SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Torero women's soccer team allowed a goal in each half and fell to the defending national champion Santa Clara Broncos 2-0 this afternoon at Stevens Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

San Diego (5-5, 0-1 WCC) came out firing with Delaney Jannone shooting wide with just 31 seconds gone in the match.

After a bit of Santa Clara attack, Eden Quiroz found herself 20 yards out with nobody around and curled a shot that just went over the crossbar. 

The Broncos (4-4-2, 1-0 WCC) took the lead in the 27th minute.

The Toreros had one final chance before the break when Bella Piete forced a turnover and placed a perfect through ball into the path of Lexi Nobles. Nobles carried the ball 15 yards and ripped a shot heading for the top right corner of the goal before the Santa Clara keeper made an acrobatic save to tip the ball over the bar.

The Broncos extended their lead after the break. In the 56th minute, Kelsey Turnbow scored to give Santa Clara a cushion.

Juliet Anawalt recorded the lone shot on target in the second half for the Toreros.

Ellyn Casto ended the match with 11 saves and Michaela Foster continued to be a stalwart for the Toreros playing all 90 minutes. She has yet to come off the field this season, recording 915 minutes played in 10 matches.

The Toreros return home to face No. 6 Pepperdine on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (PT) before heading to Provo to take on BYU on Saturday at 4 p.m. (PT).

Tickets for Wednesday's match and the remaining home matches are available at the Jenny Craig Pavilion box office or online at USDToreros.com.