Sports Briefs
Compiled by Robert Haugh & Melissa McKenzie

Bruins Claim First League Championship in Six Years With Undefeated League Season. Led by second-year Head Coach Mark Krail, the Bruins (8-2, 6-0) dominated the Lynbrook Vikings (5-4, 3-2) 49-19 on November 4 at Bruins Field, scorching their way to an undefeated league slate and six-game winning streak to conclude the season, claiming the SCVAL El Camino division crown in dominating fashion.

Senior Kingsley Okakpu opened the scoring for the Bruins early, returning a fumble 50 yards for a TD, then scoring on a 15-yard TD run, putting the Bruins up 14-0 after just two minutes of play. Sophomore Adam Garza compiled two TDs on a 3-yard run and a 55-yard punt return. Senior Rey Remo scored on a 1-yard TD while Sophomore Edwin Munguia scored on a 22-yard run and Senior Justin Murillo returned a kickoff 75 yards for the Bruins’ final score of the first half, in the dominating win that saw the Bruins leading 48-7 at the half. Junior Justin Duerksen was a perfect 7-for-7 on PATs. The Bruins combined for 233 yards rushing. Senior QB Jason Plater was 2-for-4 for 44 yards, both completions to Okakpu. Duerksen is 38-for-44 on the year on PATs, good for second in the CCS.

Junior Jason Aguirre led the Bruins Defense with 10 tackles. Aguirre’s 96 tackles ranks tied for 11th in the CCS. Sophomore Damont Hardnett and Senior Richard Vega both recorded a sack while Remo and Vega each hauled in an INT. The Bruins’ 12 INTs ranks tied for second in the CCS.

Garza’s 10.02 yards per carry ranks seventh in the CCS. Garza’s 17 total TDs is tied for tenth in the CCS, with Garza the leading scorer of all Sophomores. Garza is also ranked in the top five in punt returns, kickoff returns and overall returns.

The Bruins will compete in CCS Division I playoffs on November 18 or 19. Their seed and opponent will be announced after the completion of this week’s games.

Santa Clara Bruins Girls Water Polo Wins First League Title Since 1981. The Santa Clara Bruins Girls Water Polo Team claimed the SCVAL El Camino division title, their first division title in 30 years and will advance to the CCS Division I playoffs.

The Bruins defeated the Lynbrook Vikings 11-7 on November 4 to claim the division crown. Senior Jessi Boyd scored eight goals while Senior Venus Deetijan, Junior Catherine Thorn and Junior Emily White each added a goal.

The Bruins advanced to the finals by defeating Harker 12-11 in overtime on November 3.

Boyd scored six goals; Thorn added three, while Senior Sarah Scheurman, Junior Danielle Strauss and White added one goal each.

The Bruins (15-8, 10-1 league) earned the No. 11 seed in CCS Division 1 playoffs and will play No. 6 Pioneer at Los Gatos High, Wednesday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m.

The team: Michaela Hudson, Senior, Goalie; Danielle Boyington, Goalie, Junior; Sarah Scheurman, Driver, Senior; Stephanie Austin, Driver, Sophomore; Mary Rasooli, Driver, Sophomore; Emily White, Driver, Junior; Anne Trinh, Driver, Sophomore; Venus Beetijian, Utility, Senior; Catherine Thorn, Driver, Senior; Danielle Strauss, Utility, Junior; Emi Sugiyama, 2M, Freshmen; Jessi Boyd, 2M, Senior; Shelbie Higginson, Defender, Junior; Head Coach Aja Bumbaca; Assistant Coach Daniel Lujan.

Chargers Tie at Mountain View, Hang Onto CCS Playoff Hopes. The Chargers (2-5-2, 1-3-2) traveled up El Camino to play the Mountain View Spartans (5-3-1, 3-2-1) on November 4.

At the end of regulation, the Chargers and Spartans battled to a 14-14 tie.

The teams played an OT period for CCS tie-breaking purposes, which the Spartans came out on top 21-20 after scoring a TD and connecting on the PAT. Wilcox scored a TD via an Andrew Aguilar TD run, and the Chargers went for a 2-point conversion for the win but failed.

The Chargers got on the board early, when Senior Keenan Gates returned a kickoff 93 yards for a TD to put the Chargers up 7-0 early. Junior Roland Luke scored the Chargers’ other TD on a 1-yard run and Senior Robert Cueno was 2-for-2 on PATs.

The Chargers host the Saratoga Falcons (2-7, 1-5) on Friday, November 11 at Fitzpatrick Field in their final regular season game. Saratoga is coming off of a 41-7 loss to Los Gatos. The Chargers will qualify for CCS playoffs based on strength of schedule points, and will compete in CCS Division I.

Santa Clara University Men’s Soccer Stuns USF, Beats Saint Mary’s. After letting two goals slip in the first half, the Broncos came back with a vengeance against San Francisco on November 2. Senior Eric Masch scored the Broncos’ first goal in the 77th minute to put SCU down by one with 13 minutes left in the match. Then, freshman Glenn Vass and senior Mykell Bates scored twice within 30 seconds of each other (both in the 88th minute) to give the Broncos the win. On Senior Day (November 6), the Broncos came away with their third straight victory. Masch scored SCU’s first goal and senior Brandon Zimmerman nailed a penalty kick with 20 minutes remaining to give the Broncos a 2-1 win over Saint Mary’s. SCU will finish the season with away games at Gonzaga and Portland.

Santa Clara University Women’s Soccer Falls to USD. The Broncos fell for the second time this season with a 3-0 loss to USD on Friday, November 4. SCU, however, qualified for the NCAA Tournament and will play Cal at home in the first round on Saturday, November 12 at 2 p.m.

Santa Clara University Men’s Basketball Wins Exhibition Game. The Broncos defeated Ryerson 91-60 in the only exhibition game of the season. SCU went 34 of 73 and collected 42 rebounds, 21 assists, 10 steals and two blocks. Individually, the Broncos were led by redshirt freshman Julian Clarke with 19 points off the bench. The Broncos begin the regular season on Friday, November 11 against UC Merced at 7:30 p.m.

Santa Clara University Men’s Water Polo Loses Two, Wins One. The Broncos fell to UC San Diego 14-7 Friday, November 4. Goals were scored by redshirt sophomore Theo Nasser (2), sophomore David Guibord, senior Brett Zylstra, reshirt freshman Matt Kochalko, sophomore Tucker Carlson and redshirt freshman Casidhe McClone. On Saturday, November 5, the Broncos lost 11-2 to LMU. Kochalko and senior Marcus Akerland scored the Broncos’ only goals. A day later, the Broncos wrapped up WWPA play with an 11-9 victory over Chapman University. Senior James Case led the team with four goals followed by Kochalko with 2. Redshirt senior Daley Meistrell, Akerland, Guibord, Nasser and freshman Kyle Surber also scored in the win. SCU will wrap up the season at Stanford, Saturday, November 12.

Santa Clara University Women’s Volleyball Loses Two. In two away games, SCU lost 3-0 to Pepperdine and 3-1 to LMU. Against Pepperdine, redshirt sophomore Katherine Douglas had a team-high eight kills followed by junior Dana Knudsen with seven. The team hit .142 with 26 assists, 32 digs, four service aces and four team blocks. Against LMU, junior Kayla Lommori led SCU with 13 kills and sophomore Alyssa Anderson notched two kills and 43 assists. The Broncos next play Gonzaga at home on Thursday, November 10 at 6 p.m. and Portland Saturday, November 12 at 1 p.m.

Santa Clara University Alumna Signs Pro Contract. Santa Clara University alumna Lena Gipson has signed a contract to play professional basketball in the Southern European island country of Malta. Gipson will be playing for Hibernians Medesa and former men’s Italian National Team Head Coach Bruno Di Pietrantonio.

Masch Player of the Week. Santa Clara University senior forward Eric Masch was named the West Coast Conference Player of the week for November 7. This is the first time this season Masch has been given the honor.