No. 8 Santa Clara Gears Up For Notre Dame Tournament

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara women’s soccer team retained its national ranking of No. 8 after a single-game weekend in which the Broncos played to a 0-0 draw with currently-ranked No. 21 California (1-0-2). 

This weekend, Santa Clara (2-0-1) will play a team ranked higher than itself for the first time this season, taking on No. 3 Notre Dame at the Inn at Saint Mary’s Classic on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.  The Broncos will follow that game up with a match against Ole Miss at 11 a.m. on Sunday to close out the tournament.  Texas Tech will be the other participant in the tournament.

Game Schedule:
Friday
5 p.m. ET — Texas Tech (visitor) vs. Ole Miss (home)
7:30 p.m. ET — Santa Clara (visitor) vs. Notre Dame (home)

Sunday
11 a.m. ET — Ole Miss (visitor) vs. Santa Clara (home)
1:30 p.m. ET — Texas Tech (visitor) vs. Notre Dame (home)


WEEKEND NOTES:
**Jerry Smith is in his 24th season as SCU head coach (358-109-37)
**Santa Clara is 208-34-20 all-time at Buck Shaw Stadium
**The Broncos have won six straight season-openers and are 6-0-2 in their last seven
**Under Smith the Broncos are 16-3-4 during the month of August
**SCU will be meeting Notre Dame for the 16^th time in program history and holds a 6-9-0 record against the Fighting Irish
**Santa Clara defeated Notre Dame, 2-0, last year at Buck Shaw Stadium
**The Broncos will be playing Ole Miss for the first time in program history
**Goalkeeper Bianca Henninger is a candidate for the 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy
**The Broncos are scheduled to play six teams ranked in the NSCAA Top 25
**Henninger has collected two shutouts already this season, bringing her career total to eight
**SCU returns six players named to the WCC's 2009 all-conference teams
**Allie Vernon, Kendra Perry, Lindsey Johnson and Bianca Henninger have been named team co-captains
**Henninger and Vernon were named to the 2010 WCC Preseason All-Conference team
**Bronco greats Brandi Chastain and Aly Wagner have been added to the coaching staff for 2010

LIVE COVERAGE: Live stats will be available for each of the Broncos’ games in South Bend via CBSCollegeSports.com’s GameTracker and in addition, free live audio and a live blog will be available for Friday night’s matchup between Santa Clara and the Fighting Irish.  Links for all media related to the tournament can be found at http://www.und.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/10-wsoccer-innatstmarys-classic.html

SCU HEAD COACH JERRY SMITH: SCU Head Coach Jerry Smith enters his 24th season at the helm of the Santa Clara women's soccer program in 2010. Although he is most known for the development of his players and teams, Smith also produces success and is the winningest women's soccer coach in Santa Clara history, having compiled a record of 358-109-37 (.747) – in fact Smith ranks among the top-5 winningest coaches in NCAA Division I history. Since taking over the head coaching duties at Santa Clara in the spring of 1987, Smith has built the Bronco soccer program into a national power. For 19 consecutive seasons, his Broncos reached the NCAA Tournament prior to 2008 and have consistently ranked among the top 10 teams in the country. He has taken the Broncos to 10 College Cup Final Fours and a national championship in 2001. In addition, his Bronco teams have won nine West Coast Conference titles.

FANTASTIC FRESHMEN:  All three of Santa Clara’s goals this season have been a direct result of the contribution from this year’s rookies.  Julie Johnston has two assists, one in each of the Broncos’ home games, while Sarah Jackson scored the game-tying goal against San Jose State.

INSIDE THE TOP 10: Santa Clara entered the 2010 season ranked ninth in the nation according to the preseason poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

2010 NSCAA TOP 10 (AUGUST 31, 2010
1. North Carolina
2. Stanford*
3. Notre Dame*
4. Portland*
5. Florida State
6. Boston College
7. Florida
8. Santa Clara
9. Texas A&M
10. Maryland
*Santa Clara opponents in 2010

2010 WCC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. #4 Portland - 49 (7)
2. #8 Santa Clara - 41.5 (1)
3. #14 San Diego - 38.5
4. Pepperdine – 27
5. Loyola Marymount – 26
6. Saint Mary's – 19
7. Gonzaga – 12
8. San Francisco - 11
(First place votes - rankings by NSCAA)

2010 WCC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
Kendra Chandhoke, Portland
Danielle Foxhoven, Portland
Julie Gallaudet, Loyola Marymount
Bianca Henniger, Santa Clara
Sheridan Jones, Gonzaga
Stephanie Ochs, San Diego
Sophie Schmidt, Portland
Michelle Spacciapolli, Pepperdine
Allie Vernon, Santa Clara
Keelin Winters, Portland
Jackie Zinke, San Diego

HENNINGER ADDED TO MAC HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST: Santa Clara University junior goalkeeper Bianca Henninger has been named to the 2010 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Women's Hermann Trophy Watch List, as announced by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Henninger is one of just five goalkeepers among the 45 players selected for the award's preseason watch list. The honor is considered the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer. The recipients are selected by NCAA Division I coaches who are members of the NSCAA.

QUOTABLE: "It is going to take a lot of hard work, dedication, and trust in each other and the coaches," said Anessa Patton about what it will take to be successful in 2010. "We are capable of it though … we have to make sure that we are all on the same page. That means that our veterans and returners are going to have to reach out, that much more, to welcome the 12 freshmen that we have coming in."

FIVE BRONCOS TAKEN IN 2010 WPS DRAFT: Five SCU women's soccer players (four from the Broncos' 2009 roster) were selected in the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer league (WPS) Draft. Jordan Angeli (Boston Breakers – 16^th overall), Kiki Bosio (Los Angeles Sol – 22^nd overall), Amanda Poach (St. Louis Athletica – 28^th overall), Katherine Reynolds (Boston Breakers - #34 overall) and Meagan Snell (Sky Blue FC – 44^th overall).

30th ANNIVERSARY DINNER AND PROGRAM: Join current players, coaches, and alumni for this special anniversary of the SCU Women's Soccer program. Friday, October 08, 2010 at 7:00 PM. CLICK HERE to register.

BRONCOS ADVANCE INTO NCAA'S THIRD ROUND: After an early-season 2-0 win vs. No. 5 Notre Dame, the Bronco women, who finished the 2009 season ranked No. 10, were awarded for their fantastic play by once again playing in the NCAA College Cup tournament. They beat Michigan State and Oklahoma State at home in the first two rounds. Both games ended in penalty kicks. They ended their season with a battle at No. 1 Stanford, losing 1-0 to the eventual national runner-ups.