Aug. 30, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The top-ranked Santa Clara University women's soccer team opened its 2001 NCAA Championship defense with a 3-0 loss to the fifth-ranked Stanford Cardinal tonight at Buck Shaw Stadium. The 4,756 fans that attended tonight's match broke the attendance record for a regular season home match.
The former mark was set October 17, 1999, when 4,051 fans attended the Broncos' 4-2 victory over Notre Dame.
Santa Clara fell to 0-1 while Stanford improved to 1-0. The contest also marked the first season-opening loss for the Broncos since a 2-1 setback to Sonoma State in 1987.
The Santa Clara Athletic Department began the evening by honoring the National Champion team with a flag raised next to the scoreboard on the south end of the stadium. The Broncos were playing without two starters from last year's squad--sophomores Jessica Ballweg and Leslie Osborne, along with transfer Megan Kakadelas --who are currently with the U.S. U19 National Team at the first ever FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship in Canada.
Stanford struck early, as Brittany Oliveira scored in the fifth minute for the Cardinal. Marcie Ward and Callie Withers added second-half scores for Stanford to complete the shutout. The Broncos were out-shot 16-12 in the contest.
The Broncos will continue the regular season and start a six-match road trip in South Bend, Ind., for the KeyBank/Notre Dame adidas Classic. SCU will open the tournament against host Notre Dame while taking on 2001 NCAA Tournament participant Clemson in the Sunday morning match. The Broncos are 2-2 at the KeyBank Classic, but lost to the Irish during their last visit to South Bend, a 2-1overtime loss in the 2000 NCAA Quarterfinals.
