April 24, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's soccer team is hoping to start the 2003 season with a trip to Northern Italy and is hosting numerous fundraisers in an effort to raise money to participate in that preseason tour.
The Broncos are allowed to take this type of trip only once every four years and such an experience will not only benefit the team culturally, but provide great competition and preparation as Santa Clara will be aiming for its 10th College Cup appearance.
In order to raise funds for the trip, the Broncos have been hosting numerous events. The efforts began on April 6, when the Broncos hosted a car was at the Leavey parking lot. Click Here for the photo gallery and recap.
On Tuesday, the women's soccer players will be at it again, hosting Stuft Pizza Night on April 29. It's all-you-can-eat pizza from 5 to 10:30 p.m., with 20 percent of the profits being donated to the program. Diners are asked-when ordering-to let Stuft Pizza know they are with the soccer team.
Young SCU soccer fans can also participate, by attending clinics hosted by the team. On May 3 and May 18, from 4 - 7 p.m. on Stanton Field, the Broncos will be teaching the fundamentals of the game. Cost is $40 per child, but teams that plan to attend will receive a discount.
The Broncos' marquee event is to take place at the Leavey Center on Friday, May 9. The team will be hosting an auction, combined with a celebrity casino night. Headlining the evening will be women's soccer alumna and current captain of the U.S. National Team Brandi Chastain, SCU head coach Jerry Smith, soccer alumna and WUSA 2002 Defensive Player of the Year Danielle Slaton, members from the San Jose CyberRays and possibly some teammates from the San Jose Sharks.
The Auction-Casino will have a theme of 1920s Italian Mafia and dressing the part is highly recommended.
Although the night begins at 6 p.m., a free "kids hour" will start at 5 p.m., and will consist of the team and other celebrities available for signing autographs. T-shirts and other accessories will be available for purchase to have signed. At 6 p.m., anyone under the age of 18 will be asked to leave as alcohol is being served to those 21 and older. The evening will include jazz music, speeches by Smith, Chastain and other entertainment. The tables will then open and the night of gambling and bidding on silent auctions will begin. Later in the evening, a few special items will be auctioned live.
Please Click Here for information on how you can contribute to the success of the auction-casino event. Tickets for the evening can be purchased at the door for $40, or ahead of time for $30. Students are $20, with tickets being sold on campus near Benson on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Appropriate snacks and beverages will be served, and there is no assigned seating.
Please contact Santa Clara Women's Soccer team member Alyssa Sobolik if you plan to attend, know of any one else who would like to attend, or if you have any further questions. Sobolik can be reached by email at Alyso17@aol.com and by phone at 408-605-5770.