Oct. 11, 2004
Box Score
(Santa Clara, CA) - For the second time in three games San Diego defeated a top-10 program, knocking off No. 8 Santa Clara 2-1 Sunday in the West Coast Conference opener for both clubs. USD freshman Amy Epsten netted the game-winner for San Diego (7-6-0; 1-0 WCC), winners of three straight. Santa Clara (7-4-2; 0-1 WCC), the defending league champions, lose on its home field of Buck Shaw Stadium for the first time this season. Michelle Rowe gave USD a 1-0 halftime lead and both Marie-Claude Henry and Kaitlyn Pruett assisted in Epsten's game-winner. San Diego's last win over SCU came in 1996.
As reported by Santa Clara Sports Information...
Santa Clara out-shot its opponent by a 12-5 margin overall, 7-2 regarding shots on goal. Sophomore Tina Estrada, of nearby Fremont, led the team with five attempts, including one that found the back of the net to tie the game in the 63rd minute. The play started when senior Bree Horvath beat a player on the right side of the field and crossed the ball over the goal mouth. It bounced once before freshman Jordan Angeli sent the ball back into box, where Estrada's header found the low right corner.
The Broncos' celebration was brief, as San Diego's Amy Epsten scored the game-winner one minute later. Marie-Claude Henry took the Torero corner kick from the far side, and Kaitlyn Pruett was able to pass the ball with her head to her teammate for Epsten's ninth goal of the season.
San Diego had a 1-0 lead at the half when Michelle Rowe scored in the 25th minute.
The Broncos pushed the attack in an attempt to send the game into overtime. Santa Clara's last chances came in the final minute. Senior Megan Kakadelas was fouled outside the box on the left side. Her serve was cleared, but the home team was granted a corner kick. Junior Megan Esquivel took the shot and found senior Lana Bowen in the box. Bowen's header hit off the cross bar.
"You have to give credit where credit is due," head coach Jerry Smith said after the contest. "San Diego came into this match with a good game plan and they executed it very well. Their defensive organization was outstanding, as was their defensive effort. The tactic they used is common in soccer; they sat back and applied defensive pressure, then took advantage of counterattack opportunities.
"This was a disappointing performance from our team today," he continued. "We were not as composed or aggressive in our attack than I would have liked. Certainly, this is not the start to conference play that we had hoped for. It does, however, give us something to build on as we move forward."
