Sept. 24, 2006
Stanford, Calif. - The Stanford women's soccer team posted its seventh shutout of the season this afternoon to cruise past the San Diego State Aztecs, 4-0. Stanford has now outscored opponents 19-1 in the last eight games, and improves to 7-3 on the season. The Aztecs suffered their third-straight loss and fall to 4-7.
Stanford challenged the Aztecs early on, when freshman Ali Riley collected a cross from sophomore Hillary Heath in the sixth minute, and sent the ball just high. After a Lizzy George shot went wide in the tenth minute, senior Shari Summers took matters into her own hands and put the Cardinal on the board. In the 16th minute, the midfielder dribbled into the center and sent a 10-yard blast past Aztec goalkeeper Cat Burson to give the Cardinal a 1-0 advantage.
Five minutes later, the senior captain struck a second time. Summers took a hard shot from just inside the box, but it was knocked down by Burson. Summers quickly found the rebound and drilled the ball to the back of the net from close range. The goal was the sixth of the season for the Canyon Country, Calif. native, and her third of the weekend. Summers now has 11 career goals, including four game-winners this season.
The Cardinal took seven more shots before halftime, including two each by freshman Kelley O'Hara, sophomore Marisa Abegg and sophomore Kate Mannino. Stanford finished the period with a 2-0 lead, having out-shot San Diego State, 14-2.
In the opening minutes of the second period, the teams limited each other to just one shot for nearly 25 minutes of play. The Cardinal got a burst of energy in the 69th minute, however, and pounded the Aztecs with five shots in a ten minute-span. On the final shot, sophomore Lea MacKinnon dribbled past the Aztec defense and cracked the ball from the middle into the left corner of the net. The goal, recorded in the 79th minute, was the first of MacKinnon's Stanford career.
Just 29 seconds after the restart, freshman Kristin Stannard sealed the win for the Cardinal. The midfielder gathered a pass from Mannino, took two dribbles and sent a drive to the back of the net for the third time in her career.
The Cardinal out-shot San Diego State 22-4, and has now held seven of its last eight opponents scoreless. Sophomore Alex Gamble earned her fourth shutout of the season, and recorded two saves. The Aztecs were led by the two shots of freshman Cat Walker.
Stanford returns to the field next weekend to take on the No. 5 Santa Clara Broncos at Buck Shaw Stadium. Kickoff between the two local rivals is scheduled for 7 p.m.