Oct. 1, 2003
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This Week
The Broncos will travel 20 miles up the peninsula to participate in the Stanford Classic in Palo Alto this weekend. Santa Clara will open the tournament against host Stanford on Friday night and then play TCU Sunday morning. The rivalry against the Cardinal dates back to 1980, with SCU holding a 14-9-5 advantage. The Cardinal is currently 5-3-1 on the season and ranked 21st nationally. The weekend will also mark the first match against the Horned Frogs in program history. TCU enters the weekend 5-4-1 and will play LMU Friday night before facing the Broncos.
Osborne Climbing Career Charts
Junior Leslie Osborne is steadily climbing both the Santa Clara and West Coast Conference recordbooks. The midfielder from Menomonee Falls, Wis., currently ranks ninth on the SCU career assists list with 31, and is tied for 11th on the league all-time listing. Add in 27 career goals and Osborne has 85 points in her two-plus seasons, good for ninth on the Broncos' career points list.
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, and opened the season against third-ranked UCLA with a goal. She currently leads the team with 10 points (3 goals, 4 assists).
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. However, Soccer America and Soccer Times currently list the Broncos 15th and 19th, while the NSCAA/adidas and Soccer Buzz polls have SCU out of the top 25. The omission from the Soccer Buzz poll is a first for the Broncos since the poll started August 26, 1996. Until this week, SCU and North Carolina were the only programs ranked in every poll since its inception. Nevertheless, the Broncos still received votes and are among five schools (UNC, UConn, Penn State and Texas A&M) that have received votes in every national poll.
The Broncos have a total of 10 ranked teams on the schedule and will bring seven of the top 25 to Buck Shaw Stadium.
A Look Ahead: Broncos Visit CS Fullerton, Begin WCC Play
The Broncos will play Cal State Fullerton for the first time in program history before opening the West Coast Conference's 12th season. Santa Clara was voted one of the league's preseason favorites by the coaches during a summer poll (see right box for more information). SCU is 9-2-0 against the Toreros, and currently amid a six-match winning streak, including three straight shut outs.
Upcoming Promotions
When the Broncos return to Buck Shaw Stadium October 17 and 19, fans will have much to celebrate. The Friday match against Loyola Marymount is High School Night, where teams with RSVPs will be admitted for free (call 408-554-4660 for reservation). On Sunday against Pepperdine, it's Bronco Kidz Day, with fun and festivities planned for our younger fans.
Among the Nation's Leaders
Santa Clara is currently ranked 23rd in scoring offense, averaging 2.70 points per game.
In the WCC Statistics
Santa Clara leads the league in points (75), goals (27), goals per game (2.7) and corner kicks (58), while ranking second in assists (20) and third in shots (147). Individually, Leslie Osborne is ranked fourth in assists (4), and eighth in points (10) and shots (23). Marian Dalmy is ranked seventh in goals (4) and goals per game (0.44), eighth in points (10) and 10th in points per game (1.11).
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 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 Former Broncos Currently at World Cup
Four former Santa Clara standouts are representing the United States at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003. 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 are playing in their home country on women's soccer's grandest stage.
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... named to the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team... has started six contests and has seen action in nine matches... sat out match against Cal Poly to rest due to shin splints... plays mostly at forward, but has seen action in the midfield... has three goals and four assists on the season for team-leading 10 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... notched two assists at the adidas Classic... was held out of first half of USC match to rest injury, but played in second half, sparking Bronco offense with a flurry to plays...
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... named to the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic and SCU adidas Classic All-Tournament Teams... has started all 10 contests... has split time between the midfield and at forward.. has three goals and four assists for 10 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... posted four shots against Penn State, including one in overtime that almost scored... scored two goals and netted one assist against Georgia...
Bronco Bios: Tiffany Roberts
As a Freshman in 2003: Has started six contests at midfield and seen action in all 10... has two goals and one assist for five points... made first start at San Jose State... earned an assist on team's seventh goal against the Spartans... scored third tally against Pacific from 30 yards out... headed in the game-winner against Cal Poly in the 14th minute...
Bronco Bios: Julie Ryder
As a Freshman in 2003: Has started six contests... earned first collegiate start at San Jose State... has 17 saves on the season... has allowed five goals in 556 minutes for a 0.81 GAA... is 4-1-1 on the season... earned first career shutout against California... missed matches at Virginia Classic due to groin strain... added a shut out against previously-undefeated Cal Poly...
Bronco Bios: Lauren Zealear
As a Freshman in 2003: Started the eight contests and has seen action in all 10 matches... plays mostly in defense, but has seen time at midfield... assisted on the Broncos fifth goal against Pacific...
Bronco Bios: Tina Estrada
As a Freshman in 2003: Has started the last four matches and has seen action in seven contests... has two goals and one assist for five points... made Bronco debut in second overtime against California... did not practice with the team during preseason training due to mononucleosis and missed first three matches... earned first start against Georgia and scored in the 11th minute, assisted on a goal in the 16th minute, and scored again in the 88th minute...
Bronco Bios: Bree Horvath
As a Junior in 2003: Has three starts at forward... missed seven matches due to a hamstring injury, returning against Cal Poly... has three goals and one assist for seven points... netted first career hat trick at San Jose State, scoring all three goals in the first 29 minutes of contest, including the game-winner... added an assist in the second half...
Bronco Bios: Kristi Candau
As a Senior in 2003: Made season debut against Penn State and has seen action in four matches... missed first five matches while recovering from a summer surgery on leg... took one shot in return... entered match against Cal Poly less than two minutes before scoring first goal of season on a free kick...