Oct. 5, 2003
Berkeley, Calif. - Stanford (2-6-2, 0-1-0 Pac-10) opened its Pac-10 season with a 3-1 loss at California (5-4-1, 1-0-0 Pac-10) on Sunday afternoon at Edwards Stadium. Stanford struck first at 7:32 when James Twellman sent a free kick across the box to Chad Marshall who went back across the box to Darren Fernandez, who put the ball in the back of the net for a 1-0 Stanford lead and his second goal of the season. However, California would score three consecutive goals and shut the Cardinal out for the remainder of the game to pick up its first Pac-10 win.
Mike Munoz tied the game at 1-1 when he directed an unassisted goal by diving Stanford goalkeeper Andrew Kartunen at 17:19.
The Golden Bears took a 2-1 lead at 33:12 when Carl Acosta took a pass from Andrew Jacobson and knocked in his team-leading seventh goal of the campaign. Munoz would contribute an assist on an insurance goal by Kyle Navarro at 54:44 to make the final score 3-1.
Neither team managed to score over the final 35:16."We fought valiantly today but made some mistakes in the first half that we just couldn't overcome," said Stanford head coach Bret Simon. "Overall, I was pleased with our effort, but we just have to be a little bit sharper."
Stanford goalkeeper Andrew Kartunen (1-4-2) took the loss and picked up a pair of saves, while California goalkeeper Mike Oseguera needed to stop just one Cardinal shot in his winning effort.
California held a 10-4 lead in shots, as well as a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal. Stanford had three corner kicks to two for the Golden Bears.
Navarro and Fernandez both attempted two shots and were the only players on either team with more than one attempt.
The game was played without a caution as the teams combined to commit just 15 fouls with California being whistled 10 times and Stanford on five occasions.
California now has two wins and a tie in the last three meetings between the teams dating back to the last Cardinal win on November 11, 2002. Stanford still holds a commanding 23-9-6 advantage in the all-time series.
The loss snapped Stanford's two-game unbeaten string, while California has a 5-1-1 record over its past seven contests.
With his assist on Sunday and the team's only goal in a 1-1 tie at No. 22 Santa Clara last Thursday, Twellman now ranks second on the Cardinal with six points.
Stanford will continue Pac-10 action next Friday and Sunday by hosting Oregon State (Friday, October 10, 7 pm) and Washington (Sunday, October 12, 2 pm).