Nov. 8, 2002
Stanford, Calif. - The top-ranked Stanford women's soccer team rolled to a 2-0 victory over No. 25 Arizona State in a rainy evening at Maloney Field on Friday night. With the win, the Cardinal (17-1) claim at least a share of the conference title heading into their final game against Arizona on Sunday.
Stanford recorded its first shot of the game 11 minutes in when Natalie Spilger's (El Cajon, CA) header sailed just high from Marcie Ward's (Alamo, CA) corner kick. Marcia Wallis (Los Gatos, CA) and Ward each recorded shots in the 19th minute, but Arizona State keeper Kelly Fitzgerald was there for the stops.
The Sun Devils threatened in the 25th minute when Patrice Feulner fired a shot, only to be saved by Stanford goalie Nicole Barnhart (Gilbertsville, PA). Following back-to-back shots from Ward that sailed high, the Cardinal were granted a corner kick in the 35th minute. Ward played the ball and was cleanly headed in by freshman Hayley Hunt (San Marino, CA) for the 1-0 Stanford lead and her first collegiate goal.
The Cardinal nearly got another goal just before the break when Jennifer Farenbaugh's (Reseda, CA) attempt hit the crossbar. Stanford went into halftime up 1-0 and held an 11-2 shot advantage.
Stanford added an insurance goal at 61:31 when Callie Withers (Los Altos Hills, CA) played a ball to Ward. Ward took the pass, controlled it with her chest and fired it off the keepers hands from eight yards out for her ninth score of the season. Arizona State did not go down without a fight, recording two shots in the final three minutes. Elizabeth Bogus got off an attempt that sailed wide and Kathleen Dely's shot was stopped by Barnhart.
The Cardinal outshot Arizona State 19-5, led by five each from Farenbaugh and Ward. Barnhart finished with two saves in goal for Stanford, while Sun Devil Fitzgerald registered seven. The 2-0 win marks the 14th team shutout of the season and Barnhart's 13th on the year.
Stanford will battle Arizona on Sunday in the team's final home regular season game. Match time is set for 1 p.m. on Maloney Field and will honor the Cardinal's six seniors before kick off. With a victory, Stanford will claim its fifth conference title and earn the Pac-10's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
No. 25 Arizona State ---- 0-0--0
No. 1 Stanford ---- 1-1--2
Scoring Summary --- STAN: H. Hunt (Ward), 35:05; STAN: Ward (Withers), 61:31.
Shots: Stanford 19, ASU 5
Saves: Stanford 2, ASU 7
Corners: Stanford 5, ASU 5
Fouls: Stanford 8, ASU 3
Records: Stanford 17-1-0 (8-0-0 Pac-10), ASU 11-5-2 (4-4-0 Pac-10)