Santa Clara University

SCU » Athletics & Recreation

Santa Clara University's athletics and recreation department includes comprehensive programs in NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics, club sports programs, recreation and fitness.

Bronco sports teams boast a tradition of excellence and annually compete for conference and national championships in 19 intercollegiate sports. SCU has won national championships in men's and women's soccer and is one of the West Coast Conference's top broad-based sports programs. Club sports teams annually compete for regional and national championships, and the recreational sports program offers several intramural sports, lifetime fitness classes, and events throughout the year.

Santa Clara Ruff Riders

The largest student organization on campus!

The largest student organization on campus that claims more than half the student body as members (more than 3,000), the Ruff Riders are also the most spirited. Formed in 1999, the Ruff Riders are the official student booster club of Santa Clara University Athletics. A one-time membership fee provides admission to all athletic events, a club t-shirt and other benefits.

All posts »

Bronco Headlines

M. Water Polo. Santa Clara Drops Overtime Heartbreaker to UC San Diego, 14-13
The No. 14 Santa Clara men's water polo team suffered a heartbreaking loss to UC San Diego on the road today, dropping the high-scoring shootout 14-13 in double overtime. Junior Nick Poggetti scored six goals in the losing effort as the Broncos couldn't outlast the Tritons. Continue reading - Nov. 7, 2009 2:38 PM
M. Soccer. Broncos Rebound, Claim Rivalry Win Over Dons
Erik Hurtado scored in the first half and senior goalkeeper Naushad Godrej posted a shutout as Santa Clara University beat West Coast Conference rival USF 1-0 under the lights of Buck Shaw Stadium Friday night. Continue reading - Nov. 6, 2009 11:15 PM
M. Basketball. Basketball Defeats Notre Dame de Namur in exhibition
The Santa Clara's basketball team began the season with strong defense on Friday night, carried out by the momentum of winning the tip-off. It was almost all uphill from there for Santa Clara in its only exhibition game this season as it defeated Notre Dame de Namur 101-45. The Broncos will open their season on the road at CSU Bakersfield on Fri., Nov. 13 before returning home for their regular season home opener vs. Menlo on Mon., Nov. 16. Continue reading - Nov. 6, 2009 10:34 PM
M. Water Polo. Lions Edge Broncos 7-5
The Santa Clara men's water polo team fell to perennial Western Water Polo Association power Loyola Marymount, 7-5, this afternoon in Los Angeles. Continue reading - Nov. 6, 2009 6:17 PM
M. Golf. Brotherly Love
Santa Clara Athletics has seen an influx of freshman talent this fall. From soccer to water polo to volleyball, freshmen have been achieving success while getting accustomed to life in college. In addition, the Santa Clara golf team has seen two freshmen make an early impact on the team, and they just happen to be twins. Continue reading - Nov. 6, 2009 2:02 PM
Cross Country. Wilson named WCC Runner of the Month ... again
For the second straight month, a first in Santa Clara cross country history, junior Stephanie Wilson has been named the West Coast Conference Women's Runner of the Month. Wilson won the WCC cross country title, another first in school history, last weekend. Continue reading - Nov. 6, 2009 12:58 PM
W. Volleyball. Volleyball Falls 3-2 to No. 22 San Diego
Santa Clara fell in five sets to No. 22 San Diego on Thursday night at the Leavey Center in a hard fought battle. Santa Clara moved to 14-10 and 4-5 in WCC play and USD moved to 16-5 and 8-2 in the WCC. Continue reading - Nov. 5, 2009 10:21 PM
M. Basketball. Get to know Santa Clara's Chris Cunningham
Santa Clara will open its 2009-10 season Friday night with a 7 pm exhibition vs. Notre Dame du Namur in the Leavey Center. The Broncos welcome five freshmen this season, including Chris Cunningham, a 6-9 forward from Diamond Bar, Calif. Below Cunningham talks about why he might not sleep tonight, what movies he enjoys and why, and why he loves his mom so much. Continue reading - Nov. 5, 2009 6:15 PM
M. Soccer. Santa Clara and USF Battle on National Stage
In front of a national television audience Friday night, the Santa Clara University men's soccer team will host local WCC rival USF at Buck Shaw Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. The two perennial conference powers have combined to win the WCC Championship in each of the past six seasons. Continue reading - Nov. 5, 2009 4:13 PM
M. Water Polo. Men's Water Polo Embarks On Four-Game Road Trip
The No. 14 Santa Clara men's water polo team will travel to southern California this weekend for four games against conference opponents as it prepares for the Western Water Polo Association tournament beginning on Nov. 20. Continue reading - Nov. 5, 2009 11:55 AM
W. Basketball. Santa Clara Women to Play Sonoma State Saturday
The Santa Clara University women's basketball team will host an exhibition game against Sonoma State University on Saturday, November 7. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at SCU's Leavey Center, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara campus. Continue reading - Nov. 5, 2009 10:39 AM
W. Soccer. Women's Soccer Wraps Up Regular Season At Gonzaga
The Santa Clara women's soccer team will finish out their regular season table with an afternoon contest this Saturday, Nov. 7 against Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash. Continue reading - Nov. 5, 2009 10:28 AM
M. Basketball. Basketball Opens 2009-10 Season in Exhibition vs. NDNU Friday
With six new faces on the Bronco roster, including five freshmen, Santa Clara opens the 2009-10 season with an exhibition at the Leavey Center vs. Notre Dame de Namur on Fri., Nov. 7 at 7 pm. In their last meeting on Dec. 13, 2008, the Broncos defeated the Argonuts 67-47. All games will be broadcast live on KDOW 1220 AM.Santa Clara opens the regular season on the road at CSU Bakersfield on Fri., Nov. 13 before returning home to open the 2009-10 regular season home slate vs. Menlo College on Mon., Nov. 16 at 7 pm. SCU plays 18 home games this season and 27 of its 31 games are in the state of California. Continue reading - Nov. 4, 2009 4:12 PM
W. Volleyball. Volleyball to host WCC League Leaders USD and SMC
Keeping its hopes alive of clinching its 12th straight NCAA Tournament bid after winning four of its last five matches, Santa Clara will host West Coast Conference volleyball league leaders this weekend with San Diego coming to the Leavey Center at 7 pm on Thurs., Nov. 5 and rival Saint Mary's coming to town at 7 pm on Sat., Nov. 7.After first serve at the San Diego match, the Ruff Riders will be fed FREE PIZZA from Tony and Albas! Continue reading - Nov. 4, 2009 11:34 AM
Cross Country. Wilson Wins WCC Cross Country Title - school's First-Ever WCC XC Title
Santa Clara University cross country made history this morning on the Crystal Springs course at the West Coast Conference Championships when Bronco junior Stephanie Wilson (San Jose, Calif./Mitty) tied the WCC course record to win the women's title - claiming Santa Clara's first-ever cross country title on either side. In addition, Bronco junior Robbie Reid (Mountain View, Calif.) finished as the WCC runner-up - Santa Clara's highest finish ever on the men's side. Both broke school records with their times. Continue reading - Oct. 31, 2009 11:58 AM