Santa Clara University Campus Community Celebrates Women’s Soccer National Championship

Posted: May 19, 2021

VIDEO: Women's Soccer Championship Celebration | HIGHLIGHTS: Women's Soccer Championship Celebration

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara University campus community celebrated the Bronco women's soccer national championship with a ceremony Wednesday at Stevens Stadium on the Mission Campus.

The 11th-seeded Broncos claimed their second national championship on Monday, defeating top-seeded Florida State in penalty kicks.

Santa Clara University staff, faculty, and students as well as family, friends, and supporters of the program were in attendance which was emceed by former Bronco women's soccer great, Danielle Slaton.

Each student-athlete on the team was introduced by Slaton and received a miniature version of the NCAA Championship trophy and a wrist watch.

University chaplain Father Jack Treacy led everyone in a moment of prayer before giving way to acting Santa Clara University president Lisa A. Kloppenberg.

"Their story is one of perseverance, from the COVID testing all the way through the isolation and the bubble in the tournament," said Kloppenberg. "They stuck with it for the good of each other, for the good of Santa Clara and it's really an amazing gift and blessing for all of us."

The team didn't begin practicing until two weeks before the season opener on Feb. 27, but that didn't stop the Broncos from posting a perfect West Coast Conference record on its way to a league title and berth in the NCAA Tournament for the 30th time in school history.

"I couldn't be more proud of Jerry Smith, his coaches, and of course our amazing women's soccer players for their courage and as everybody said grit. Your cohesive bond and determination to face any challenges including COVID and making history by winning a national championship," director of athletics Renee Baumgartner said.

The Broncos knocked off four seeded teams, including thee in the top-10, on their way to the title. Before knocking off the two-time national champion Seminoles in the final, Santa Clara had to outlast second-seeded North Carolina, with 21 national championships on its resume, in the College Cup semifinals.

Celebrating the natty with our Bronco fam ��#StampedeTogether #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/n1eFNFyrd5
— Santa Clara Women's Soccer (@SCUWomensSoccer) May 20, 2021

"I'm very proud of our student-athletes," said head coach Jerry Smith, who also won the College Cup back in 2001 with Slaton as the team captain. "Honestly, I can't imagine how difficult these last 14 months were for them, especially here in Santa Clara county. This was by far the wildest, craziest, most unpredictable ride a team has ever had to endure. There were at least a hundred completely valid reasons to bail out, give up, give in and everyone would have understood. That's what most people would've done, but they didn't do that. They persevered, they overcame, they stuck together. They found a way. They refused to lose."

Team co-captain Alex Loera spoke on behalf of the team to thank those in attendance, the fans and the support the team received throughout the season.

The ceremony concluded with Baumgartner handing the actual NCAA Championship trophy to Smith as the team hoisted it to the sky as red and white confetti fell down to the tune of Queen's "We Are The Champions" blaring in the background.