Soccer Beat: Former Bella Vista star racks up honors

Fair Oaks' Peter Lowry, a senior midfielder at Santa Clara, put some kick into the Broncos' season. For his efforts, Lowry was named a first-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

"Peter really was a focal point for our team's play this season," said Santa Clara head coach Cameron Rast after Monday's announcement. "He played a big role in helping build our attack, and he came through with a number of critical goals and assists for us throughout the season."

Lowry, who was a high school All-American at Bella Vista, has piled up postseason honors like he did points during his Santa Clara career.

Lowry also was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year and to the All-WCC first team, All-Far West Region first team, College Soccer News All-America first team, Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Senior All-America second team.

He contributed a WCC-best eight goals plus seven assists while leading the Broncos (16-2-4) during an 18-game unbeaten streak that ended in the playoffs. Santa Clara, which won its 10th WCC title, lost 2-0 to Notre Dame in the NCAA quarterfinals.

For his college career, Lowry had 22 goals – including 10 game winners – and 15 assists.

"He is very deserving of all of the honors he has been receiving," Rast said. "He had a great career for Santa Clara and helped us achieve a lot of success the past four seasons."

• Cal placed two players on the Division I men's All-America first team: senior midfielder Andrew Jacobson and sophomore goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

• On the women's side, Elk Grove's Stephanie (Lopez) Cox was named to the coaches' All-America first team for the third time in her University of Portland career.

Cox was among four players notching All-America three-peats, joining UCLA's Danesha Adams, Notre Dame's Kerri Hanks and Virginia's Becky Sauerbrunn.

A member of the United States women's national team, Cox was excused from last week's mini-camp in Carson with new coach Pia Sundhage. The star defender married college sweetheart Brian Cox on Sunday near Portland, Ore. A former Pilots baseball player, he has started a career in finance in the Seattle area. The couple plan to live in Gig Harbor, Wash.

Although she had established some international name recognition as Lopez, the new bride decided to change her last name.

"She literally chose at the last minute," her mother, Cindy Lopez, said. "She considered keeping Lopez through the (2008) Olympics but decided she might as well change her name immediately."

• Stanford defender Rachel Buehler and forward Kelley O'Hara made the coaches' All-America second team.

• Davis' Adele Letro, a junior at Utah, was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-West third team. Letro led the Mountain West Conference with 17 goals and ranked sixth in the nation in goals per game (0.85).

Cougars on a roll

Goalkeeper Sanaldo continues to make a huge difference for the California Cougars (6-3). Saturday, the Brazilian veteran helped the Major Indoor Soccer League club muffle the Baltimore Blast for a 7-4 win, the host Cougars' fourth consecutive victory.

For his efforts, Sanaldo was named MISL Goalkeeper of the Week, the third time this season he's won the award.

The Cougars get a two-week holiday break before hosting the New Jersey Ironmen (5-3) at 6:15 p.m. Dec. 30 at Stockton Arena.

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