SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara women's soccer fell to the No. 17 UCLA 3-2 Sunday at Stevens Stadium. The Broncos (2-1-3) took an early lead with two first-half goals, but the Bruins (2-2-1) responded with three unanswered goals in the second half to secure the victory.
Santa Clara broke through when Kennedy Schoennauer scored in the 26th minute, assisted by Hildi Benediktsdottir and Raygen Lewis, giving the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Despite UCLA's attempts to respond, the Broncos extended their lead late in the half with a goal by Adee Goulden, assisted by Jalana Kimber and Jacey Martinez in the 44th minute.
In the second half, Santa Clara faced a challenging momentum shift when UCLA's Leena Powell scored in the 63rd minute. Despite Santa Clara's efforts, including a shot by Schoennauer that went wide, the Bruins broke the tie with Molly Hale's goal in the 76th minute. The Broncos' Ally Harrison made several crucial saves, but the team could not pull even.
Goulden notched a goal for Santa Clara, contributing to its offensive efforts. Schoennauer also found the back of the net, recording one of the team's two goals. Benediktsdottir provided a crucial assist, aiding in the scoring opportunities. In goal, Harrison recorded three saves, facing a total of 11 shots.
Molly Hale led the Bruins with two goals, including the game-winner, from three shots on target. Asa Yamazaki contributed significantly with two assists, playing a pivotal role in the team's offensive efforts. Powell added to the scoreline with one goal from two shots, ensuring UCLA's attack remained effective. Cate Sarinopoulos also made an impact, recording an assist alongside her two shots. Olivia Woodson rounded out the top performers with an assist and one shot on goal.
The Broncos will host No. 1 Stanford on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPNU.
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