Sept. 17, 2008
This Week For Bronco Women's Soccer
The Santa Clara women's soccer team comes home for their season home opener at the newly renovated Buck Shaw Stadium. They will host Cal Poly, Stanford and Yale at the Santa Clara/adidas Classic this weekend. On Friday, Sept. 19 Stanford will take on Yale at 5 p.m., followed by the Broncos hosting Cal Poly at 7:30 p.m. The Classic will conclude on Sunday with Cal Poly playing Stanford at 11 a.m., and Santa Clara will round out play versus Yale at 1:30 p.m.
Last Week for Women's Soccer
The Broncos open up their first home stand of the season and look to get above the .500 mark, after falling in both games this past weekend at the Stanford Invitational. On Friday, Sept. 12 they took on UNC Greensboro for the first time in program history. The back-and-forth match, where possession turned over quickly and consistently, did not allow the Broncos to respond to the Spartans lone goal and fell 1-0 to Greensboro. Freshman Lindsey Wicher made her collegiate debut midway through the first half at left back and Bianca Henninger started her second straight game at goal.
On Sunday, Sept. 14 they dropped their fourth match of the season, 5-0, to then No. 5 North Carolina. Wicher got her first career start at left back and saw time in both halves. Freshmen Margueritte Aozasa and Jenny LaPonte both started at midfield, while Meagan McCray made her fifth start at keeper.
Follow the Game Online
Every Santa Clara home game and most road games are covered live on the Internet via www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. All home games will also feature a live audio broadcast as well.
Broncos to Play at Home
After playing their first seven games on the road, the Broncos come home to host the Santa Clara/adidas Classic. This weekend will also be the first time the team will play in the newly renovated Buck Shaw Stadium, as the facility underwent an extensive makeover coming into this season.
SCU looks to bounce back into the win column behind their home crowd, after falling in two straight games this past weekend.
"It will be nice to have a home field advantage in terms of not having to travel and playing in front of our own crowd," head coach Jerry Smith said. "We are looking forward to our home opener and playing nine of our last 13 games at home."
Perry Continues to Shine
Sophomore Kendra Perry, who has started all seven contests this season for the Broncos, remains the offensive leader for Santa Clara.
"She gained a tremendous amount of experience last season," said Smith of the 2007 WCC All-Freshman selection. "She is a very consistent player, which can be attributed to her excellent preparation."
This season she has scored three goals, including a game-winning goal over then No. 10 West Virginia on Aug. 29, and leads Santa Clara in goals scored and points, with six, as well as earning WCC Player of the Week honors earlier in the season.
Former Bronco Standouts, Leslie Osborne and Aly Wagner to Play in WPS
Former Bronco standouts and National Team members, Leslie Osborne and Aly Wagner were both selected in the 2008 Women's Professional Soccer league 2008 Allocation. Osborne returns to play in Northern California, as the midfielder was selected by the Bay Area franchise. While at Santa Clara she was a an integral member of the 2001 College Cup Champions squad, was named Soccer Buzz's Player of the Year in 2004 and was the 2004 Honda Award winner.
She played alongside Wagner, who is coming off winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals. Wagner will join the Los Angeles based team. The San Jose native holds or shares every offensive record for the Broncos and led them to their first and only College Cup Championship, as she was the Offensive MVP.
Lindsey Wicher Earns First Start
Defender Lindsey Wicher, who was recuperating from an early injury this season, earned her first career start versus then No. 5 North Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 14. The freshman from Yorktown, VA appeared in her first collegiate game in Friday's game against UNC Greensboro.
Scouting Cal Poly
Cal Poly, 3-3-0, travels to Santa Clara after shutting out Florida International, 5-0, this past weekend. Scoring a goal apiece was Julianne Grinstead, Emily Hein, Bria Park, Afton Thulin and Ashley Vallis. Notching assists were Morgan Miller, Cara O'Hagan and Carissa Voegele.
Leading the Mustangs this season is Tiffany Gummow, who has scored three goals in their first seven games, while Leah Morales is the assist leader with two. Seven players have scored one goal this season.
The Broncos lead the all-time series 14-1-3. In their last meeting on Sept. 28 at Cal Poly, the Broncos breezed by the Mustangs, 4-0.
Scouting Yale
Yale University makes their first trip to the west coast of the season, after winning their last three games at the Yale Soccer Classic. They enter this weekend posting a 4-2-0 overall record.
On Sept. 16 they blanked Sacred Heart, 6-0. Maggie Westfal, who leads the Bulldogs offensive attack with four goals and five assists, scored three goals in the game. Miyuki Hino, Enma Mullo and Emma Whitfield each tallied a goal in the game, and Mullo and Whitfield each notched assists as well. Keeper Aynana Sumiyasu posted her first shutout of the season.
Two days prior, they shutout Delaware, 3-0. Leslie Perez, Westfal and Whitfield each scored a goal, and tallying a pair of assists were Becky Brown, who leads Yale in assists with six, and Westfal.
This will be the first time in four years that the Broncos will face the Bulldogs and second time in program history. On Sept. 17, 2004, Santa Clara defeated Yale, 2-0.
On Deck
The Broncos will host No. 2 UCLA on Thursday Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel.