Aug. 13, 2008
The Santa Clara women's soccer team was picked to finish second in the 2008 West Coast Conference in the WCC preseason coaches poll. The Broncos, who are coming off their 19th consecutive NCAA tournament berth, finished the 2007 campaign ranked in the top-25 all season, including a No. 22 final ranking, and in third place in the WCC.
Santa Clara Head coach Jerry Smith and the Broncos are aiming for their 10th WCC title.
"Our goal each year, relative to conference play, is to win the WCC Championship," said Smith. "We hope our rigorous non-conference schedule will adequately prepare us to make a run at the title this year."
Santa Clara will look to its returning and new players to top the WCC this season, with five players gone to graduation. Returning to lead the Broncos is junior All-WCC first team and NSCAA All-West second team Kiki Bosio, goalkeeper Megan McCray, who earned All-WCC honorable mention honors and redshirt senior Jordan Angeli, who missed last season due to a knee injury. Other key returnees include All-WCC second team Katherine Reynolds, and Maxine Goynes and Kendra Perry who earned WCC All-Freshman honors.
SCU, who earned one first-place vote, was picked to finish second behind Portland with 42 points. Portland earned seven first-place votes and 49 points, San Diego and Loyola Marymount were picked third and fourth, respectively, followed by Pepperdine, Gonzaga, San Francisco and Saint Mary's.
They kick-off the 2008 season on Friday, Aug. 22 at San Jose State in a Rivalry Series match at 7:30 PT. For more information go to SantaClaraBroncos.com.
2008 WCC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Portland - 49 (7)
2. Santa Clara - 42 (1)
3. San Diego - 37
4. Loyola Marymount - 30
5. Pepperdine - 24
6. Gonzaga - 22
7. San Francisco - 11
8. Saint Mary's - 9
(First place votes)