Sept. 18, 2009
STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 12 Santa Clara women's soccer team improved to 6-2-0 on the season, collecting a 2-1 win over Wisconsin tonight in the first game of the Stanford/Nike Classic. Junior Maxine Goynes earned a goal and an assist in the victory, as the Broncos went on to their second neutral site victory of the year.
Santa Clara spent the beginning of the first half figuring out the Badgers' clashing direct, physical style of play, but as the period went on the chances on goal started to come more frequently.
Wisconsin goalkeeper Michele Dalton kept the Badgers in the game as the Broncos put together several quality chances from the 20-minute mark on. In the 21st minute, senior Kiki Bosio took a shot that Dalton saved, but the ball dropped on the line only to be cleared by a defender before anyone from Santa Clara could get to it.
Dalton then stifled point-blank attempts by freshman Amanda Webster, Bosio again, and Goynes all before the 30-minute mark.
"I thought their keeper was terrific in the first half," said head coach Jerry Smith. "She stopped two - what I thought were for sure - goals that I think on most keepers would have gone in."
With just about 14 minutes left in the half, redshirt senior Amanda Poach returned to the field for the first time since the 2006 season and senior Lexi Orand also stepped on to the pitch, and within minutes the Broncos were on the scoreboard.
Goynes found Orand from the right side of the field, as Orand lost her defender in a foot race to the ball and calmly pounded the ball into the upper part of the net with the inside of her foot.
Moments later, the Broncos extended their lead to two, when Bosio played a through ball to Goynes, who then buried the ball into the net past Dalton.
Santa Clara finished the half with a 9-3 edge in shots and 4-0 advantage in corner kicks.
"I thought Wisconsin came out hard in the first 15 minutes and it was a very back and forth game," said Smith. "But the last 30 minutes of the first half I was very happy with. We controlled the play, created good opportunities, and we were rewarded with two quality goals."
The second half was a different story. Wisconsin found its footing and slowly started to find ways past the Bronco defense. The Badgers ended up outshooting Santa Clara 6-5 in the half, and the run of play was much more even between the two teams.
"At the very beginning of the second half, Kiki [Bosio] had a nice opportunity, and if that goes in I think we really would have been on top of the game," said Smith. "Credit to Wisconsin though, they fought hard and were tough and hard-working, and I think for some of the second half they outplayed us a little."
Wisconsin had trouble finding the net on the chances they did get, but finally got on the board, scoring in the 89th minute on a corner kick that dropped into the box after a scrum.
"I think they deserved the goal they got," said Smith. "They worked hard to earn the corner kick and were a little tougher than us at the end of the game in the box, but we have to do a better job in the second half, that's for sure."
The Badgers started their comeback too late, and time expired leaving the Broncos with the win but without their fourth shutout of the year.
"I think we came out ready for game and played well, but I think we had, what many coaches call, the common 2-0 letdown today," said Smith. "We have to become more mature. Against Notre Dame, we got the 2-0 lead and kept fighting, and we got it again today and we became conservative and didn't play as sharp or hard. I think we learned our lesson."
Santa Clara returns to Stanford on Sunday to finish up play in the tournament, taking on No. 23 Colorado at 11 a.m.
