Dec. 23, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The defense of the Santa Clara women's soccer team shutout more than half of their opponents in 2005, and on Friday three key members of that unit earned All-America honors from Soccer Buzz magazine.
Marian Dalmy earned honorable mention recognition for her performance in 2005, helping the defense to 13 shutouts while also scoring a pair of goals and assisting on two others on the attacking end. As an outside back in the Santa Clara system, Dalmy's role includes not only defending against the opposing attack but also attacking from the wings to set the table for Bronco forwards attacking the goal.
Defender Danielle Potts and midfielder Amanda Poach were each named to Soccer Buzz' Freshman All-America teams, with Potts earning second-team honors and Poach being named to the third team.
As a central defender often tasked with marking the opposition's top attackers, Potts stepped into her starting role in mid-September and performed admirably in her rookie campaign on the Mission Campus. Her stifling defense helped the Broncos defense to a 0.61 goals-against average and the aforementioned 13 shutouts.
Poach, a starter from Opening Day, provided deft ball-handling skills and was a key factor in the Broncos' ability to retain possession and control the flow of the matches. She contributed to the defensive effort in addition to establishing herself as an offensive threat as she assisted on a pair of goals in 2005.
All three players will return for the 2006 season as Santa Clara will seek to earn a spot in its 11th College Cup and also continue its distinction of being the only program in the nation to reach the NCAA Quarterfinals for the last 11 years.