Oct. 6, 2004
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's soccer team earned a 3-1 victory over seventh-ranked California tonight at Buck Shaw Stadium. Sophomore midfielder Lauren Zealear scored the game-winning goal with her first goal of the season as the Broncos improve to 7-3-2 overall. The Golden Bears take only their second loss of the season and are now 7-2-1. The victory also marked the first for the Broncos over Cal since 2000 season.
Santa Clara started strong, with a shot by senior forward Bree Horvath in the third minute. California keeper Ashley Sulprizio punched the ball out, but it was collected by sophomore midfielder Marian Dalmy for another Bronco opportunity. A defender protected the goal, but the Broncos were able to keep up the pressure on in the early stages of the contest.
The Broncos took an early lead when Horvath took a hard foul in front of the goal, prompting the referee to grant Santa Clara a penalty kick. Senior All-America candidate Leslie Osborne opted for a low shot that bested Sulprizio for Osborne's team-leading sixth goal of the season. The score also marked only the third time an opponent has scored on California this season.
Santa Clara held the Bears shotless in the first half, while taking eight attempts of their own, including two from senior forward Megan Kakadelas in the final five minutes of the period. The Broncos finished the night with a 13-4 shot advantage.
California took its first shot of the match midway through the second half, off a corner kick opportunity, but that shot went high to preserve the Bronco lead. The Bears also had a chance by Liz Eisenberg in the 70th minute, but her shot ricocheted off the cross bar.
Santa Clara countered with two goals about a minute apart to secure the team victory. Dalmy's serve drew the keeper out and Zealear was able to get past a defender to send a chip shot over the Sulprizio for her first goal of the season. One minute eight seconds later, Dalmy scored her first goal of the season off a throw in from freshmen defender Meagan Snell.
Cal avoided the shut out in the 81st minute with Stephanie Wieger's fifth goal of the season. Katie Ratican earned the assist on the play when she sent a short cross from the left side that Wieger tapped in.
Sulprizio finished with five saves on the night while Bronco sophomore keeper Julie Ryder earned one.
The West Coast Conference season opens on Sunday afternoon when the Broncos host San Diego (6-6-1). Torero junior forward Lee Klopschinski was named the league's Player of the Week this past week for netting game-winning goals over third-ranked Washington and defending Mountain West Conference champion Utah. That match is designated as Summer Camper Day, where young fans who attended SCU summer camps will be admitted free to this contest.