Men's soccer loses four key players

By Matthew Cucuzza

Four players on the men's soccer team have decided to transfer schools and will play elsewhere in 2009.

Juniors Jeff Cosgriff, Sean Danzeiser and Stephen McCarthy and freshman Kyle Robinson have all successfully completed release papers and are no longer part of the Santa Clara squad, said head coach Cameron Rast.

Cosgriff, McCarthy and Robinson have already left campus. Danzeiser is still attending classes at Santa Clara.

Rast believes the Broncos' woes last season are partially to blame for the departures.

"It was a difficult season for the team," said Rast. "When you have success over a period of time, especially the time the guys have been here, it's difficult for everyone to make sense of it."

The Broncos struggled in 2008, posting a 4-9-7 overall and a 2-2-5 West Coast Conference record, and finished dead last in WCC standings. Santa Clara won back-to-back WCC titles in 2006 and 2007.

The four players account for over 30 percent of Santa Clara's goal output last season.

Cosgriff played in all 20 games for the Broncos in 2008, posting a team-high 3 goals and adding 2 assists. Named to the 2006 WCC All-Freshman Team, Cosgriff leaves Santa Clara with 9 goals and 2 assists over three seasons.

The St. Ignatius graduate was named to the WCC All-Academic Team on Jan. 23.

Rast said he had signed release papers allowing Cosgriff to begin training with UC Berkeley.

"Jeff has scored against Cal, and we haven't scored a lot of goals against Cal," said Rast. "It will be tough to see him on that side, but we want what's best for the players, and we sat down and thought that would be best."

Danzeiser appeared in 17 games for Santa Clara last season and scored 2 goals. The junior notched 6 goals and 3 assists for the Broncos in 61 games over three seasons.

Rast said several coaches have called about Danzeiser, but that the junior was leaning toward Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

McCarthy started in 60 of his 61 appearances for Santa Clara over three seasons and scored 8 goals and 2 assists. McCarthy was named WCC Co-Freshman of the Year in 2006 and received WCC All-Second Team honors this past season.

Rast said he spoke to the head coach of North Carolina, Elmar Bolowich, over Christmas, who indicated McCarthy is interested in transferring there.

Robinson has been exploring junior colleges near his hometown of San Pedro, Calif., said Rast. The freshman was also looking at eventually transferring to Air Force, where his brother currently plays soccer. Robinson's father graduated from Air Force and played soccer there, too.

"(Robinson) was going to go home right away and make progress toward finishing his education," said Rast.

None of the players could be reached for comment. Rast did not confirm the destinations of the four players.

There are no players scheduled to transfer to Santa Clara, but the team gets transfer considerations all the time,'»¿ said Rast.

"It's something that we look at on a case-by-case basis," said Rast. "There are a lot of moving parts with that. We want to make sure we're making good decisions for everyone."

Replacing the experience and leadership of the three departing juniors will be difficult, Rast said.

'»¿"They contributed significantly to us," Rast said. "We're disappointed that they're not going to be here, but we have to move forward."

Without the three juniors, next year's squad will feature only four seniors: goalkeeper Naushad Godrej, forward Ryan Brown, defender Chris Sauter and defender Ross Smith.

Godrej started two games and made 8 saves and allowed 4 goals this past season. Brown had no points in nine games last year. Sauter scored a goal and had an assist in 16 games. Smith started 15 of 19 games and also collected 1 goal and 1 assist.

Rast said the team has already begun to focus on next season. The team's goals were discussed at meetings last week and on-field training has started earlier than usual.

'»¿"We want to give ourselves the best chance to win," Rast said. "We want everybody bought in, and that's what we're working toward."

Contact Matthew Cucuzza at (408) 551-1918 or mcucuzza@scu.edu.