Oct. 3, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Facing their third straight ranked opponent, the Santa Clara women's soccer team could not match the depth of the No. 6 Stanford Cardinal, in their 5-0 loss Friday evening. The Broncos (3-7-2) opened up the game firing the ball at Stanford's goal, but could not get a solid shot off to reach the back of the net. Courtney Lewis got her first start of the season at midfield and had SCU's first shot at the 37 second mark of play, but it was blocked off a Cardinal player. Seconds later Lindsey Johnson attempted to create another offensive opportunity for the Broncos, but her shot was saved by Stanford's keeper Kira Maker. Minutes later, Katherine Reynolds had Santa Clara's best chance of the evening to get on the board, but held onto the ball for a second too long, giving Maker a chance to get composed and make her second straight save.
The Broncos kept pace with the undefeated Cardinal for much of the first half, despite being down 2-0 at the end of 45 minutes; however Stanford ran away with the game, notching three more goals in the Silicon Valley Super Classico match in the second half.
Stanford's Lindsay Taylor scored back-to-back goals in the first half, and followed that up with a third goal in 54th minute of the second half. Sophomore Christen Press opened up scoring in the second half off a Kelley O'Hara cross. Concluding the scoring run for Stanford was Kristin Stannard, who got the Cardinal on the board for the fifth and final time.
Senior keeper Meagan McCray got her fourth straight start for the Broncos, but shared time in goal with freshman Bianca Henninger. Henninger, who just returned to the Santa Clara lineup after spending time with the U20 National Team, played the entire second half.
Making her debut for Santa Clara was sophomore Lauren Anselmo, who joined the program in the spring of 2008. Anselmo has close Santa Clara ties, as her mother, Debbie (Hagan) Anselmo '86, was a member of the Bronco women's soccer program when she attended Santa Clara.
"I think we started well with a flurry of shots at the beginning and with good energy," said head coach Jerry Smith. "We just could not match the talent of the Stanford lineup. We just need to rebound and recuperate from this and look forward to Arizona on Sunday."
The Broncos conclude non-conference play this Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. when they host, 6-4-0, Arizona.