Oct. 15, 2000
STANFORD, Calif. - Senior forward Luke Rust scored two of Stanford's three second-half goals as the fourth-ranked Cardinal men's soccer team defeated California 3-0 in a Pacific-10 Conference match this afternoon at New Maloney Field. Stanford improves to 11-1-1 overall and 2-1-0 in Pac-10 play while California falls to 2-9-1 and 0-2-1.
Following a scoreless first half in which Stanford took only four shots, the Cardinal dominated after intermission by outshooting the Golden Bears 8-1 and scoring all three of its goals. The first score came at 55:50 when defender Aaron Biddle played a through ball to forward Roger Levesque, who took a pair of touches before drilling a shot from 25 yards out. Levesque, who also tallied the first goal in Thursday's 2-0 victory over Santa Clara, has scored the game-winner in each of the last two games.
Rust then registered his first multi-goal game of the season in a span of just seven minutes. At the 75:58 mark, he took a feed from Sean Sylvis on the left side and slotted a shot to the far post for a 2-0 Cardinal lead. In the 83rd minute, Abe Geiger sent a cross from the right to left, where Rust redirected the ball into the back of the net.
Stanford's defense, led by senior goalkeeper Adam Zapala, posted its third consecutive shutout and eleventh of the season. Zapala now has 47 career shutouts, an ongoing school record, and is four shy of his single-season record, set over 25 games in 1998.
California keeper Marco Palmieri finished with five saves.
Stanford now embarks on a five-game road trip, beginning next Friday, Oct. 20, at Oregon State. Kickoff from Corvallis, Ore. is set for 3:00 p.m.
Goals by Period12F California000 Stanford033
Scoring Summary: STAN - Levesque (Biddle) 55:50
STAN - Rust (Sylvis) 75:58
STAN - Rust (Geiger) 82:51
Shots: California 3, Stanford 12
Saves: California 5 (Palmieri 5), Stanford 2 (Zapala 2)
Records: California 2-9-1 (0-2-1), Stanford 11-1-1 (2-1-0)