Dec. 1, 2001
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's soccer team defeated Virginia Saturday by a score of 3-2 to earn a trip to the 2001 NCAA Women's College Cup in Dallas, Texas, December 7 and 9.
The Broncos played the first half much like the first halves of each of their first three rounds in this year's tournament, out-shooting the Cavaliers 11-0. Danielle Slaton made her first shot count at the 20:28 mark when she took a rebounded Leslie Osborne shot and ripped it past Virginia's keeper, Anne Abernethy, to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead.
Veronica Zepeda increased Santa Clara's lead at the 39:50 mark when she took a Slaton pass and slipped it past Abernethy, giving the Broncos a 2-0 lead going into halftime.
Including Saturday's game, the Broncos have now out-shot their opponents 54-3 in the first half of each round in this year's tournament.
The second half started out much of the same way that the first half ended, with Santa Clara (21-2-0) on the offensive. At the 53:44 mark Aly Wagner scored her 16th goal of the season off a great heal pass from Kristi Candau, increasing the Bronco lead to 3-0.
Virginia (17-4-2) refused to quit however, rallying just six minutes later to score their first goal of the game on their first shot of the game. Jessica Trainor hammered home her first goal of the season at the 59:39 mark off a pass from Lori Lindsey, beating Erin Sharpe into the upper left portion of the net.
Lindsey would then draw the Cavaliers to within one just 1:17 later as she drilled home a shot from 40 yards out, just clearing the head of Sharpe, who was inserted just five minutes prior to allowing the first goal.
Virginia was able to take one more shot in the game, but was not able to score as the Bronco defense picked up their pace, while the offense did a good job of holding its possessions.
The 1,114 fans in the stands were thrilled and relieved at the same time when the final horn finally sounded, giving the Broncos their eighth overall trip to the Women's College Cup. The win also gives the Broncos their fifth College Cup appearance in the last six years.