No. 3 Santa Clara University women's soccer team guaranteed itself a share of its fourth West Coast Conference championship with a 2-1 victory over fourth-ranked Portland tonight at Buck Shaw Stadium.

With No.12 Saint Mary's defeating No. 18 San Diego 3-0 earlier today in conference play, Santa Clara is the only team remaining with one loss in league action. No matter the outcome of SCU's final WCC contest on Sunday-against San Diego at 1 p.m.-or next week's other league action, the Broncos add another league championship, to go with titles won in 1993, '98 and '99.

A Buck Shaw season-high 1,423 fans watched Santa Clara improve to 15-2 overall, 5-1 in league play, while Portland fell to 13-3, 2-2. Tonight's victory also marked the third for the Broncos over a top-five opponent, including earlier wins over No. 4 Stanford and seventh-ranked Saint Mary's earlier.

Sophomore midfielder Veronica Zepeda scored her eighth goal of the season-and fifth game-winner-in the 58th minute, taking a pass from freshman forward Leslie Osborne in the middle of the box, spinning to her right and beating Pilot keeper Lauren Arase low and to the left.

Freshman defender Jessica Ballweg netted her third goal of the season in the 10th minute off a cross from Zepeda. Junior midfielder Aly Wagner created the play, and notched her NCAA-leading 15th assist of the season.

Portland first-half substitute Lisa Casagrande countered in the 40th minute by taking a deflection, beating the defender and lofting the score over Bronco goalkeeper Alyssa Sobolik.

The Pilots almost took a 2-1 lead when Erin Misaki's shot's caromed off the right post. A rebound by Pilot Lauren Mussallem was saved by Sobolik to preserve a 1-1 halftime score, four of those coming in the first half.

Santa Clara's first 11 shots were on goal and the Broncos finished with 14 total. Portland registered seven shots on the night.