SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The title defense is officially underway.
Santa Clara women's soccer wrapped their first week of practice Friday as they begin the long journey of trying to repeat as National Champions.
��️ @SCUJerrySmith discusses the team's first week of practice as the #SCUBroncos look to repeat as National Champions.#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/9JpSbggldh
— Santa Clara Women's Soccer (@SCUWomensSoccer) August 6, 2021
The Broncos return most of their roster from the title team that finished seventh in the country with 2.5 goals per game and was a perfect 6-0 in West Coast Conference play en route to the 11th league title in program history.
Back are captains Kelsey Turnbow and Alex Loera as well as Izzy D'Aquila and Sally Menti.
Loera won the Honda Award and was Second Team All-America for the 2020 season while taking home her second consecutive West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year award. She was also the College Cup Defensive Most Outstanding Player.
Turnbow, the College Cup Offensive Most Outstanding Player after scoring the game-tying tally in the title game, led the high-powered Santa Clara offense with 10 goals and 24 points. She was a Third Team All-American and Top Drawer Soccer's Player of the Year.
D'Aquila, who converted the clinching penalty kick against top-seeded Florida State, scored eight goals last season and added three assists while being named First Team All-West Region.
Menti, the WCC Freshman of the Year, looks to build on her breakout freshman campaign.
Marlee Nicolos is back in net after allowing just a 0.78 GAA and posting a .780 save percentage. She picked up six shutouts in the Broncos 11 matches.
Despite all the firepower and high-end talent returning, the team was No. 2 in the preseason United Soccer Coaches Poll, behind Florida State.
"We've always had the same philosophy regarding preseason or early season polls," Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith said. "They really aren't that accurate and the only poll that matters is where you finish in the last week of the season. Last year we finished on top even though we didn't start on top and this year we're not starting on top again, which is fine with us. Our goal is to finish the season No. 1. We know it's a long way to get there but that's the poll we'll focus on."
That long road to finishing atop the polls once again has begun with the first match as reigning champs August 19 at home against San Jose State.
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