Oct. 28, 2003
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This Week
Santa Clara will return home on Sunday for the final home match of the regular season, facing the rival that defeated them for the 2002 NCAA Championship last December, in double overtime. The Broncos will honor seniors Kristi Candau, Tracy Hess, Chardonnay Poole and Veronica Zepeda 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. Portland is 16-2-0 overall, 5-0-0 in the conference, and have not lost a match in its last 12 outings. Kick-off is at 1 p.m.
Upcoming Promotions
The Broncos will also celebrate Alumni Day and Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday.
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.
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 18 matches this season, and despite taking on a more defensive role this season, leads the team with nine goals and 23 points. In SCU career record books, Osborne moved into the top 10 in goals, at 33. She is also ranked ninth in assists (32). In the league listings, Osborne is 11th in career assists, 13th in career goals and 15th in points.
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 11 points (3 goals, 5 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.
Among the Nation's Leaders
Santa Clara is currently ranked 18th in scoring offense, averaging 2.56 points per game, 76th in goals-against average, at 0.99, and 81st in shut out percentage (0.39). Individually, Julie Ryder is ranked 12th in goals-against average (0.526), one of four freshmen in the top 12.
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 nine 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 23.
A Look Ahead: Broncos Close Regular Season at Gonzaga
Santa Clara will play its final match of the regular season at Gonzaga. The Bulldogs experienced their biggest weekend in WCC history, defeating LMU and Pepperdine on the road. Santa Clara has never lost to Gonzaga, with a 10-0-0 all-time series edge.
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.
In the WCC Statistics
Santa Clara leads the league in shots (275) and corner kicks (111) while ranking second in points (128), goals (46) and assists (36). Individually, Leslie Osborne is ranked second in goals (9), third in goals per game (0.5), points (23), and points per game (1.28), fourth in shots (43), and seventh in assists (5). Tracy Hess is ranked eighth in goals (6). Veronica Zepeda and Megan Kakadelas are ranked seventh in assists (5). Julie Ryder is listed second in goals-against average (.53) and second in shut outs per game (0.55).
Overtime Experience
Santa Clara has played five 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 to end non-conference play, 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. That being said, this season marks the first the Broncos have played five double overtime contests.
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, Loyola Marymount, San Francisco and Saint Mary's to rest due to shin splints... plays mostly at forward, but has seen action in the midfield... has three goals and five 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: Chardonnay Poole
As a Senior in 2003: A team captain... is one of three players that has started all 18 contests at defense... has also seen time at holding midfielder... has taken eight shots on the season...
Bronco Bios: Kristi Candau
As a Senior in 2003: Has seen action in 11 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 seven starts and has seen action in 16 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...