Sept. 28, 2001
Stanford vs. San Diego State Box Score
Santa Clara vs. Southern Methodist Box Score
Post Match Quotes from SCU head coach Jerry Smith
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Junior midfielder Aly Wagner scored one goal and added three assists to lead the sixth-ranked Santa Clara University women's soccer team to a 5-2 victory over Southern Methodist at the Santa Clara adidas Classic tonight at Buck Shaw Stadium.
With the victory, Santa Clara improves to 6-1 on the season while the Mustangs fall to 5-2.
The adidas classic opened earlier this evening with eighth-ranked Stanford defeating San Diego State 2-1. The Cardinal's Marci Ward scored both goals within 10 minutes late in the second half. Kim Castellanos put the Aztecs on the scoreboard in the match's last two minutes with a 25-yard score. Stanford, ranked eighth in the country, remains undefeated and is 6-0 on the season. San Diego State falls to 4-4.
The Broncos opened a 2-0 lead at the half with goals by sophomore midfielder Veronica Zepeda and Wagner. Zepeda stole the ball at the top of the goal box in the 14th minute and beat a defender for her fourth goal of the year. She assisted on Wagner's team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 33rd minute, with a short pass from the left side that Wagner took in for the two-goal edge.
SMU rallied with two goals midway through the second period, both on corner kicks that Jill Heinemann converted for scores. The match remained tied for the next 13 minutes until two corner kicks that the Broncos capitalized on put the home squad ahead the rest of the night. In the first, Wagner's serve went to freshman forward Leslie Osborne, who headed the ball toward the net, but the Mustang goalkeeper was able to stop that shot. She wasn't able to contain the ball and freshman defender Holly Azevedo followed through with the game-winner, and her first collegiate goal.
Osborne scored off a header just over one minute later, again on a serve from Wagner in the left corner. It marked the third straight game that the duo has combined for a Bronco score.
"Aly can serve the ball on a dime," head coach Jerry Smith said. "And Leslie, if she has a little bit of room, she's lethal with her head. It's a great combination there."
Senior midfielder Kerry Cathcart added the final tally of the night in the contest's final minute, off a rebound from another Wagner attempt.
SMU's netminder Erin McLeod finished with eight saves to lead the Mustangs.
"Had it not been for outstanding play from McLeod, we would have scored several more goals," Smith added. "She was fantastic, actually, one of the best goalkeepers we've ever played against and certainly the best so far this year. So a lot of credit to her."
The adidas Classic will conclude play on Sunday, with Stanford taking on SMU at 11 a.m. followed by the Broncos' contest against San Diego State at 1 p.m. An 11-member All-Classic Team will be announced following the second contest. Both matches can be tracked live online by clicking here.
