SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The No. 9 Santa Clara women’s soccer team will play a pair of matches this weekend at the Stanford/Nike Classic, facing Pacific Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. and No. 23 Georgia Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium on the Stanford campus.

The Broncos are renewing the series against Pacific after not meeting the Tigers since 2003.  Santa Clara has never lost to Pacific in six previous matches dating back to 1981.  The 2010 Tigers are currently 2-2-1 having defeated Hawai’i and Sacramento State, but fell to Wagner and Oregon State.  Pacific most recently tied Oregon, 1-1.  The Tigers have struggled to find the back of the net, scoring only three goals thus far.  Angelica Figueroa, Laura Hogan, and Laura Hernandez each have tallied and starting goalie Jill Medigovich sports a 0.64 goals-against-average with two shutouts in 425 minutes played.

The Broncos also hold an undefeated 1-0 record against the Bulldogs, having defeated them at home, 5-1, in the 2003 Santa Clara Classic.  Georgia had a rocky start to the 2010 season, tying Florida State and suffering a loss at home against Duke, but is currently on a four-game win streak in which it has outscored its opponents 16-3.  Georgia is led by a core of freshmen have scored 11 of the team’s 17 goals and Ashley Baker is the only Bulldog who has tended the nets so far this season, recording two shutouts and a 0.77 GAA.

GAME SCHEDULE:

Friday

4:30 p.m. PT — No. 9 Santa Clara (visitor) vs. Pacific (home)

7:00 p.m. PT — No. 23 Georgia (visitor) vs. No. 2 Stanford (home)

Sunday

11:30 a.m. PT — No. 9 Santa Clara (visitor) vs. No. 23 Georgia (home)

2 p.m. PT — Pacific (visitor) vs. No. 2 Stanford (home)

LIVE COVERAGE: Live stats will be available for each of the Broncos’ games at Stanford via CBSCollegeSports.com’s GameTracker.  Links for the live stats can be found on the women’s soccer schedule page.

NOTES:
**Jerry Smith is in his 24th season as SCU head coach (359-110-37)
**Senior Anessa Patton currently leads the team in scoring with two goals.  The team has had five different goal scorers this season.
**Goalkeeper Bianca Henninger (2 shutouts, 0.57 GAA) is a candidate for the 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy.
**The Broncos have played or are scheduled to play nine 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

FANTASTIC FRESHMEN:  Four of Santa Clara’s six goals this season have been a direct result of the contribution from this year’s rookies.  Julie Johnston has three assists, while Sarah Jackson scored the game-tying goal against San Jose State.

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).

2010 NSCAA TOP 10 (SEPT. 7, 2010)
1. North Carolina
2. Stanford*
3. Notre Dame*
4. Portland*
5. Boston College
6. Florida
7. Texas A&M
8. Maryland
9. Santa Clara
10. Florida State
*Santa Clara opponents in 2010

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 359-110-37 (.746) – 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.

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.

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."

30th ANNIVERSARY DINNER AND PROGRAM: Join current players, coaches, and alumni for this special anniversary of the SCU Women's Soccer program. Friday, October 08, 2010 at 7:00 PM. CLICK HERE to register.

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 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 INTO NCAA'S 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).