Sept. 9, 2003
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This Week
Santa Clara will travel across the country this week to participate in the Virginia Classic in Charlottesville. The Broncos will take on two preseason top-10 opponents, in host Virginia (2-1-1) and Penn State (3-1-0), marking the third and fourth matches of the season against ranked competition. The Broncos last faced the now-ranked 15th Cavaliers in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, en route to the National Championship. The series between the schools is tied 2-2. Penn State, a 2002 College Cup participant and currently ranked seventh, has only played against SCU on one other occasion, also in the postseason, a second round Bronco victory in 1996.
Live on the Internet
Fans can follow Friday night's game against Virginia via livestats at the following link: http://virginiasports.ocsn.com/livestats/w-soccer/index.html.
Zepeda a "Player to Watch" for M.A.C. Hermann Trophy
Veronica Zepeda has been named to the "watch list" of players considered among the top candidates for the 2003 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top players in NCAA Division I soccer. The Riverside, Calif., native is a preseason All-America candidate as well, and opened the season against third-ranked UCLA last Friday with a goal.
The M.A.C.'s Hermann Trophy is college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy. Past recipients include former Broncos Mandy Clemens and Aly Wagner. Clemens won both the Hermann Trophy and MAC Player of the Year awards in 1999, while Wagner became the honoree to have the distinction of receiving the newly-unified award.
In the Rankings
Santa Clara opened the 2003 season ranked in the top five in all four polls. The NSCAA/adidas and Soccer Buzz polls currently list the Broncos No. 2, while Soccer America and Soccer Times list the Broncos third. The Broncos have a total of nine ranked teams on the schedule and will bring six of the top 25 to Buck Shaw Stadium.
Bronco Men's & Women's Programs Making Strides
Santa Clara University is one of four colleges that can claim both its men's and women's soccer programs are ranked in the top 10 nationally. According to the Sept. 8 NSCAA/adidas poll, the Bronco women are ranked second, while the men are sixth. North Carolina (women No. 1, men No. 5), UCLA (women No. 4, men No. 3) and Connecticut (women No. 8, men No. 10) are the other three schools.
A Look Ahead: The Santa Clara/adidas Classic
College Sports Television, the first 24-hour college sports television network, will televise all four games of the 2003 Santa Clara adidas Classic next weekend. The Classic, scheduled for Sept. 19 and 21 at Buck Shaw Stadium, opens with Stanford vs. Notre Dame at 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Friday, while Santa Clara hosts Georgia in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Georgia plays the Cardinal in the first game at 11 a.m., while Santa Clara hosts the Fighting Irish at 1:30 p.m.
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 17 home matches is available for the adult price of $65 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.
Four Broncos Named to U.S. World Cup Roster
Four former Santa Clara standouts will represent the United States at this month's FIFA Women's World Cup 2003, as U.S. Women's National Team head coach April Heinrichs named Kylie Bivens, Brandi Chastain, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner as four of the 20 players who will play in their home country on women's soccer's grandest stage.
"Having coached all four players, I know how hard they worked prior to attending Santa Clara, while they were here, and since they've left the University," Bronco head coach Jerry Smith said. "There's no doubt that all four deserve to be on the World Cup roster and I couldn't be any more proud or happier for them. I'm also very honored that the Santa Clara women's soccer program could play a role in the development of the players they've become."
Bronco Bios: Preseason All-America Veronica Zepeda
As a Senior in 2003: A team captain... one of 16 national "Players to Watch" for M.A.C. Hermann Trophy... named a preseason All-America candidate by Soccer America... has started three contests at forward and has seen action in all four matches... has three goals and one assist on the season for seven points... scored team's first goal of the season, against No. 3 UCLA in the first half... slanted a shot that split two Bruin defenders and bested the keeper... marked her 25th career goal... played the entire 110 minutes, a career high, after stress fractures in legs the past three seasons often prevented playing entire matches... team nicknamed her "Gramma" as body was sore during preseason because she wasn't used to two-a-day workouts... scored two goals and an assist against Pacific.
Bronco Bios: Preseason All-America Leslie Osborne
As a Junior in 2003: A team captain... named a preseason All-America candidate by Soccer America and Soccer Buzz magazines... has started all four contests at midfield... has one goal and three assists for five points... had stitches on right temple for first two games after a collision in practice... earned an assist at San Jose State... posted a goal and two assists against Pacific, including the game-winner.
Bronco Bios: Julie Ryder
As a Freshman in 2003: Has started the last three contests... earned first collegiate start at San Jose State... has six saves on the season... has allowed 2 goals in 286 minutes for a 0.63 GAA... earned first career shutout against California.