SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The No. 12 Santa Clara women's soccer team (8-3-2 overall, 1-0-0 WCC) will take two short road trips this weekend to square off against Saint Mary's and San Francisco. The Broncos will play the Gaels Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. and the Dons Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
The Broncos are currently one of three teams with a 1-0-0 record in conference. No. 2 Portland has the conference lead by virtue of the best overall record (13-1-0), Santa Clara is second, and Saint Mary's (7-3-3) is in third having defeated San Francisco, 1-0, last weekend.
Two wins for the Broncos this weekend would mean they would stay amongst or at the top of the WCC Standings (depending on Portland's results) and preservation of a perfect all-time record over San Francisco. Santa Clara currently leads the USF series 26-0-0. Losses to either team would damage the Broncos' RPI ranking and could provide a more difficult road to the NCAA College Cup.
Santa Clara's offensive production has been a team effort this season, with nine different players registering a goal. Atop that pack is senior forward Anessa Patton, who leads the team with four goals. Junior center back Margueritte Aozasa and sophomore forward Lauren Matheson are the only other players who have registered multiple strikes, with two goals each.
The Bronco defense has been particularly stingy this year, conceding only nine goals in 13 games. Thanks in part to stellar play by junior goalkeeper Bianca Henninger, senior center back Lindsey Johnson, Aozasa, and a few different players at outside defender, Santa Clara has put together five shutouts and a 0.67 goals-against-average.
Looking at this weekend's opponents, Jordan Marada, a midfielder, is the Gaels' top scorer with four goals. The Dons' leading scorer, Hanna Haanes, a freshman import from Norway, also has four goals. SMC goalkeeper Sarah Peters has started all 13 games and has 11 goals against for a 0.81 GAA. USF has been splitting time with two of its goalies, Heather Haney and Noelle Salter. Haney has the better GAA (1.24) and eight goals against. Salter is sitting at 1.45 and has been scored on 11 times. Each has 25 saves, but Haney's save percentage (.758) is better than Salters (.694).
Saint Mary's has three opponents in common with the Broncos this season, defeating Utah 2-0, tying California 2-2, and falling to San Jose State, 1-0. San Francisco fell 1-0 to California and defeated San Jose State, 2-1.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Friday
3 p.m. PT – at Saint Mary's
Sunday
1 p.m. PT — at San Francisco
LIVE COVERAGE: Live stats will be available for both games and can be found on the Santa Clara women's soccer schedule webpage or by clicking here.
NOTES:
**The Broncos are 26-3-4 all-time vs. Saint Mary's and an
undefeated 26-0-0 vs. USF
**Jerry Smith is in his 24th season as SCU head coach
(364-112-38)
**Goalkeeper Bianca
Henninger (5 shutouts, 0.67 GAA) is a candidate for the 2010
MAC Hermann Trophy
**The Broncos have played or are scheduled to play six teams
currently ranked in the NSCAA Top 25
**SCU returned six players named to the WCC's 2009 all-conference
teams
**Allie
Vernon, Kendra
Perry, Lindsey
Johnson and Bianca Henninger have been named team
co-captains
**Henninger and Vernon were named to the 2010 WCC Preseason
All-Conference team
**Bronco greats Brandi Chastain and Aly Wagner have been added to
the coaching staff for 2010
PATTON NAMED WCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Anessa Patton earned the Broncos' first WCC Player
of the Week honor this past Monday for her efforts in a 1-0 win
over San Diego in the opening week of conference play. Patton
scored the game-winner, her second of the season and fourth overall
goal in 2010, in the 51st minute by sticking in a loose
ball rebound after Torero 'keeper Courtney Parsons saved
sophomore Olivia Klei's shot.
VERNON AND LAPONTE OUT FOR
SEASON
2010 WCC Preseason All-Conference selection Allie Vernon,
who has yet to see any action in her sophomore year, will use her
redshirt option this season in order to have more time to properly
recover from an injury. In other injury news, junior Jenny
LaPonte will miss the rest of the season after a colliding with
a Duck defender early in the match against Oregon.
HENNINGER ADDED TO MAC HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST: Santa Clara University junior goalkeeper Bianca Henninger has been named to the 2010 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Women's Hermann Trophy Watch List, as announced by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Henninger is one of just five goalkeepers among the 45 players selected for the award's preseason watch list. The honor is considered the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer. The recipients are selected by NCAA Division I coaches who are members of the NSCAA.
FANTASTIC FRESHMEN: Six of Santa Clara's 14 goals this season have been a direct result of the contribution from this year's rookies. Julie Johnston has one goal and three assists, while Sarah Jackson scored the game-tying goal against San Jose State and assisted on the game-winner against Oregon. Five freshmen have started games this season and two others have seen significant time on the field.
PATTON LEADS THE WAY: Senior Anessa Patton is leading the team in both goals (4) and game-winning goals (2).
MILLER TIME: Junior Bridgett Miller scored her first career goal as a Bronco on Sunday, Sept. 19, lifting Santa Clara to a 1-0 win over Utah.
AOZASA A TWO-WAY PLAYER: Junior Margueritte Aozasa, who has been stellar in the back for Santa Clara, asserted herself as a two-way player by scoring both of the Broncos' goals against Oregon on corner kicks.
DOIN' THE MATH: Sophomore Lauren Matheson has figured in four of Santa Clara's 14 goals, scoring two of them and twice providing an assist.
INSIDE THE TOP 10: Santa Clara entered the 2010 season ranked ninth in the nation according to the preseason poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). This week the Broncos remained just out of the top-10, but moved up to the No. 12 spot after defeating San Diego, 1-0.
2010 NSCAA TOP 10 (OCT. 12, 2010)
1. Stanford*
2. Portland*
3. North Carolina
4. Notre Dame*
5. Oklahoma State
6. Maryland
7. Texas A&M
8. BYU*
9. Virginia
10. Florida State
*Santa Clara opponents in 2010
30th ANNIVERSARY SEASON
CELEBRATION
The celebration of the 30th anniversary of
varsity women's soccer at Santa Clara was held last weekend with
alumni activities held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
On Friday evening, current players, coaches, and alumni gathered
for a celebratory dinner. Saturday afternoon's festivities included
alumni mini-games and a kids' clinic on Stanton Field.
Saturday night, the Broncos again gathered for a dinner and a
toast. On Sunday, the alumni were recognized on the field at
halftime of the game against San Diego.
SCU HEAD COACH JERRY SMITH: SCU Head Coach Jerry Smith enters his 24th season at the helm of the Santa Clara women's soccer program in 2010. Although he is most known for the development of his players and teams, Smith also produces success and is the winningest women's soccer coach in Santa Clara history, having compiled a record of 364-112-38 (.745) – in fact Smith ranks among the top-5 winningest coaches in NCAA Division I history. Since taking over the head coaching duties at Santa Clara in the spring of 1987, Smith has built the Bronco soccer program into a national power. For 19 consecutive seasons, his Broncos reached the NCAA Tournament prior to 2008 and have consistently ranked among the top 10 teams in the country. He has taken the Broncos to 10 College Cup Final Fours and a national championship in 2001. In addition, his Bronco teams have won nine West Coast Conference titles.
QUOTABLE: "It is going to take a lot of hard work, dedication, and trust in each other and the coaches," said Anessa Patton about what it will take to be successful in 2010. "We are capable of it though … we have to make sure that we are all on the same page. That means that our veterans and returners are going to have to reach out, that much more, to welcome the 12 freshmen that we have coming in."
2010 WCC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. #4 Portland - 49 (7)
2. #8 Santa Clara - 41.5 (1)
3. #14 San Diego - 38.5
4. Pepperdine – 27
5. Loyola Marymount – 26
6. Saint Mary's – 19
7. Gonzaga – 12
8. San Francisco - 11
(First place votes - rankings by NSCAA)
2010 WCC STANDINGS (CURRENT)
1. #2 Portland (1-0-0)
2. #12 Santa Clara (1-0-0)
3. Saint Mary's (1-0-0)
4. Loyola Marymount (0-0-1)
5. Pepperdine (0-0-1)
6. San Diego (0-1-0)
7. Gonzaga (0-1-0)
8. San Francisco (0-1-0)
2010 WCC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
Kendra Chandhoke, Portland
Danielle Foxhoven, Portland
Julie Gallaudet, Loyola Marymount
Bianca Henniger, Santa Clara
Sheridan Jones, Gonzaga
Stephanie Ochs, San Diego
Sophie Schmidt, Portland
Michelle Spacciapolli, Pepperdine
Allie Vernon, Santa Clara
Keelin Winters, Portland
Jackie Zinke, San Diego
BRONCOS ADVANCE TO 2009 NCAA THIRD ROUND: After an early-season 2-0 win vs. No. 5 Notre Dame, the Bronco women, who finished the 2009 season ranked No. 10, were awarded for their fantastic play by once again playing in the NCAA College Cup tournament. They beat Michigan State and Oklahoma State at home in the first two rounds. Both games ended in penalty kicks. They ended their season with a battle at No. 1 Stanford, losing 1-0 to the eventual national runner-ups.
FIVE BRONCOS TAKEN IN 2010 WPS DRAFT: Five SCU women's soccer players (four from the Broncos' 2009 roster) were selected in the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer league (WPS) Draft. Jordan Angeli (Boston Breakers – 16th overall), Kiki Bosio (Los Angeles Sol – 22nd overall), Amanda Poach (St. Louis Athletica – 28th overall), Katherine Reynolds (Boston Breakers - #34 overall) and Meagan Snell (Sky Blue FC – 44th overall). Poach was released prior to the beginning of the WPS season, allowing her to return to the Broncos for a sixth year of eligibility. Bosio was picked up by FC Gold Pride when the Sol folded. Snell was released midseason by Sky Blue when the club added players from the folded St. Louis Athletica. Reynolds was released by the Breakers but picked up by the Philadelphia Independence.
