That’s Why We Play

Here’s a claim that few colleges can make for their soccer teams: Both men and women earned spots in the NCAA tournament. Fewer still can say, for both teams in Round 1: Victory was ours.

National championships may have eluded Broncos on the pitch this year. But equipped with talented senior goalies and budding youngsters, both teams ended their regular seasons on hot streaks. The men won or tied six in a row and shared the West Coast Conference title. And the conference recognized team captain Kendall McIntosh ’16 as Co-Goalie of the Year and Cameron Rast ’92 as Coach of the Year—his fifth.

In the NCAA tourney, the men bested Cal State Fullerton 3–0 in Round 1. Round 2 brought postseason play to an end for both Bronco teams; the men fell to eventual national champ Stanford.

“We play to play for championships,” Coach Rast said. “This is just a starting point for us, with a lot of young guys at key positions coming back.”

EYES ON THE PROS

One of the Broncos who will return is center forward Carlos Delgadillo ’18, a goal-scoring star from San Jose. He missed the first three conference games with a high ankle sprain. While he was out, the Broncos went 1–1–1 in conference play. Back from his injury, Delgadillo racked up a team-leading 10 goals and 24 points, including five game-winners.

Delgadillo’s teammates tease him for his ultrafocused pregame routine—which includes setting his phone to airplane mode and visualizing the game for about two hours alone in the locker room. But they like how that ritual seems to make him—and the team—more dangerous as soon as he steps onto the field. The first in his family to attend college, Delgadillo is studying psychology and international business. Eyes set on the pros, Delgadillo plans to play as an amateur for semipro FC Tucson this summer.

COUNTING EVERY MINUTE

Kendall McIntosh played every minute of the season in the net for the Broncos. During his college career, the finance major also played with the U.S. Under-20 National team. Last August, he was the only player in the conference invited to try out for the U.S. Under-23 team—a scouting opportunity for the team that hopes to go to the Olympics.

Broncos earning postseason honors also included Luis Urias ’19—named WCC Freshman of the Year. Which is one more reason to look forward to what this team does when it takes to the pitch next fall.