Oct. 14, 2003
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This Week
The Broncos return home for two of their three final home matches of the regular season, hosting Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine in continuing West Coast Conference action. Santa Clara leads both series: 8-2-0 against the Lions and 7-2-0 against the Waves. No. 20 LMU is currently 7-3-3, 0-1-0, while Pepperdine (11-2-0, 1-0-0) is currently ranked seventh nationally and is the reigning league champions.
Upcoming Promotions
Fans will have much to celebrate this weekend at Buck Shaw Stadium. Friday 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.
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 32, and is tied for 11th on the league all-time listing. Add in 28 career goals and Osborne has 88 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 has 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.
Overtime Experience
Santa Clara has played four matches to the distance: double overtime. In fact, three of Santa Clara's first six matches went extra frames. With the Broncos draw against CS Fullerton last week, the program has played four overtime games in three of the last four seasons. The record for SCU is five overtime games, played during the 1995 campaign.
A Look Ahead: Broncos Travel Bay Area for WCC Contests
The Broncos will remain in the Bay Area for continuing WCC matches, and will visit San Francisco and Saint Mary's. The Broncos lead both series: 19-0 against the Dons, and 21-3-2 against the Gaels.
Among the Nation's Leaders
Santa Clara is currently ranked 23rd in scoring offense, averaging 2.50 points per game, 99th in shut out percentage (0.36) and 103rd in goals-against average, at 1.142. Individually, Julie Ryder is ranked 22nd in goals-against average (0.61), one of eight freshmen in the top 25.
In the WCC Statistics
Santa Clara leads the league in points (97), goals (35), goals per game (2.5) and corner kicks (90), while ranking second in shots (202) and third in assists (27) and assists per game (1.93). Individually, Leslie Osborne is ranked fifth in assists (5), seventh in shots (32), eighth in points (13) and 10th in goals (4). Marian Dalmy is ranked third in goals (6), fourth in goals per game (.46), sixth in points (14) and seventh in points per game (1.08). Veronica Zepeda is ranked sixth in assists (4) while Julie Ryder is listed third in goals-against average (.61) and fifth in shut outs (4).
Esquivel Receives Weekly Honors
Micaela Esquivel was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week and Soccer Buzz Elite Teams of the Week for October 6 for outstanding performances. Esquivel had spent most of this season at her natural position in the midfield, but recently switched to left back, the position she played last year. The result was two shut-out wins at the Stanford Nike Invitational: 2-0 over the host Cardinal, and 1-0 over TCU.
Esquivel was part of a Bronco defense that allowed only 10 shots in two games, of which only four were on goal, and held opponents to only four corner kicks. In fact, keeper Alyssa Sobolik did not have to make a save against TCU, as the defense ceded no shots on goal or corner kicks. Against the Horned Frogs, Esquivel's attacking abilities were also present, as she played a ball down the left side to Bonnie Bowman, who scored the game-winner.
Match Tickets on Sale
Match tickets for Santa Clara University's nationally-recognized women's soccer team 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 Place Third at World Cup
Four former Santa Clara standouts represented 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 earned a Bronze medal with a victory over Canada last Saturday.
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 12 matches... sat out matches against Cal Poly and TCU 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 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... one of three players that has started all 14 contests... has split time between the midfield and at forward.. has four goals and five assists for 13 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... converted a penalty kick and added an assist against CS Fullerton...
Bronco Bios: Marian Dalmy
As a Freshman in 2003: Named to the SCU adidas Classic All-Tournament Teams... has started 12 contests and seen action in 13 matches... did not play against Cal Poly after pulling leg muscle against USC... has split time between forward and midfield roles... has six goals and two assists for a team-leading 14 points... scored first collegiate goal at San Jose State in first-half action... added first assist in second period... scored against Pacific... had four shots on goal vs. the Tigers... tied match against Penn State with score in 76th minute... slipped a pass through three Georgia defenders to assist on Broncos' third goal... added a score against Notre Dame... scored game-winner at Stanford in the first half... posted fifth goal of season at CS Fullerton...
Bronco Bios: Megan Kakadelas
As a Junior in 2003: Has started 11 contests at forward and has seen action in 13... missed start against Notre Dame due to an equipment issue... also sat out against TCU due to sore hip flexors... has four goals and two assists for 10 points... scored the team's third goal at San Jose State, on a breakaway... added another breakaway, at Virginia, for the early Bronco lead... scored a goal and an assist against Georgia... assisted on SCU's second goal at Stanford... scored in the 87th minute at San Diego...
Bronco Bios: Jessica Ballweg
As a Junior in 2003: Named to the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic and SCU adidas Classic All-Tournament Teams... one of three players that has started all 14 contests... plays mostly in defense but has seen time as the holding midfielder... has two assists on the season ... assisted on the team's fourth goal at San Jose State... assisted on breakaway goal at Virginia...
Bronco Bios: Micaela Esquivel
As a Sophomore in 2003: Has started 13 contests, splitting time between the midfield and defense... missed start against USC due to a red card that was issued against Notre Dame... scored twice at San Jose State, the second on a steal in the penalty box... assisted on the game-winner against Cal Poly... assisted on game-winner against TCU... named to Soccer America and Soccer Buzz Teams of the Week for performances at Stanford Invitational, holding opponents to only 10 shots and no goals...
Bronco Bios: Bree Horvath
As a Junior in 2003: Has started all seven matches she has been available for at forward... missed seven matches due to a hamstring injury, returning against Cal Poly... has three goals and three assists for nine 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... assisted on two goals within one minute of each other at San Diego...
Bronco Bios: Julie Ryder
As a Freshman in 2003: Has started eight contests... earned first collegiate start at San Jose State... has 23 saves on the season... has allowed five goals in 736 minutes for a 0.61 GAA, ranked 22nd nationally... is 6-1-1 on the season with four shut outs... earned first career shutout against California... missed matches at Virginia Classic due to groin strain... added a shut out against previously-undefeated Cal Poly... posted second straight shut out at Stanford... registered third straight shut out at San Diego...