April 19, 2006
Santa Clara, Calif. - The 18th-ranked Santa Clara women's water polo team will look to end its regular season on a high note, as they will travel to Santa Cruz, Calif. on Saturday to play UC Santa Cruz for the third time this season. Game time is scheduled for noon. The Banana Slugs will attempt to prevent the season sweep, but a potent Bronco offense will make things very difficult for the home team.
The first time Santa Clara (22-7) squared off with UC Santa Cruz (10-20), it came away with a dominating 13-2 victory at the Slugfest Tournament, held in mid-February. Ten different Broncos scored in that contest, showcasing their offensive diversity, with Bryn Asher and Alanna Simpkins leading the way with their five combined goals. Kristin Barnes and Randahl Capurro split time in the cage, playing solid defensive and stopping a total of seven attacks.
The second contest in 2006 between the Broncos and the Banana Slugs mirrored the first one, as nine different SCU players found the back of the net in the 12-3 triumph. Emily Bonk and Elizabeth Perry scored two goals apiece to lead Santa Clara on the offensive attack, while Barnes and Capurro were left to anchor the defensive end and combined for nine saves.
Randy Whitchurch and Alan Cima are co-coaches of the Banana Slugs women's water polo program and this is their sixth year of sharing the head coaching duties.
"We are looking forward to playing at Santa Cruz on Saturday. The Santa Clara-UC Santa Cruz rivalry is a good one, and it will definitely help us prepare for the WWPAs, as their pool is regulation size, which is what we will see at the league tournament," stated Santa Clara head coach Keith Wilbur.
