SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Closing out its four-game homestand, Santa Clara women's soccer fell to No. 10 Minnesota 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Stevens Stadium. An early penalty kick awarded to the Golden Gophers proved to be the difference as both teams scored once in the run of play.
Santa Clara (2-3-3) has already played five overtime matches, including on Friday against No. 20 Notre Dame. All the extra minutes had an impact on the field Sunday as Minnesota (6-2) was the fresher team in the second half.
"I'm proud of our team for their fighting spirit and battling effort," Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith said. "I think the difference in the game was our overtime on Friday. To come off an overtime game and have to play a top-10 team was tough. Our girls battled but in the end our legs were heavier in the second half and that really showed today."
The decisive goal came in the 70th minute on the second of the day from Simone Kolander. Josee Stiever slipped a pass through to Kolander inside the six-yard box and after a couple touches, she knocked it past the goalkeeper.
The Broncos drew even in the 34th on Jordan Jesolva's fourth goal of the year. Natalie Kennedy sent a pass that deflected off a defender and to the feet of Jesolva who blasted the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-all.
Minnesota struck early on a penalty kick in the fifth minute. April Bockin got behind the defense and Courtney Ogren's challenge was called for a penalty to set up the free chance that Kolander converted.
"We gave up a really silly penalty kick and put ourselves in a hole right away," Smith said. "That was the difference in the game. This is a high-powered offensive team but we gave a good effort out there. We didn't allow them too many shots on goal and we were dangerous."
The Broncos have played eight teams that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago and four teams that were ranked in the NSCAA top-25. Every game has been decided by one goal or finished in a tie.
"We're proud of the effort and feel like this weekend our team has really grown," Smith said. "We're in a really good spot going into our big match at Stanford."
Next up for the Broncos is No. 2 Stanford in Palo Alto on Friday at 5 p.m. on Pac 12 Network.