SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The No. 14 Santa Clara women's soccer team (12-5-2 overall; 4-2-0 WCC) will close out its regular season this Saturday, Nov. 6, in Malibu, Calif. with its WCC finale at Pepperdine (8-6-5 overall; 1-3-2 WCC) at 1 p.m.
The Broncos will look to rebound against the Waves after suffering a rare home loss to Loyola Marymount, 2-0, this past weekend. Santa Clara is 11-5-0 in the all-time series against Pepperdine, but the Waves enjoy a great home-field advantage and are difficult to beat on their own pitch. Pepperdine is 116-37-21 overall at home and has won the last five SCU-Pepperdine games played in Malibu dating back to the Broncos' NCAA Championship season in 2001.
The Santa Clara defense will need to contain a Waves offense with four multi-goal scorers without starting junior goalie Bianca Henninger, who was ejected in SCU's last game for preventing LMU's Tawni Martino sure-thing breakaway goal with a foul and awarded the Lions a penalty kick. Anisa Guajardo and Laura Cole lead Pepperdine with six goals each, while Michelle Spacciapolli and Michelle Manning have three each. Gunny Junsdottir leads the team in assists with three, but both Guajardo and Cole have two each. The Bronco offense, led by seniors Anessa Patton (eight goals) and Maxine Goynes (three goals), and sophomore Lauren Matheson (three goals) will be battling against a Waves defense that has conceded 14 goals and 0.70 goals-per-game. Roxanne Barker will most likely defend the net, having started all 19 of the Pepperdine's contests. She carries a .849 save percentage and 0.66 GAA.
For Santa Clara, the match will be the team's final match preparation before the NCAA Tournament begins. A win in Malibu would help the Broncos chances, but not guarantee, the opportunity to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Portland will receive the WCC's automatic bid to the tournament having clinched the conference title last weekend, but more likely than not Santa Clara will receive an at-large bid with a No. 20 RPI ranking.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Saturday
at Pepperdine – 1 p.m.
LIVE COVERAGE: Live stats via CBS College Sports Gametracker will be available for this Saturday's match and can be found on the Santa Clara or Pepperdine women's soccer schedule webpage or by clicking here.
UPCOMING NCAA SELECTION SHOW:
The 2010 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournametn selection show is slated for Monday, Nov. 8 and will start at approximately 1:30 PST on ESPNU. The Broncos, who currently are ranked #20 on the RPI, will watch the show as a team at the Leavey Center. For more information on the NCAA Tournament and the Women's College Cup, click here.
NOTES:
**The Broncos are 11-5-0 all-time vs. Pepperdine
**Jerry Smith is in his 24th season as SCU head coach (368-114-38)
**Goalkeeper Bianca Henninger (7 shutouts, 0.63 GAA) is a candidate for the 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy
**The Broncos have played or are scheduled to play four 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
**Former Broncos Brandi Chastain and Aly Wagner were added to the coaching staff for 2010
COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE WCC:
Santa Clara is second in the conference standings behind Portland, who last weekend clinched their 12th WCC Championship. In overall play, the Broncos are second in goals-against-average with a miserly 0.67. Senior Anessa Patton is in a three-way tie atop the conference in goals scored (19 GP, 8 G, 0.47) and leads the WCC in game-winning strikes (5). Junior goalie Bianca Henninger, who has started every game in net this season for SCU, is second in save percentage (.854) and shutouts (7) and is third in goals-against average (0.63).
The Broncos, along with San Diego, have scored the most goals (5) in a single game by any WCC team. Individually, sophomore Olivia Klei has recorded the most assists in one game (3), and freshman Sarah Jackson has the most shots in one game (10).
In conference play only, The Broncos are second in goals scored (10) and goals against (3). Santa Clara is first in shots taken (90), points (32), assists (12), and assists-per-game (2.00). Individually, Patton has the most points (9), points-per-game (1.50), goals (4), goals-per-game average (0.67), and game-winning goals (3). Klei has the most assists (4) and APG (0.67). Henninger is tied for first in shutouts (3), third in shutouts-per-game (0.50) and third in GAA (0.37) and save percentage (.909).
PATTON LEADS THE WAY: Senior Anessa Patton is leading the team in both goals (8) and game-winning goals (5). Patton was also selected as the WCC Player of the Week after the first weekend of league play for picking up the game-winner in a 1-0 win over San Diego and the WCC Player of the Month for October.
DOIN' THE MATH: Sophomore Lauren Matheson has figured in a seven of Santa Clara's 25 goals, scoring three and providing an assist on four occasions.
FANTASTIC FRESHMEN: Ten of Santa Clara's goals this season have been a direct result of the contribution from this year's rookies. Julie Johnston has two goals and a team-leading five assists, while Sarah Jackson scored the game-tying goal against San Jose State and assisted on the game-winner against Oregon. Kelly Jenks also has two goals. Five freshmen have started games this season and two others have seen significant time on the field.
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.
PERRY QUICK: Senior Kendra Perry scored the Broncos fourth fastest goal in history, finding the net just 29 seconds into the match against BYU on Oct. 28, 2010.
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. Aozasa has started every match this season and has helped the defense to eight shutouts and a 0.67 goals-against-average.
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.
VERNON AND LAPONTE OUT FOR SEASON
2010 WCC Preseason All-Conference selection Allie Vernon, has redshirted this season in order to have more time to properly recover from an injury. Also, junior Jenny LaPonte, who started in seven of her eight matches this season, will miss the rest of the year after a colliding with a Duck defender early in the match against Oregon on Sept. 24.
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 dropped out of the top-10, falling from No. 10 to No. 14 after falling 2-0 at home to Loyola Marymount.
2010 NSCAA TOP 10 (NOV. 2, 2010)
1. Stanford*
2. Portland*
3. North Carolina
4. Maryland
5. Virginia
6. Texas A&M
7. Florida
8. Notre Dame*
9. Florida State
10. Oklahoma 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 the weekend of Oct. 8-10 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 368-114-38 (.744) – 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.
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 (6-0-0; 18-1-0) *clinched championship
2. #14 Santa Clara (4-2-0; 12-5-2)
3. San Diego (3-3-0; 10-7-2)
4. Gonzaga (3-3-0; 8-10-1)
5. Loyola Marymount (2-2-2; 10-5-2)
6. Saint Mary's (2-4-0; 8-7-3)
7. Pepperdine (1-3-2; 8-6-5)
8. San Francisco (0-4-2; 4-13-2)
2010 WCC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
Kendra Chandhoke, Portland
Danielle Foxhoven, Portland
Julie Gallaudet, Loyola Marymount
Bianca Henninger, 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.
