Women's Soccer Returns to Buck Shaw Stadium

Sept. 24, 2002

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This Week
Santa Clara is pairing with adidas for the third straight year to host one of the finest tournaments in collegiate soccer. The Santa Clara/adidas Classic, which annually features some of the nation's finest teams, is heading toward its seventh tournament. Nike was the team's previous sponsor, hosting the annual invitational from 1996 through 1999. This year, the Broncos will host Stanford, Montana and Tennessee, with the Cardinal making its fourth trip to the Classic. Stanford is 5-2-1 all time in this tournament, while the Grizzlies and Volunteers will be making their first trip to Buck Shaw.

Broncos Find Success at adidas Classic
Santa Clara has won all six of the previous Classic championships, most recently last season with victories over Southern Methodist and San Diego State. The Broncos are 12-0-0 all-time in Classic play, outscoring opponents 58-6 in those matches and notching seven shutouts.

Osborne Named WCC Player of the Week
Leslie Osborne was named the West Coast Conference's Player of the Week for her performance this past weekend at the Stanford Nike Invitational, leading the Broncos to a 4-0 victory over Oklahoma, in which Osborne had a hand in all four scores. Osborne, of Menomonee Falls, Wis., scored the game-winner against the Sooners in the 25th minute, juking around a defender before beating Oklahoma keeper Catherine Wade from 10 yards away.

In second-half action, although not credited with an assist, Osborne began the drive that gave SCU a 2-0 lead in the 57th minute. Five minutes later, she assisted on Kristi Candau's second goal of the game. Osborne closed out Bronco scoring in the 77th minute, with a header from the far side. The goals were Osborne's first of the season.

Wagner Moving Up WCC Charts
With one goal and one assist this past weekend, Aly Wagner moved up to seventh on the West Coast Conference career points list, at 109. Wagner has also broken into the WCC top 15 career goal scorers with 34. She is also fifth on the league's list for career assists, with 41.

Live on the Internet
Santa Clara's entire home schedule returns to the Internet, as a live audio broadcast will be available for a second season on www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. Additionally, Buck Shaw contests can be followed online with a live statistical tracker, also located on Santa Clara's official athletic website. By logging on, fans will receive real-time updated statistics direct from the official scoring computer, allowing users to listen to the audio broadcast and keep up with the statistics simultaneously. Ram Fletcher returns as the voice of the Broncos with SCU men's soccer alumni Mark Wojciechowski adding color commentary.

In the Rankings
Santa Clara fell just a few spots. Soccer Times listed SCU seventh, while Soccer America Magazine, NSCAA/adidas and Soccer Buzz Magazine list SCU 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively. Ten Bronco opponents are ranked, including Tennessee on Sunday. The Broncos have already faced five ranked foes and will also take on Portland, UCLA, USC and Pepperdine.

More National Team Call Ups
Just as the Broncos are gelling as a team, since gaining the three sophomores they lost at the start of the season to the U.S. U19 National Team, SCU may not have the services of two very key starters. Senior midfielder Aly Wagner has been called up to the full National Team as one of 28 players to train for four days in Long Island, N.Y., before the USA opens the 2002 Nike U.S. Women's Cup against Russia on Sept. 29. The training will serve a dual purpose for Heinrichs, who will choose 18 players to represent the USA in the tournament, but will also be using the time to evaluate her pool in preparation for the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, which will serve as the USA's qualification tournament for the 2003 Women's World Cup in China. The Women's Gold Cup, which also serves as the Regional championship, will be held from Oct. 27-Nov. 9, 2002 at four venues on the west coast of the United States and Canada. Fellow senior midfielder Devvyn Hawkins could also miss matches and weeks of training later in the season should she be called up as well.

Up Next: Broncos Take on Pac-10 Powers in Los Angeles
Santa Clara will head to the southern half of the state and take on UCLA and USC, two Pac-10 schools that are also ranked nationally. This week, the Bruins are ranked third nationally, while the Women of Troy come in at No. 18. Last season, the Bruins visited Buck Shaw Stadium ranked second in the country and undefeated at 11-0 before the Broncos earned a 3-0 victory. The match against USC will be a return home for sophomore Megan Kakadelas, who transferred from the Trojan program this past summer.

Season/Match Tickets On Sale
Season and individual match tickets for Santa Clara University's nationally recognized soccer teams are on sale through the Department of Athletics' official website www.SantaClaraBroncos.com, and the athletic ticket office at 408-554-4660, between the hours of 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In conjunction with its exclusive Internet partner, Official College Sports Network, the athletic department has developed an online ticket application that provides fans with the ability to purchase season tickets, family plans, individual matches or an all-sports pass via the official athletic website. A men's and women's soccer season ticket package that includes the remaining 18 home matches is available for the adult price of $60 each, while a family plan provides a family of five admission to each game for the low price of $100. Youth (12 and under) and senior (over 65-years-old) season tickets are also available for $30. Single games are priced at $7 for adults, $5 for youths and seniors and $2 for non-Ruff Riders SCU students as well as members of Bronco Kidz. Single match team passes are also available for $35.

Head Coach Jerry Smith
The number 13 has become a lucky number head coach Jerry Smith (CS Hayward '86), who won his first NCAA College Cup National Championship in his 13th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The 15-year year coach earned his sixth WCC Coach of the Year honor when he was named this year's co-recipient with Saint Mary's Paul Ratcliffe. Smith has compiled an overall record of 242-60-15 (.787) and earned his 50th WCC victory against Gonzaga in mid-October. Additionally, he has coached Santa Clara to 13 straight NCAA Tournament appearances and eight College Cups. The winningest coach in the program's history, Smith is fourth on the all-time NCAA coaching victory list. The Broncos have been ranked among the nation's Top 25 every season during Smith's coaching tenure and have finished among the Top 10 in each of the last 12 campaigns. In 1990, Santa Clara finished the season ranked first nationally. Additionally, he has coached 16 All-Americans, 11 U.S. National Team Players, eight Academic All-Americans and five WCC Freshmen of the Year, including 2001 selection Veronica Zepeda. He coached 1999 National Player of the Year Mandy Clemens.

Bronco Bios: Player of the Year Candidate Aly Wagner
As a Senior in 2002: A team captain... named a preseason All-American by Soccer Buzz and Soccer America magazines... has started all six contests she has played... missed game at Cal Poly, due to bruised tailbone suffered at California... earned all-tournament team honors at the Notre Dame Classic... scored twice against Clemson... also named to Soccer America's Team of the Week... is seventh on the West Coast Conference career points list, at 109... also broke into the top 15 career goal scorers with 34.... is also fifth on the league's list for career assists, with 41... scored a goal and an assist against Florida... has been called up to the U.S. National Team for participation in the Nike Women's Cup at the end of the month and will miss most of the rest of the regular season...

Bronco Bios: Preseason All-America Veronica Zepeda
As a Junior in 2002: Named a preseason All-American by Soccer Buzz Magazine... will be slowed by leg injuries during the early season... earned all-tournament team honors at the Notre Dame Classic... has started twice and seen action in all seven contests... earned first goal of the season against Clemson...

Bronco Bios: Preseason All-America Devvyn Hawkins
As a Senior in 2002: A team captain... named a preseason All-American by Soccer America Magazine... is one of four players that has started all seven contests... was called up to join the National Team, but sprained right ankle during practice on Sept. 2, and declined National Team offer... assisted on two of the Broncos' four goals against Oklahoma...

Bronco Bios: Micaela Esquivel
As a Freshman in 2002: Made first collegiate start against Stanford and is one of four players that has started all seven contests... despite never playing fullback, starts on the right side... earned first collegiate goal against Notre Dame, gathering a loose ball off a corner kick at the top of the arc and chipping a shot in...

Bronco Bios: Kristi Candau
As a Junior in 2002: A team captain... earned all-tournament team honors at the Notre Dame Classic... scored twice against the Fighting Irish and added the game-winning goal against Clemson... has five starts and has seen action in all seven contests... scored two goals in each of the two contests she did not start... leads the team with five goals, after scoring twice against Oklahoma... had three other dangerous shots in that game, narrowly missing a hat trick...

Bronco Bios: Megan Kakadelas
As a Sophomore in 2002: Missed the match against Stanford while with the U.S. U19 National Team, winning the first-ever FIFA U19 World Championship in Canada... earned all-tournament team honors at the Notre Dame Classic... scored the game-winner in her Bronco debut against Notre Dame and assisted on Candau's first score... has seen action in all six contests since joining the squad, with four starts... added the game-winner at Cal Poly... has three goals and four assists to lead the team with 10 points...

Bronco Bios: Leslie Osborne
As a Sophomore in 2002: Missed the match against Stanford while with the U.S. U19 National Team, winning the first-ever FIFA U19 World Championship in Canada... has started all six matches since returning... plays all field positions... had a hand in all four goals against Oklahoma, scoring twice and netting one assist... started the drive that scored the second Bronco goal... named the WCC Player of the Week for those efforts...