IRVINE, Calif. – In the final tune-up before conference play begins, No. 23 Santa Clara women's soccer topped UC Irvine by a final of 4-0. The Broncos scored two goals in each half and were in control the entire way.
Santa Clara (7-3-0) dominated the game from the start. UC Irvine (4-6-1) didn't manage to get a shot on goal against the stout Bronco defense until the 84th minute. Grace Cutler scored two goals while Julie Vass and Kellie Peay each scored one. Dani Weatherholt had two assists and Vass and Megan Crosson picked up one apiece. Andi Tostanoski played the first half and Melissa Lowder made two saves in the second half.
"Tonight was a really good team effor where we got contributions from all 22 players we got into the game," said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. "We scored four really good goals and picked up a shutout. The team is really gaining confidence right now and we're continuing to improve which is what we're focused on. This would have been an easy game to let our guard down after the Stanford win but I'm proud of the team for coming out and performing well."
The Broncos jumped out to an early lead over the Anteaters in the 14th minute. Crosson built the attack and passed to Vass who scored into the left side of the net from the right side of the box to make it 1-0.
Santa Clara added another goal in the 21st minute to make it a 2-0 game. Weatherholt passed to Cutler and she found the back of the net for her third goal of the year.
The duo of Cutler and Weatherholt hooked up again in the 64th minute. Weatherholt ran through the midfield and found Cutler who finished her second goal of the night to make the score 3-0.
The offensive onslaught continued off a corner in the 70th minute. Vass took a short corner and got the ball back before swinging in a pass to the box. Jenna Holtz volleyed the ball to the head of Kellie Peay who scored the Broncos' fourth goal of the game.
Santa Clara returns to the field Sun., Oct 4 at 1 p.m. vs. San Francisco in the opening of WCC play.