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Toreros Upend No. 7 Santa Clara, 3-0, to Claim Share of WCC Championship
Nov. 4, 2011
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - In a wet, cold climate, and a soggy field, the University of San Diego women's soccer team was shining, as they upended No. 7 Santa Clara University, 3-0, Friday evening to claim a share of its first-ever West Coast Conference championship at Torero Stadium, live on ESPNU in front of 1,789 fans. With the win, the Toreros conclude the regular-season with a 12-7-0 overall record, run their winning streak to seven, and they claim a share of the WCC championship with a 7-1-0 WCC record. With the loss, the Broncos finish the regular-season with a 13-2-5 overall record and a second place finish in the WCC with a 6-1-1- record. USD now awaits Monday's NCAA Selection show to learn where and when they will play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament which begins next Friday Nov. 11. They didn't have an answer for Stephanie Ochs tonight," stated head coach Ada Greenwood. "We weren't' going to be able to one or two touch the ball in this environment, so I told the girls to play the ball across or up the field quickly. If we continue to play like that, we can achieve so much this season. I like our momentum right now. I mean to win seven in a row is tough." San Diego scored the only goal they would need in the 20th minute of action, as senior forward Stephanie Ochs crossed the ball into a crowded goal box, it found the feet of freshman forward Mariah Butera, and she was able to hit a one-timer past the SCU `keeper to give USD a 1-0 advantage.
Just five minutes later, Ochs again was able to set up a goal to another freshman in the biggest match in program history. This time, Ochs sent a cross into another crowded goal box, where freshman midfielder Meghan O'Rourke got on the end of it to hit a laser shot into the back of the net to give USD a 2-0 lead at the 25:10 mark.
San Diego wasn't done scoring just yet, as in the 63rd minute of play, Ochs again had her hand in the final goal. This time, Ochs took a corner kick for the Toreros, had a small touch to Elissa Magracia, who then fed the ball back to Ochs, who played it into a crowded goal box and senior defender Dani Russell then hit a one-timer in to the back of the net to put the match at its final of 3-0. Senior goalkeeper Courtney Parsons recorded her sixth shutout of the season, as she allowed no goals and recorded three saves. SCU's Bianca Henninger was saddled with the loss in goal for the Broncos, as she allowed three goals and recorded three saves. "They are peaking at the right time, and if you are going to have a rough patch in your season, you want to have it any place but the end of your season," said SCU head coach Jerry Smith. "They are playing really well right now, and they are a dangerous team. " San Diego held a 9-8 advantage in shots, and SCU had a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks. |
