2-1 Win Propels Broncos to Sweet 16

2-1 Win Propels Broncos to Sweet 16

Check out Santa Clara's post game press conference

BLACKSBURG, Va. – In a physical game against the top defense in the country, No. 9 Santa Clara women's soccer topped No. 25 Boston University 2-1 to advance to the Sweet 16. The win puts the Broncos at 16-4-1 while Boston ends its season 15-4-4.

The Broncos return to the field Sun., Nov. 24 at 10 a.m. Pacific vs. the winner of Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia.

"I'm very proud of our team today," said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. "We had to work very hard out there today against the No. 1 defense in the country. They made us work for everything we got out there but it was good to get out to a good start with an early goal. I thought in the second half we were the better team and did a good job of getting that second goal."

Santa Clara outshot Boston 13-9 and 7-4 in shots on goal. Sofia Huerta and Morgan Marlborough had the goals while also each picking up an assist. Andi Tostanoski had three saves in net for the Broncos.

Santa Clara jumped out to the early lead in the second minute on the team-leading 15th goal from Huerta, Marlborough gathered the ball near the top of the box and passed to Huerta on the right side where she blasted a shot into the back of the net to make the score 1-0 Broncos.

Alyson Birgel hit the cross bar on a header off a corner kick and the Broncos got another corner off the clear. Sarah Jackson nearly scored off the ensuing corner but Boston was able to make the clear despite the ball being in front of the goal.

Huerta took a cross from Alyssa Kleiner with the 36th minute with no one in front of her but had to stop the ball with her body before taking the shot off a bounce and it went over the crossbar to keep the score 1-0.

Boston had its best scoring opportunity in the 38th minute off the foot of Ana Cuffia. She took the ball just outside the box and blasted her shot that went barley past the upper right corner of the goal. A few minutes later Claire Pleuler fired a shot that went just over the cross bar.

The Terriers evened the score in the 42nd minute on a nice play in the box. Erica Kosienski passed to Kylie Strom who turned and put a shot to the right post and in to make the score 1-1.

Santa Clara outshot Boston 7-6 and 4-3 in shots on goal in the first half. The Broncos had four corner kicks to the Terriers' one. Tostanoski picked up two first half saves.

The game went back and forth for the first 30 minutes of the second half with neither team having a great chance to score. That all changed when Santa Clara upped the pressure in the 76th minute. Huerta gathered the ball in the box and turned before hitting a shot that was saved. On the rebound Marlborough was able to collect the ball and hit it into the empty net to make the score 2-1 Broncos.

Santa Clara held off the advancing Terrier attack for the 2-1 and a trip to the Sweet 16.

Game Notes: Attendance was 164 … Boston was issued two yellow cards … Santa Clara was issued two yellow cards … This was just the second time this season Boston allowed multiple goals.