July 27, 2009
The 2009 Santa Clara men's soccer season marks the 20th Anniversary of the Broncos' 1989 Co-National Championship with long-time rivals Virginia. With experienced players on the pitch this fall, Santa Clara will look to rebound from last year's 4-9-7 overall record.
"Our 2009 schedule will test the team right from the start and I don't think it will get easier as we get into our conference play," said eighth year head coach Cameron Rast. "We wanted to provide our team with different challenges that will make us better as a whole as we make another playoff push by seasons end. With non-conference opponents like UC Irvine (Big West Champion) and Cal (Pac 10 Champion), we will have an idea of where we are and what we need to do to be successful early in the season."
The Broncos remain on the West Coast for the entirety of the regular-season schedule and will face two teams - UC Irvine (No. 10) and California (No. 12) - that were ranked in the final NSCAA/adidas Coaches Poll.
"Last year we traveled a great deal early on in the season without the success we had hoped for," said Rast. "Our approach this year was to play top competition both regionally and nationally, but be fiscally responsible in terms of the amount of travel. Staying on the West Coast this year and primarily in California will allow us to create a good routine; one we believe we help us be successful."
The team will start its season at home with a midweek match against UC Irvine on Sept. 1. First kick is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Broncos then travel to battle Cleveland State at the UC Irvine College Classic on Sept. 5. They will finish the tournament with a match against Long Island on Sept. 7.
The Broncos will return home on Sept. 13 with a match versus Sacramento State at 7p.m. The men will then take on fellow Bay Area teams in the Bay Area Soccer Classic, playing against Stanford at home on Sept. 17 and at Cal on Sept. 20.
After a home match versus Brown on Sept. 25, the Broncos will travel to down The Alameda to play cross-county rivals San Jose State on Sept. 27.
SCU returns to Buck Shaw Stadium to opening West Coast Conference play against Portland and Gonzaga on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4, respectively. The Broncos go back on the road for their next three matches, traveling to San Francisco on Oct. 9, Loyola Marymount on Oct. 16, and San Diego on Oct. 18. They will then faceoff against Saint Mary's at home on Oct. 23 to bring the first half of league play to a close.
Two days later, SCU travels to Moraga to take on the Gaels again on Oct. 25. The Broncos then take a trip to the Pacific Northwest to battle Gonzaga on Oct. 30 and Portland on Nov. 1.
Santa Clara will finish out the regular season with three final games in Buck Shaw Stadium. Under the bright lights of national television, the Broncos will host the Dons of USF on Nov. 6. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.
The Broncos then host the Lions of LMU on Nov. 13 and bring the regular-season to a close hosting San Diego on Nov. 15. Prior to its final match, Santa Clara will honor its graduate seniors in a pre-game ceremony.
Santa Clara will look for the program's 19th NCAA Tournament bid and the sixth appearance for Coach Rast. The NCAA First Round will start on Nov. 20 and will culminate with the Men's College Cup on Dec. 11-13 in Cary, N.C.
