Nov. 4, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Proving that they not only get the job done on the field, sophomore forward Jordan Angeli and senior defender Micaela Esquivel earned recognition for their academic achievements as the two were named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District second and third teams, respectively.
Angeli, the fifth-ranked Broncos' leading scorer with ten goals and 24 points, has been a breakout offensive star for Santa Clara since moving to forward in the season opener. She made her name on a national level in early September, accounting for both Bronco goals in a 2-1 victory over then-no. 1 Notre Dame. For her efforts against the Fighting Irish, Angeli earned a slew of national and conference honors: WCC Player of the Week, Soccer America National Player of the Week, spots on the National Teams of the Week of Soccer America, Soccer Buzz, and Top Drawer Soccer, and recognition in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" feature. In the classroom, Angeli carries a 3.245 grade-point average in the school of Arts & Sciences on the Mission Campus.
A four-year starter and co-captain for Santa Clara, Esquivel has been a steady presence for some of the most stifling defenses in school history. While she starts at one of the wings of the back line, her role encompasses all aspects of the game as Esquivel serves as one of the main table-setters on the attack while also providing defensive help. Her precise crossing passes have earned her three assists thus far on the season and her lone goal of 2005 was the clutch equalizer in a hard-fought battle against California. Off of the field, Esquivel maintains a 3.209 GPA while majoring in biology while also serving as president of Santa Clara's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
"Ideally what we'd like to have as head coaches are student-athletes who perform well on the field or courts and in the classroom," Head coach Jerry Smith said. "Micaela in all four of her years here has been a model student-athlete for our team and the athletic department, and Jordan now is following in those footsteps. Whenever we have student-athletes recognized as all-conference players for what they do on the field or as scholars, it is certainly something we feel very good about having balance in our leadership of the young student-athletes in our charge."
The no. 5 Broncos (14-3-2, 4-1-1 WCC) conclude the regular season Saturday with a 1 p.m. match against the no. 17 Pepperdine Waves (12-3-3, 2-2-2 WCC) in Malibu.