Nov. 16, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - For the second straight year, the Arizona State soccer (13-5-3) season ended at the hands of host and ninth-seeded Santa Clara Broncos (14-3-5) in the NCAA second round regional at Buck Shaw Field in Santa Clara, Calif. An early first half goal was the difference as ASU had two late scoring chances, but were unable to convert.
Santa Clara struck first to take an early 1-0 lead in the 19th minute as they took control of the tempo with short efficient passing for the majority of the first half. In one of the Broncos several rushes, Lana Bowen hit a though ball to a breaking Tina Estrada who sent home the goal pass a diving Kim Bingham from 15-yards out.
SCU out shot the Sun Devil 8-2 in the half as the Broncos kept possession of the ball on ASU's side of the field. SCU had another golden scoring chance late in the first half when Tiffany Roberts collected a lose ball on the right wing, but she took too much time getting off the shot, allowing Bingham to smother the ball.
The second half featured a midfield battle between the two teams, but ASU had nice scoring opportunity in the 50th minute. Manya Makoski was fouled as she dribbled the ball across the middle just out side the 18-yard box. That set up a free kick chance, but Brittany Cooper's shot hit the Bronco's wall and deflected back out. In the final minutes of the match, ASU had two more solid chances, one by a Cooper blast that just went over the crossbar. The final opportunity came with an ASU rush on. The Devils had a three on two break, but the rush was called offsides, nullifying the chance.
Santa Clara out shot ASU 11-5, but each team only recorded three shots each in the second half. SCU had two corner kicks in the first half, while ASU had two in the second half. Bingham posted five saves on the day, while Julie Ryder made three.