Sept. 15, 2006
Stanford, Calif. - The Stanford women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to the No. 10 Tennessee Lady Volunteers tonight in the first round of the Stanford Nike Invitational at Maloney Field. A Lady Vol goal midway through the first half proved to be the difference and improved Tennessee to 4-1-1 on the season. Stanford fell for the first time since August 27, and drops to 4-3-0.
Stanford was aggressive on offense from the start, as the freshman trio of Alicia Jenkins, Ali Riley and Kelley O'Hara pushed the Lady Vol defense in the opening minutes. Stanford took the first four shots of the match, as the Cardinal dominated the possession early on. O'Hara got her first chance less than five minutes in, but her hard shot from the left side was saved by Tennessee goalkeeper Jaimel Johnson. At the 9:30 mark, Stanford had another chance, when the team earned an indirect free kick from the right side of the box. Senior Rachel Buehler got a head on Shari Summers' cross, but the attempt went wide. With just under 25 minutes left in the half, Riley served the ball to a diving O'Hara in the right corner of the box but her header went just wide.
The Lady Vols got their first look at the goal in the 24th minute, and took advantage. Sophomore Kylee Rossi played the ball to senior Ali Christoph, who one-touched the ball in from the left side.
Stanford took three more shots before halftime, but was unable to net the equalizer. Jenkins missed high in the 35th minute before a sharp Summers drive was stopped short by Johnson's diving save. Stanford went into the break having out-shot the Lady Vols, 7-3.
Stanford took the first two shots of the second period, but both were denied by the Tennessee defense. With just under 24 minutes remaining, O'Hara had a one-on-one opportunity with Johnson, but the goalkeeper broke up the play before the freshman could get a shot off. Stanford had another chance with just over seven minutes to play, as O'Hara was taken down on the left side of the box. Allison Falk got her head on the cross off of the indirect free kick, but her header sailed just wide.
Stanford finished with 11 shots to the Volunteers' five and allowed Tennessee just one shot on goal. O'Hara led all players with three shots in the match.
The Stanford Nike Invitational continues on Sunday, when No. 3 Santa Clara will meet No. 10 Tennessee at 11 a.m. The Cardinal takes on No. 24 Boston University immediately to follow.