Oct. 15, 2002

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This Week
Santa Clara remains in the friendly confines of Buck Shaw Stadium for three more contests. The Broncos will host San Jose State tonight at 7:30 p.m. The game has taken on added meaning since the two schools announced a newly-created rivalry series last month. SCU and SJSU will meet in 13 sports this season, with the overall winner of the year-long series claiming bragging rights for the year. The series is still yet to be named and fans can vote for their favorite name for the series by visiting either school's website.

Santa Clara will then host Saint Mary's on Friday and San Francisco on Sunday.

National Team Call Ups
U.S. Women's National Team member Aly Wagner netted one goal and two assists in a 5-1 victory over Russia on Sept. 27. Wagner left the Bronco squad earlier that week to join the National Team as it prepares to qualify for the 2003 Women's World Cup in China by competing in the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup. The Women's Gold Cup, which also serves as the Regional championship, will be held from Oct. 27-Nov. 9, 2002 at four venues on the west coast of the United States and Canada. Wagner will rejoin the National Team next Monday, Oct. 21 and will most likely be out of the Bronco lineup until the NCAA Tournament, although there is a possibility of Wagner joining SCU for a Nov. 3 contest at Portland, as the USNT is playing in Seattle on Nov. 2.

Wagner's departure is not the first time the Broncos have lost players due to the National Team. Devvyn Hawkins was called up earlier in the month, but declined. Additionally, Santa Clara began the season without three starters, Jessica Ballweg, Megan Kakadelas and Leslie Osborne, as the trio was leading the United States to its first-ever U19 World Championship.

In the Rankings
Santa Clara moved up in all four polls. Soccer Times listed SCU seventh, while Soccer America Magazine, NSCAA/adidas and Soccer Buzz Magazine list SCU fifth, fifth and seventh, respectively. Ten opponents are ranked and the Broncos have already faced eight of those foes. The team will also take on Portland and Pepperdine.

Catching the Broncos on TV
Santa Clara's match against West Coast Conference rival and 2001 College Cup participant Portland on November 3 will air live on Action Sports Cable Network. It will mark the second regular season appearance on live TV for the Broncos, as the team's overtime game against Florida was broadcast live on the Sunshine Network in September.

Up Next: Broncos Return to Los Angeles
Santa Clara will take its second trip this month to Los Angeles, this time to play West Coast Conference foes Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount. The contest against the Waves will mark the Broncos' ninth ranked opponent this season, as Pepperdine checks in this week's poll at No. 18. The Waves were only one of two teams to defeat the Broncos during SCU's championship run last year, earning a 1-0 overtime victory in Malibu.

Match Tickets On Sale
Individual match tickets for Santa Clara University's nationally recognized soccer teams are on sale through the Department of Athletics' official website www.SantaClaraBroncos.com, and the athletic ticket office at 408-554-4660, between the hours of 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In conjunction with its exclusive Internet partner, Official College Sports Network, the athletic department has developed an online ticket application that provides fans with the ability to purchase individual matches via the official athletic website. Single games are priced at $7 for adults, $5 for youths and seniors and $2 for non-Ruff Riders SCU students, as well as members of Bronco Kidz. Single match team passes are also available for $35.

Wagner #7 Replica Jersey T-Shirts On Sale
Exclusive Offer! Get your replica jersey/t-shirt of national player of the year Aly Wagner. This item will only be available at Buck Shaw Stadium and online at Santa ClaraBroncos.com this fall. Fans from as far east as New York, as far north as South Dakota and as far south as Georgia have already placed their orders. Limited quantities available. Available in Youth and Adult sizes. Order today!

Head Coach Jerry Smith
The number 13 has become a lucky number head coach Jerry Smith (CS Hayward '86), who won his first NCAA College Cup National Championship in his 13th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The 15-year year coach earned his sixth WCC Coach of the Year honor when he was named this year's co-recipient with Saint Mary's Paul Ratcliffe. Smith has compiled an overall record of 242-60-15 (.787) and earned his 50th WCC victory against Gonzaga in mid-October. Additionally, he has coached Santa Clara to 13 straight NCAA Tournament appearances and eight College Cups. The winningest coach in the program's history, Smith is fourth on the all-time NCAA coaching victory list. The Broncos have been ranked among the nation's Top 25 every season during Smith's coaching tenure and have finished among the Top 10 in each of the last 12 campaigns. In 1990, Santa Clara finished the season ranked first nationally. Additionally, he has coached 16 All-Americans, 11 U.S. National Team Players, eight Academic All-Americans and five WCC Freshmen of the Year, including 2001 selection Veronica Zepeda. He coached 1999 National Player of the Year Mandy Clemens.

Bronco Bios: Player of the Year Candidate Aly Wagner
As a Senior in 2002: A team captain... named a preseason All-American by Soccer Buzz and Soccer America magazines... started all eight contests she has played... missed game at Cal Poly, due to bruised tailbone suffered at California... also did not play against USC due to a strained right hamstring... earned all-tournament team honors at the Notre Dame Classic... scored twice against Clemson... also named to Soccer America's Team of the Week... is seventh on the West Coast Conference career points list, at 110... also broke into the top 15 career goal scorers with 34.... is also fifth on the league's list for career assists, with 42... scored a goal and an assist against Florida... was called up to the U.S. National Team for participation in the Nike Women's Cup... scored a goal and two assists in her first outing with the USNT, a 5-1 win over Russia... rejoined the team in Los Angeles... will miss more time during the regular season as she rejoins the NT next Monday... could return for the Broncos' Nov. 3 game at Portland, as the USNT plays in Seattle on Nov. 2... added an assist on the game-winner against San Diego to open WCC play...

Bronco Bios: Preseason All-America Devvyn Hawkins
As a Senior in 2002: A team captain... named a preseason All-American by Soccer America Magazine... is one of four players that has started all 12 contests... was called up to join the National Team, but sprained right ankle during practice on Sept. 2, and declined National Team offer... assisted on two of the Broncos' four goals against Oklahoma... named the adidas Classic Defensive MVP... scored the equalizer against UCLA en route to an overtime win...

Bronco Bios: Preseason All-America Veronica Zepeda
As a Junior in 2002: Named a preseason All-American by Soccer Buzz Magazine... will be slowed by leg injuries during the early season... earned all-tournament team honors at the Notre Dame Classic... has started twice and seen action in all 12 contests... earned first goal of the season against Clemson... added an assist in that same match...

Bronco Bios: Kristi Candau
As a Junior in 2002: A team captain... earned all-tournament team honors at the Notre Dame Classic... scored twice against the Fighting Irish and added the game-winning goal against Clemson... has seven starts and has seen action in all 12 contests... scored two goals in each of the first two contests she did not start... leads the team with six goals... is second on team with 13 points... scored twice against Oklahoma... had three other dangerous shots in that game, narrowly missing a hat trick... assisted on the equalizer at UCLA and then scored the game-winner in the second minute of overtime...

Bronco Bios: Megan Kakadelas
As a Sophomore in 2002: Missed the match against Stanford while with the U.S. U19 National Team, winning the first-ever FIFA U19 World Championship in Canada... earned all-tournament team honors at the Notre Dame Classic... scored the game-winner in her Bronco debut against Notre Dame and assisted on Candau's first score... has seen action in all 11 contests since joining the squad, with nine straight starts... added the game-winner at Cal Poly... has four goals and four assists for 12 points... posted third game-winner of season against Montana...

Bronco Bios: Leslie Osborne
As a Sophomore in 2002: Missed the match against Stanford while with the U.S. U19 National Team, winning the first-ever FIFA U19 World Championship in Canada... has started all 11 matches since returning... plays all field positions... had a hand in all four goals against Oklahoma, scoring twice and netting one assist... started the drive that scored the second Bronco goal... named the WCC Player of the Week for those efforts... repeated conference honor the following week while also being named to the adidas Classic All-tournament team... scored both goals against Tennessee... scored two goals against San Diego to open the WCC season... also marked her third multi-goal game of the season... leads the team with six goals and 14 points...

Bronco Bios: Micaela Esquivel
As a Freshman in 2002: Made first collegiate start against Stanford and is one of four players that has started all 12 contests... despite never playing fullback, started on the right side for the first seven contests... earned first collegiate goal against Notre Dame, gathering a loose ball off a corner kick at the top of the arc and chipping a shot in... registered first on SCU's third goal against Oklahoma... scored the game-winner in conference opener against San Diego...

Bronco Bios: Bree Horvath
As a Sophomore in 2002: Started against Stanford, despite tearing ACL just four months earlier... was expected to miss the first month of the season... has started eight of the 10 contests she has played... cracked ribs on her right side against Clemson... sat out match at Cal, but returned and started against Cal Poly two days later... broke nose against Tennessee, but continued playing... the injury requires surgery, but no date has been set yet... played with a face mask against UCLA but decided against using it at USC and against San Diego... assisted on Leslie Osborne's second goal against the Toreros...

Bronco Bios: Alyssa Sobolik
As a Sophomore in 2002: Has started on six occasions... currently has a 0.96 goals-against average and a 4-2 record... started and played the first half against Stanford, allowing one score... earned shutouts against Cal Poly and San Diego... has 17 saves on the year...