SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara fell to CSUN 12-5 in the opener of the Bronco Invitational Friday. The Matadors (8-1) jumped out to an early lead and were able to add on the rest of the way, even after the Broncos (1-7) their offense going a bit.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• CSUN jumped out to the early lead with three goals in the first two minutes. Santa Clara's defense responded and didn't allow another goal in the quarter but their offense couldn't get on the board.
• The Broncos scored their first of the day at 6:21 in the second, but the Matadors responded 13 seconds later and would add another late in the period on the power play.
• CSUN tallied the first two goals of the second half to take a 7-1 lead. Evelyn McLaughlin cut into the deficit with a penalty shot at 3:15 before another goal for CSUN at the 2:07 mark.
• The Broncos scored in the first 30 seconds of the fourth quarter and added another at the 6:10 mark to make it an 8-4 game. It wasn't enough as the Matadors came back with two goals at 3:24 and 2:43 before Santa Clara would score again. CSUN added two more over the final 1:16 to close things out.

NOTABLE:

• Santa Clara was led on offense by McLaughlin and Mia Barkett who scored two goals each with Megan Chambliss also finding the back of the net. Sydney Maccabe, Chloe Rizof, and Haley Tassell all added an assist for the Broncos. Tassell made 12 saves in net.
• Mira Dravucz scored three goals and added an assist for CSUN. Raygan Carroll, Ella Furuholmen, and Mackenzie Wood all scored twice with three others finding the back of the net once each. Wood, Dakota Bumbaca, and Alexis Smith chipped in two assists apiece as well. In net, Erika Staine made nine saves.

NEXT UP

• The Broncos play No. 14 Marist at 9:45 a.m. and No. 21 Brown at 5:15 p.m. tomorrow.