Oct. 21, 2003
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This Week
Santa Clara University is in the midst of a seven-match unbeaten streak, during which it has outscored its opponents 19-3. 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. USF is currently 5-10, 1-2, while Saint Mary's record stands at 6-7-1, 2-1.
Live on the Internet
Santa Clara's entire home schedule returns to the Internet, as a live audio broadcast is available for a third 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 and SCU men's soccer alumni Mark Wojciechowski return as the voices of the Broncos. Friday's match at San Francisco will also be broadcast online.
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., is one of three players that have started all 16 matches this season, and despite taking on a more defensive role this season, leads the team with eight goals and 20 points. In SCU career record books, Osborne moved into the top 10 in goals, at 32. She is also ranked ninth in assists (31). In the league listings, Osborne is tied for 11th in career assists, and 16th in career goals and points.
Osborne Earns WCC Player of the Week
Leslie Osborne was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week for her performances this past weekend in leading the Broncos to two victories. A preseason All-American midfielder, Osborne netted her first career hat trick to lead the Broncos to a 5-0 victory over seventh-ranked Pepperdine Sunday at Buck Shaw Stadium.
Broncos Net Two Hat Tricks This Season
Bronco juniors Bree Horvath and Leslie Osborne have each netted a hat trick for Santa Clara this season. They were each the first in the respective careers of the star student-athletes. Horvath and Osborne are only the 13th and 14th players in program history to record such a milestone, which respectively marks the 20th and 21st hat tricks in SCU women's soccer.
Horvath accomplished her feat as she led the Broncos to a 9-1 victory at San Jose State, scoring all three goals in the match's first 29 minutes. Osborne accomplished her feat last weekend against Pepperdine, netting two penalty kicks and scoring in the run of play in the 5-0 victory. She netted the game-winner in the first half, and then scored right after intermission in the 54th minute. Her final goal came on another penalty kick, this time in the 75th minute.
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.
Quick Strikes in WCC Matches
Santa Clara opened the WCC season at San Diego with two scores just 49 seconds apart. The next weekend against LMU, two of the Bronco goals were scored within 65 seconds of each other. Santa Clara went three-for-three with back-to-back goals against Pepperdine, striking two with only 1:19 separating the scores.
Spreading the Offense
Twelve different Broncos have scored goals this season, with nine team members notching at least three goals apiece. Leslie Osborne leads the squad with eight goals, followed by Tracy Hess' six and Marian Dalmy's five. Accounting for assists, there are six Broncos with at least 10 points on the season, led again, by Osborne's 20.
A Look Ahead: Broncos Honor Seniors in Final Home Match of Regular Season
Santa Clara will return home next weekend for the final home match of the regular season. The Broncos will honor seniors Veronica Zepeda, Kristi Candau, Tracy Hess and Chardonnay Poole in a pre-match ceremony, and then take on third-ranked Portland in what may turn out to be the deciding match of the WCC Championship.
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. 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.
Upcoming Promotions
In addition to Senior Day, the Broncos will celebrate Alumni Day and Fan Appreciation Day when the team returns to the friendly confines of Buck Shaw Stadium for a match against Portland on Sunday, November 2. Kick-off is at 1 p.m.
Among the Nation's Leaders
Santa Clara is currently ranked 13th in scoring offense, averaging 2.75 points per game, 93rd in shut out percentage (0.38) and 83rd in goals-against average, at 1.066. Individually, Julie Ryder is ranked 15th in goals-against average (0.589), one of six freshmen in the top 15.
In the WCC Statistics
Santa Clara leads the league in goals (44), goals per game (2.75) and corner kicks (98), while ranking second in points (122), shots (244), assists (34) and assists per game (2.12). Individually, Leslie Osborne is ranked second in goals (8), third in goals per game (0.5) and points (20), fourth in shots (39), and eighth in assists (4). Tracy Hess is ranked eighth in goals (6) and 10th in points (13). Veronica Zepeda and Megan Kakadelas are ranked sixth in assists (5) while Kakadelas is also ranked 10th in points (13). Julie Ryder is listed second in goals-against average (.59) and third in shut outs per game (0.5).
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 13 matches... sat out matches against Cal Poly, TCU and Loyola Marymount 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 11 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... assisted on the Broncos' second goal against Pepperdine...
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 16 contests... plays mostly at holding midfielder, but has also seen time at forward.. has eight goals and four assists for a team-leading 20 points... had stitches on right temple for first two matches 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... scored twice at CS Fullerton... earned first career hat trick against No. 7 Pepperdine... two of the goals were converted penalty kicks... named the WCC Player of the Week for October 20 for those performances...
Bronco Bios: Megan Kakadelas
As a Junior in 2003: Has started 13 contests at forward and has seen action in 15... missed start against Notre Dame due to an equipment issue... also sat out against TCU due to sore hip flexors... has four goals and five assists for 13 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... posted one assist against LMU and two against Pepperdine...
Bronco Bios: Bree Horvath
As a Junior in 2003: Has started all nine matches she has been available for at forward... missed seven matches due to a hamstring injury, returning against Cal Poly... has four goals and four assists for 12 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... scored fourth goal against Pepperdine...
Bronco Bios: Julie Ryder
As a Freshman in 2003: Has started 10 contests... earned first collegiate start at San Jose State... has 27 saves on the season... has allowed six goals in 916 minutes for a 0.59 GAA, ranked 15th nationally... is 8-1-1 on the season with five 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... allowed a goal against LMU, ending a shut out streak of 294:38 minutes, dating back to September 21 against Notre Dame...
Bronco Bios: Tina Estrada
As a Freshman in 2003: Has started the last 10 matches and has seen action in 13 contests... has three goals and three assists for nine points... did not practice with the team during preseason training due to mononucleosis and missed first three matches... made Bronco debut in second overtime against California... 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... assisted on the game-winner at Stanford... scored against LMU off a midfield steal...
Bronco Bios: Lauren Zealear
As a Freshman in 2003: Has started 14 contests and seen action in all 16 matches... began the season at defense, but has seen time more recently in the midfield... has two goals and three assists for seven points... assisted on the Broncos fifth goal against Pacific... scored first goal of the season at Stanford... netted the equalizer against LMU on a header... assisted on the game-winner against the Lions... added assist on final goal against Pepperdine...
Bronco Bios: Kristi Candau
As a Senior in 2003: Has seen action in nine matches... made season debut against Penn State and took one shot in return... missed first five matches while recovering from a summer surgery on leg... has three goals for six points... entered match against Cal Poly less than two minutes before scoring first goal of season on a free kick... scored in the 87th minute at San Diego... added the game-winner against Loyola Marymount...
Bronco Bios: Tracy Hess
As a Senior in 2003: Has six starts and has seen action in 14 contests... has six goals and one assist for 13 points... scored two goals at San Jose State, both in the second half... the second was on a breakaway... netted a goal and an assist against the Tigers... scored against Penn State 1:29 only into the match, for the ninth fastest goal to start a game in Bronco history... added the final Bronco goals against LMU and Pepperdine...