellow freshman Bree Horvath... beat the keeper and three defenders against San Jose State for her first collegiate goal... scored goals in three straight games, against Cal, Dayton and SMU, on the same play: a header off a corner kick from Aly Wagner... posted one goal and two assists en route to all-adidas Classic honors... scored the program's sixth fastest goal all-time against Fresno State, heading in a ball just 37 seconds into the contest... added three goals and three assists against USF and Gonzaga en route to earning WCC Player of the Week and Soccer America Elite team of the week honors... added two goals and an assist against Colorado College... is one of two freshmen that has started all 22 contests... is second on the team in points, with 39 on 12 goals and 15 assists... added one goal and two assists in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament...