Santa Clara Soccer Preview 2025: Outlook on the Upcoming Season

Photo from Alfo Images

A new season of Bronco soccer is approaching for 2025, as both the men’s and women’s teams released their game schedules this past week. The women will look to build off last year’s momentum with returning leaders and new faces as they seek to return to the NCAA tournament. The men, on the other hand, aim to bounce back after a rebuilding year, leaning on a mix of experienced veterans and a promising recruiting class. With both programs setting their sights high, 2025 is looking like another big year for Bronco Soccer.

The women’s squad will have a challenging task this upcoming season. They are losing seven of the 10 players responsible for playing the most minutes last year, among them star midfielders Colby Barnett and Sally Menti who moved on to the National Women’s Soccer League. 

However, several key players are returning. Anchoring the back line are defenders Ava Weiland ’28 and Addie Whitehouse ’27, both of whom played pivotal roles in the team’s defensive stability last season. Whitehouse played the most minutes of any Bronco last season, earning 2024 All-West Region Third Team and 2024 All-WCC Honorable Mention awards. Weiland earned a place on the WCC All-Freshman Team, starting in 13 of the 16 Santa Clara matches. The Broncos back line will be a major strength next year and will help keep games close, even against tougher opponents like Stanford, who they’ll play on the road on Aug. 17. 

Up front, all eyes will be on Kennedy Schoennauer ’27, who scored 11 goals last season, to lead the team. Schoennauer was First Team All-WCC scoring three game-winning goals to boot. Look for Schoennauer to build on her strong season last year and continue to be a consistent threat up front. Circle your calendar for Santa Clara’s Oct. 8 home matchup vs Pepperdine, and expect Schoennauer and the Broncos to battle back-and-forth all night long. 

For the men’s team, returners are headlined by defender Naji Elder ’26 and midfielder Will Wiersdorf ’27. 

Elder was a 2024 All-WCC Second Team selection last year. He played in eight games in which the Broncos only allowed five goals. If Elder can stay healthy, look for the Broncos to be far more tenacious on the defensive end than they were last year. Santa Clara’s matchup against UC San Diego on Saturday, Sept. 27, will be one to watch defensively, with the Broncos seeking revenge after a 2-1 loss on the road last year.

Wiersdorf also earned 2024 All-WCC Second Team honors last year, tying for the team lead with two assists and was second on the team in scoring with three goals. Look for Wiersdorf to continue challenging the keeper next season; he took the second-most shots on the team last year with 26 and the most shots on goal with 14. Anticipate Wiersdorf to have his fingerprints all over the Broncos’ Oct. 4 matchup at Gonzaga—he netted the game-winner last year in a thrilling 1-0 Bronco victory.

Keep an eye on forward Jack Civitts ’27 next year, too; he was a 2024 WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention and was tied for second on the team with two assists. Civitts and Wiersdorf will present a difficult challenge for opposing goalkeepers next year. A Bronco home matchup against the University of San Francisco on Oct. 19 will be one to watch come next season.

The men’s team will also be joined by signees Tatenda Trust Chigede, Niv Berkovitz, James Wangsness, and Diego Diaz.

With key returners and exciting newcomers, both Bronco squads are ready to turn heads in 2025. Expect strong showings from returning players and new faces to step up for their squads as they look to make their mark this season.