Nov. 11, 2004
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SAN BRUNO, Calif. -- Santa Clara University senior midfielder Leslie Osborne made West Coast Conference history, as she was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year, the conference announced today. She leads a list of four first-team Bronco honorees, and 10 overall among four league teams.
Osborne, of Menomonee Falls, Wis., is the first player in WCC women's soccer history to be selected as both the Player of the Year (which she accomplished in 2003) and Defensive Player of the Year. She earned this year's recognition after helping her team record six consecutive shut outs to complete the regular season.
Osborne is joined on the first team by senior forward Megan Kakadelas and sophomore goalkeeper Julie Ryder, as well as sophomore Marian Dalmy, who made her impact at all three field positions.
Sophomore Tina Estrada was named to the second team and honorable mention honors were received by freshman defender Jordan Angeli, senior forward Bree Horvath and sophomore midfielder Tiffany Roberts. Angeli and forward Brittany Klein were named to the All-Freshmen team.
"I'm very proud that we have four players on the first team--especially considering that no other team even has three players--and so we're very happy for Leslie, Marian, Megan and Julie; they are very deserving," head coach Jerry Smith said. "We're especially happy for Leslie... becoming the first player in WCC history to win both the Player of the Year award, which she won last year, and now the Defensive Player of the Year. For her to pick up the slack after our two center backs went down earlier this year, just shows the well-rounded and complete team player that she is."
Portland's Christine Sinclair took home her second WCC Player of the Year award, after notching five goals and 13 points in conference play. San Diego's Amy Epsten was tabbed as the Freshman of the Year, and Torero head coach Ada Greenwood was named the Coach of the Year.
Santa Clara (14-4-2) is ranked fourth nationally and will face the University of California in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. As the tournament's 16th overall seed, the Broncos will host the first and second rounds of the 23rd NCAA Championship at Buck Shaw Stadium this Friday and Sunday.
The Broncos will face the Bears at 2 p.m., with Stanford and Cal Poly following in the other match at 4:30 p.m. The winners will face each other on Sunday at noon. Tickets are now on sale: $8 for adult admission and $6 for seniors, youths and students.