No one ever said it would be easy for the Santa Clara Broncos to defend their 2020 NCAA women’s soccer title.
Last weekend, the Broncos traveled to Washington D.C. and first defeated Georgetown and then scored late against Wisconsin to earn a short-sided 2-1 victory and a trip to the elite eight against Duke on Friday.
“I have to give credit to our players down a man. We played tough, and we played hard,” said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. “I’ve never won an NCAA playoff game with less players on the field than the opponents, so it’s a first for me in thirty-five years.”
After a scoreless first half, Santa Clara took the lead when Kelsey Turnbow fired in a cross that Alex Loera headed in to take the lead.
Six minutes later, the Broncos suffered a setback when the official awarded Bronco defender Emma Reeves a red card. Shortly afterward, the Badgers equalized the match.
Despite being down a player, Santa Clara scored the winner on another set piece.
In the eighty-third minute, Sally Menti found her teammate Karly Reeves in the box. Her header off the crossbar and into the goal gave the Broncos the late lead.
For Karley Reeves, who hasn’t had a lot of playing time this year to come in and get the game-winner again on a header on a corner kick is just fantastic,” said Smith. “So happy for Karley and so happy for the team.”
From there, the Broncos were able to kill off the game and continue their postseason run.
Smith noted he is going to give the team a day off before focusing on their next game.
“We’re going to spend the day in D.C. visiting the monuments and memorials and museums,” Smith added. “So we’ll take a free day tomorrow, and Tuesday get back on track and get ready for this quarterfinal.”
If Santa Clara can overcome top-seeded Duke this Friday at 3 pm P.S.T., they will make it to their second consecutive College Cup. An added incentive for the Broncos is the final four will be held on the Santa Clara campus the first weekend of December.
