Santa Clara men’s soccer team (4-6-2) ended their win drought with a 2-0 victory against the Loyola Marymount Lions at home on Saturday, Oct. 10. More than 1,000 fans were in attendance for the annual Broncos Care: Mental Health Awareness Match at Stevens Stadium.
Going into Saturday’s match, LMU had a WCC record of 0-3, while Santa Clara had a record of 0-1-2. Each team was fighting for their first conference win. The Broncos secured an early lead with a goal in the bottom right by Niv Berkovitz ’27 in the 8th minute, originally ruled offside before being overturned, with assists by Diego Jalleau ’30 and Moises Almontes ’29.
The Broncos went on to control the board with total shots 7-4, including a near-goal shot on target by Bradley Robertson ’30, who led the team with 3 total shots in the first half. LMU responded with two shots on target by Adrian Alvarez and later Fritz Engel. Santa Clara goalkeeper Jackson Ozburn ’27 prevented LMU from putting points on the board, saving both goals at the fifth and 40th minutes.
Santa Clara also hosted a Stars of Honor event at the match; Elementary school students in the community who were nominated by their teachers for outstanding academic and personal achievements were welcomed onto the field during halftime to participate in a mini soccer match.
LMU generated a better start in the second half with a corner kick in the 47th minute as well as a shot on target by the Lions forward Ignacio Macias a minute later. LMU’s offense went on to force another save by Ozburn with a shot by Anthony Boyadjian in the 60th minute.
With 22 minutes left in the second half, LMU’s Lewis Clutton was awarded a yellow card for a handball, earning a penalty kick from Jalleau. Jalleau made the shot in the bottom right corner, adding to the Bronco lead to make it 2-0.
The second half was finished off with the first save in the period for LMU’s goalkeeper Ky Mani Dade, preventing a top right goal from Almontes. LMU also earned two corner kicks.
Although a yellow card was given to Ozburn for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 87th minute, he held the LMU men’s soccer team to a scoreless game with four total saves, marking his third shutout of the season. Ozburn’s two saves in each period also helped him earn WCC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week. He is the first Santa Clara men’s soccer player to win a WCC player of the week award this season, offense or defense.
The win against the Lions brought the Broncos conference record to 1-1-2. Santa Clara men’s soccer will host Saint Mary’s (2-7-4) next Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.