Fall Sports Preview
By Mike Kaufmann and Joe Doss-Antoun
The fall sports season is upon us already, with many Bronco teams playing their non-conference schedules. Last season, Santa Clara's fall sports had unprecedented success, with women's soccer reaching the national quarterfinals and women's volleyball making the final four.
With little margin for error, our athletes will try to recreate that success and build on what has become a storied tradition during the fall.
The following conference rankings are the opinions of The Santa Clara's sports staff. Input was taken from Santa Clara coaches, as well as other WCC schools.
Volleyball
When you finish conference play with a 12-2 record and reach the national semifinals, it seems like the only place to go is down. However, this season's Bronco squad returns several players from last year's 27-5 team and has arguably the most talent seen in recent years.
With that said, another run towards the national title is not out of the question.
This year's team brings back 10 letter winners who are more than capable, including senior Kim McGiven and junior Anna Cmaylo.
McGiven, who led the Broncos with 466 kills last season, will be counted on again this year as a kill leader. She should also get help in that area from Cmaylo, who was an AVCA Third Team All-American last year and earned First-Team All-WCC honors as well.
"Anna and Kim were dedicated in the offseason and have just gotten better," head coach Jon Wallace said. "I'd like to take credit for their play but really they are both very talented."
It's important to note that the Broncos have finished in the top 3 in the WCC every year since 1997. Once again the Broncos are the early favorites, but they will face stiff competition from Saint Mary's, who returns three all-conference performers, and traditional powerhouses, Pepperdine and San Diego.
The Waves, like Santa Clara, are constantly in contention for the top spot in the country, while the Toreros finished a solid 10-4 last season, good enough for second place.
In a league that sent five teams to the NCAA playoffs last season, the Broncos are the early favorite.
Women's soccer
It was no surprise to see the Santa Clara women's soccer team competing in the NCAA College Cup last winter. The Lady Broncos used their 17-5-2 record to extend the nation's longest streak of 11 straight NCAA quarterfinal appearances, where they fell 2-1 to Penn State.
However, the Broncos will rely on experience this year, returning 21 players from last year's squad, including 10 of 11 starters. Notable returnees include Marian Dalmy, Tiffany Roberts, and last year's leading goal scorer Jordan Angeli, all of whom were named to the All-WCC team. Key transfers Chioma Igwe from U.C. Berkeley and Hillary Schwarzbach from USC will join the team this season.
Head coach Jerry Smith hopes for a stellar encore performance from sophomore Amanda Poach, a Freshman All-American in 2005 and a member of the U.S. U-20 national team.
"Amanda is probably one of the most talented players in Division 1 soccer," Smith said. "We're really looking to her to continue her play for our team and maybe even take it up another level as a returning player."
The team entered the 2006 season ranked 1st in the nation in the Soccer Buzz Poll. However, an early loss to current no. 1 Notre Dame derailed the Broncos, who are now ranked no. 4 in most polls.
"I love how we have these games because ultimately we're trying to be the best in the NCAA so having a chance to beat some of the best teams in the country is very important to us," said Meagen Snell, last year's team leader in assists.
While Santa Clara faces top 25 teams in eight of their 20 games this season, the most important match of the season comes during conference play.
On October 19th, the Broncos face off against WCC rival University of Portland at Buck Shaw Stadium. In the 14 years that the WCC has sponsored women's soccer, the Pilots and Broncos have each won eight regular season WCC titles, including ties.
Men's Soccer
Despite losing 13 letter winners from last year's squad, the Broncos look poised to make a run at the WCC championship. The men's team will use a combination of veteran leadership and youthful energy to try and improve their 13-6-3 overall record from a year ago.
Perhaps the biggest void the Broncos will have to fill is the departure of All-American midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy, who was drafted second overall in the Major League Soccer draft by Real Salt Lake this past year.
Other notable losses include starters Kelechi Igwe, Hector Guzman, Eric Irvine and goalkeeper Kevin Sweeney.
In order to replace such essential players, the Broncos will have to rely on newcomers Jeff Cosgriff and Amaechi Igwe, both of whom were an integral part of Santa Clara's 15th ranked recruiting class this year.
"So far the freshmen have really been impressing us," said senior midfielder Erik Ustruck. "They've stepped in and made big plays and are definitely proving themselves."
However, in order to be successful this season, the Broncos know they will need the leadership of their veterans. Key returners include captains Jamil Roberts and Peter Lowry and last season's leading scorer Keith DeVey.
DeVey and Ustruck are the only remaining members of the 2002-03 team that made a run to the College Cup Final Four.
In order to make a run at the NCAA College Cup this season, the Broncos will have to play well in their own conference. They are looking to end San Francisco's run of back-to-back WCC championships.
Though it's too early to tell, the Broncos and the Dons should both contend for the hardware when the end of the season rolls around.
Men's Cross Country
Similar to the Gonzaga men's basketball team the past couple of years, Portland's men's cross country teams have dominated the WCC, winning 27 consecutive team and individual conference championships - a mark unmatched in any sport in the conference.
The streak has been ongoing since 1979, a mere four years after the WCC began sponsoring cross country in 1975.
Though the men's team recently placed second at the USF Invitational, another Portland championship is more than likely.
Junior Mike Delaurenti, who owns the Bronco record in the 5K event, will lead this year's squad along with team captain Mike Hannon. They will receive help from Chris Furnari and Chris Gumbs, who has the second fastest time of Bronco athletes in the 8K event. The men are coached by Felipe Montoro.
Women's Cross Country
Portland's women's teams have also been dominant, but to a lesser degree. The Pilots have won 16 of 21 team championships, and nine of the last 10. Like their male counterparts, they are the ones everybody must pass in order to get to the top.
Shannon Bell leads the women's team after placing second in the WCC individual meet. She is joined by Lauren Swigart and Anna Wheatley, both of whom are returning letter winners.
Though the women finished in a distant third place last season, they should continue their ascent and remain in the top three, closing in on Portland and LMU.
Men's Water Polo
Head coach Keith Wilbur will attempt to further improve the Bronco program in his sixth season at the helm of the men's water polo team.
Last year, the Broncos finished even at 16-16, despite finishing sixth in the Western Water Polo Association. Though sixth may not seem accomplished, Wilbur has steered each of his teams to a higher finish than the year before.
Sophomore Jack Wall is arguably the team's best player and will be counted on for much of the goal production after earning the WWPA Newcomer of the Year award last season.
"Jack's really our go-to guy this year," said Wilbur. "He's got a great shot and is a good all-around player. We just need him to assume more of a leadership role this year."
While Wall will do much of the scoring, senior Kevin Starry will assume the role of defensive stopper. Starry has started on the team since his freshman year and that experience should be invaluable this season.
"Kevin is a great defensive player, but the thing that separates him is he plays very clean. We count on him to shut down the other team's best player," said Wilbur.
Though the WWPA is filled with traditional powers Loyola Marymount, U.C. Davis and U.C. San Diego, the Broncos should make some noise when it comes playoff time.
Contact Mike Kaufmann at (408)551-1918 or mlkaufmann@scu.edu