Nov. 2, 2004
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
This Week
Santa Clara will honor its six seniors in the team's last match of the regular season, scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. vs. Pepperdine. A pre-match ceremony will take place on the field to recognize Lana Bowen, Bree Horvath, Megan Kakadelas, Leslie Osborne, Alyssa Sobolik and Monika Sola. The Waves are on a hot streak, registering shut-out victories in three of their last four matches.
A Push for the WCC Championship
Santa Clara is aiming for its fourth straight league title with the close of WCC play this weekend against the Waves. With Pepperdine's tie against No. 23 San Diego last week, the race for the league championship will be a battle between Portland and Santa Clara. If both record wins, they will share the WCC crown, just as they did in 1997. The Broncos are aiming for their eighth overall WCC Championship. San Diego is still in the hunt, with a little help. Santa Clara and Portland both need to lose or tie in combination with a Torero victory.
A Variety of Line Ups
Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith has now used 14 different line ups in 19 contests. Injuries have played a role in the line up shifts, but Smith adds that he uses the preseason to experiment with players in different positions and alongside different teammates in preparation for conference play and the postseason.
Osborne on M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List
Senior Leslie Osborne has been named to the "watch list" of players considered among the top candidates for the 2004 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top players in NCAA Division I soccer. The list was compiled by the NSCAA, the official selection body for the M.A.C.'s Hermann Trophy. Osborne, a native of Menomonee Falls, Wis., has already been named a preseason All-America by Soccer Buzz and Soccer America magazines. She has seven goals and one assists for 15 points so far this season.
A list of 15 semifinalists will be announced in November, with three finalists selected in early December. The winner will be announced at a dinner at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., on Jan. 8, 2005.
The award 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 M.A.C. Player of the Year awards in 1999, while Wagner became the first honoree to have the distinction of receiving the newly-unified award.
Kakadelas Named WCC Player of the Week
Megan Kakadelas was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 1 for her performances in two matches this past weekend. The Carlsbad native scored the game-winner against Loyola Marymount in the 79th minute as the Broncos won their sixth straight contest and remained in the driver's seat to win their fourth straight conference crown. Kakadelas' goal was her sixth of the season, as she took a shot from the left side for the score. Earlier in the week, Kakadelas scored the second goal in the Broncos' 3-0 victory over San Jose State.
Strength of Schedule
Santa Clara began its aim for a 10th overall appearance in the College Cup with the start of the 2004 season. The Broncos' 20-match schedule features 10 programs that advanced to last year's NCAA Championship, including three of the top eight seeds. The Broncos hosted five of those matches at Buck Shaw Stadium.
In the Rankings
Santa Clara opened the 2004 season ranked in the top five in all four polls and is close to returning there as the season comes to a close. This week, the Broncos are ranked as follows: the NSCAA/adidas poll placed the Broncos fourth, while Soccer America lists SCU fifth. Soccer Buzz and Soccer Times moved SCU up to No. 6. The Broncos have played eight nationally-ranked squads on the regular-season slate.
A Look Ahead: The NCAA Selection Show
Santa Clara players, coaches, staff and supporters will gather at the Bronco to watch the NCAA Selection show live at 1 p.m. on ESPNews. Afterward, selected participants will take part in a Q&A session. The Bronco is the University's only late-night venue where one can find both student-focused programs and food & beverage. The Bronco is located in the Benson Memorial Center on campus. The First and Second rounds will be played Nov. 12 & 14 at on 16 campus sites that will be announced when the brackets are revealed. Eight programs will host the third round Nov. 19-21, with the quarterfinals to follow Thanksgiving weekend. The 2004 College Cup returns to SAS Soccer Park in Car, N.C., December 3 & 5.