Second-place San Diego returns to Torero Stadium on Wednesday to face Santa Clara, fresh off a 3-0 road win over Pacific. The Toreros are chasing a fifth straight West Coast Conference title, but league-leading Portland has a four-point cushion and San Diego has played one more conference match than its rivals.

By the Numbers
  • San Diego: 7-3-3 overall, 2-1-2 in WCC play; 8 conference points.
  • Santa Clara: 4-6-3 overall, 1-1-3 in WCC play; 6 conference points.
  • Portland leads the WCC with 12 points; San Diego has 3 league matches remaining.
  • San Diego has won 3 of its last 4 meetings with Santa Clara, with 1 draw.
Yes, But

San Diego has the stronger recent record in the matchup, but Santa Clara leads the all-time series 36-18-5. The Broncos have also drawn 3 of their 5 conference games, while San Diego’s title chase is complicated by its extra match played and Portland’s unbeaten league start.

State of Play
  • San Diego’s 3-0 win at Pacific featured a season-high 24 shots and a second clean sheet for goalkeeper Lucca Adams.
  • Steven Ramirez leads the Toreros with 7 goals and has scored in 4 straight matches.
  • Santa Clara arrives after a 0-0 draw with Saint Mary’s and is 0-3-1 on the road this season.
  • Kickoff is Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT at Torero Stadium; the game will stream on ESPN+.
What’s Next

San Diego has 3 conference matches left: Santa Clara, a road game at Seattle U on Oct. 31, and Saint Mary’s on Nov. 6. The WCC’s top 4 teams will advance to its new postseason tournament, with semifinals on Nov. 11 and the final on Nov. 14.

Bottom Line

Wednesday is a key chance for San Diego to protect second place and keep its fifth straight title bid alive—but the Toreros have little room for error with Portland out front and fewer league games remaining.