Oct. 2, 2002
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This Week
Santa Clara, on a five-match unbeaten streak, 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. This year, UCLA just recently added lights to the stadium, making Friday's contest the first-ever night match at Drake Stadium. The match against USC will be a return home for sophomore Megan Kakadelas, who transferred from the Trojan program this past summer.
Osborne Repeats Selection as WCC Player of the Week
Leslie Osborne was named the West Coast Conference's Player of the Week for the second straight week, after scoring the golden goal in the fifth minute of overtime to lead the Broncos to a 2-1 victory over 14th-ranked Tennessee last weekend. Osborne, of Menomonee Falls, Wis., earned all-tournament team honors for her performance at the SCU adidas Classic, which also included scoring the first goal against the Lady Vols. The forward earned the same league honors last week for her performance at the Stanford Nike Invitational, leading the Broncos to a double-overtime tie against No. 16 Florida and a 4-0 victory over Oklahoma, in which she had a hand in all four scores.
National Team Call Ups
U.S. Women's National Team member Aly Wagner netted one goal and two assists in a 5-1 victory over Russia on Sunday. Wagner left the Bronco squad last week to join the National Team as it prepares to qualify for the 2003 Women's World Cup in China by competing in the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup. 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. Wagner is expected to return to Santa Clara in time for the NCAA Tournament.
Wagner's departure is not the first time the Broncos have lost players due to the National Team. Devvyn Hawkins was called up earlier in the month, but declined. Additionally, Santa Clara began the season without three starters, Jessica Ballweg, Megan Kakadelas and Leslie Osborne, as the trio was leading the United States to its first-ever U19 World Championship.
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 SCU's official athletic website. By logging on, fans 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.
Catching the Broncos on TV
Santa Clara's match against Florida in September was the first of two matches during the regular season that will be broadcast on television. The Broncos will make one more regular season appearance on live TV, as Action Sports Cable Network will air SCU's November 3 contest against West Coast Conference rival and 2001 College Cup Participant Portland. The contest against the Gators was shown live on the Sunshine Network.
The Schedule
The Broncos' schedule features 12 opponents that participated in last year's NCAA Tournament, including two of the four 2001 College Cup participants. Additionally, the schedule opened with five of the first six matches against teams that participated in last year's postseason, highlighted by a September 20 showdown with 2001 semifinalist Florida, a team that Santa Clara knocked out of the postseason in overtime last December. Four West Coast Conference teams also made the big dance, and a November 3 contest against semifinalist Portland will highlight league play. With the NCAA title currently in the Broncos' hands, head coach Jerry Smith acknowledges that every time Santa Clara steps on the field this season, their opponent will be playing the national champions, bringing even more determination from an opponent in trying to knock the Broncos from the top.
"We will not understand what we will face in that respect until midway through the season," Smith conceded. "But it's going to be great because we're going to get everybody's best game and that's really going to expose all the weaknesses in our game and give us an opportunity to address those before we get to the playoffs."
Up Next: Broncos Open Up WCC Title Defense
Santa Clara returns to Buck Shaw Stadium to begin league play next Friday. The Broncos open the West Coast Conference Schedule against San Diego, the squad SCU defeated 2-0 last season to clinch its fourth league championship.
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.
Wagner #7 Replica Jersey T-Shirts On Sale
Exclusive Offer! Get your replica jersey/t-shirt of national player of the year Aly Wagner. This item will only be available at Buck Shaw Stadium and online at Santa ClaraBroncos.com this fall. Fans from as far east as New York, as far north as South Dakota and as far south as Georgia have already placed their orders. Limited quantities available. Available in Youth and Adult sizes. Order today!
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 nine 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 nine 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... named the adidas Classic Defensive MVP...
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 nine contests... despite never playing fullback, started on the right side for the first seven contests... 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... registered first on SCU's third goal against Oklahoma...
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 seven starts and has seen action in all nine 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 eight contests since joining the squad, with six starts... added the game-winner at Cal Poly... has four goals and four assists to lead the team with 12 points... posted third game-winner of season against Montana...
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 eight 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... repeated conference honor the following week while also being named to the adidas Classic All-tournament team... scored both goals against Tennessee...
Bronco Bios: Erin Pearson
As a Sophomore in 2002: Made first collegiate appearance against Notre Dame, registering four saves on nine shots while earning the shutout... has four starts and currently has a 0.74 goals-against average... has nine saves on the year...