Sept. 13, 2002
BERKELEY, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's soccer team fell to seventh-ranked California 2-1 this afternoon at Edwards Stadium in Berkeley. The Broncos, ranked third, fall to 2-2, while the Golden Bears improve to 4-1.
This is the second-straight year that the Golden Bears have defeated the Broncos. Last year at Santa Clara, Cal also posted a 2-1 decision, but it had the advantage of having its All-American forward Laura Schott score the game-winning goal. Against Santa Clara this year, Schott missed her fourth game of the year and her third due to an MCL sprain.
"I thought we were out-played," SCU head coach Jerry Smith said. "Cal is a very tough team and they showed they wanted it more today."
Cal midfielder Brittany Kirk gave her team the early lead in the 23rd minute with a chip shot from 19 yards out. Kirk almost did it again two minutes later, with her shot bouncing off the crossbar, but teammate Tracy Hamm was able to collect the ball and punch it in for the 2-0 Bear lead.
While Cal played better than Santa Clara in the first half, Santa Clara had more of the possession in the second period, creating many dangerous opportunities on crosses but only two on shots. The Broncos avoided the shutout early in the second half when senior midfielder Aly Wagner scored off a free kick in the 55th minute. Wagner was dribbling down the field when she was tripped up right outside the box. Her score beat Bear keeper Sani Post low on the right side.
Later in the second half, SCU's Chardonnay Poole got off a diving header in Cal's penalty box, but a Bear defender came up with the save. The Bears relied on counter attacks in the second half and were able to get off three shots to the Broncos' four. Cal reserve forward Krysti Whalen forced freshman goalkeeper Erin Pearson into her second save of the game with a shot in the 69th minute.
Overall, California outshot the Broncos by a 10-9 margin.
The Broncos remain on the road, taking on Cal Poly on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. in San Luis Obispo.
