SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara Broncos knocked off the Portland Pilots in a battle of West Coast Conference women's soccer royalty Saturday afternoon at Stevens Stadium. The Broncos scored two in the opening period and held on for a 2-0 victory in the team's season opener.

The Pilots (1-2, 0-2 WCC) struggled to find a rhythm early and Santa Clara capitalized with the game's first goal in the 31st minute. Kelsey Turnbow was credited with the goal coming direct off a corner kick. Turnbow swung in a left-footed cross that hit the underside of the crossbar and pinged in off the post and in to give the Broncos the 1-0 lead.

Santa Clara doubled the margin just before halftime. Sally Menti's header off a Pilot goal kick was flicked on by Turnbow to a sprinting Izzy D'Aquila into the left side of the box. She took one touch then sent a shot just inside the right post for a 2-0 Santa Clara lead.

Portland created quality chances in the second half, the best coming in the 69th minute as the Pilots earned a free kick just outside the penalty area. Freshman Sophia Mattice drilled a left-footed shot from the right side on a line toward the upper left corner but was pushed wide by Santa Clara goalkeeper Marlee Nicolos.

The Broncos had a 15-4 edge in shots for the match and 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Pilot goalkeeper Jenny Wahlen made four saves on the day, while SCU keeper Marlee Nicolos stopped an early shot by Portland freshman striker Nedya Sewan to record the clean sheet.

Portland will return to Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex for its WCC home opener on Saturday, March 6 versus Pacific at 1 p.m. Live video coverage of all Pilot home matches is available on the WCC Network with live links provided on PortlandPilots.com.