Check out photos from the match! (Credit Denis Concordel)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In the final game of the regular season on Senior Day, Santa Clara women's soccer topped Saint Mary's by a final of 3-0. The win puts the Broncos at 14-6-0 overall and 7-2-0 in WCC play while the Gaels finish 7-10-3 and 1-5-3 in conference action.
"In your last regular season game you want to win for your seniors and today was Alumni Day for us so we wanted to win for them after setting such a high standard for us," said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. "You also want to have a little momentum headed into the NCAA Tournament and send a message to the selection committee that we're playing well and we're ready for the next stage. All of our seniors were on the field for us today and the crowd gave them a nice ovation. All in all it was a very good day for the Broncos and now we wait for Monday and the NCAA selection show."
Santa Clara outshot Saint Mary's 12-9 and shots on goal were 6-3 in favor of the Broncos. Sofia Huerta led the way for the Bronco offense with two goals while Ashley Doyle scored one. Brittany Ambrose and Katie Speidel added an assist each. Andi Tostanoski picked up three saves in net.
The Broncos jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the fourth minute off a corner kick. Ambrose took the corner and Doyle got up to put a head on the ball. She finished into the right side of the net for her first goal of the year.
Saint Mary's had a great chance to score in the 13th minute. Caroline Beaulne hit the cross bar from near the top of the box and Casidee Lynch took a shot off the rebound but Tostanoski made a nice save.
Santa Clara outshot Saint Mary's 7-4 and shots on goal were 3-2 in favor of the Broncos in the first half. Doyle led the way for the Bronco offense with a goal while Ambrose had an assist. Tostanoski picked up two saves in net.
Huerta beat two Saint Mary's defenders to the ball on a loose ball and dribbled down the box where she just had the keeper to beat. She was able to place the ball perfectly and find the back of the net to make it 2-0 Santa Clara.
Speidel set up Huerta's second goal of the match with a beautiful through ball in the 71st minute. Huerta took a touch near the 18-yard box and smashed the ball into the net for the third Bronco goal of the day.
Smith began to pull his seniors one-by-one and Santa Clara held on for the 3-0 win.