Oct. 22, 2006
Seattle, Wash. - The Stanford women's soccer team completed its second-straight Pac-10 sweep this afternoon, topping the Washington Huskies, 2-0, in Seattle. A pair of goals by freshmen Kristin Stannard and Kelley O'Hara led the Cardinal to its fourth-straight win, while the Stanford defense posted its 11th shutout of the year. Stanford improves to 11-5-1 overall and 4-1-1 in Pac-10 play, while Washington drops to 6-10-0, 1-4-0. The Cardinal's current four-game Pac-10 winning streak is the longest since the 2002 season, when the team went undefeated in conference play and captured the Pac-10 Championship.
Stanford exerted its dominance early, making its quickest strike of the season with a goal just over three minutes in. Hillary Heath dribbled down the right side and sent a pass into the center of the box for Stannard. The freshman midfielder collected the ball and drove it past Husky goalkeeper Kelsey Rasmussen for her fourth goal of the year.
The Huskies took their first shot in the sixth minute, but the Cardinal dominated the early possession with four shots before the 15-minute mark. In the 12th minute, a Shari Summers shot was knocked out by the Husky defense and the Cardinal earned its first of two corner kicks in the match. Stannard took the kick and found Rachel Buehler, but the senior's shot went high. Stannard and junior April Wall each had shots on goal before the end of the half, but Rasmussen got her hands on both.
The Huskies had their best chance of the half in the 31st minute, taking three of their five first half shots in a one-minute span, but Cardinal goalkeeper Erica Holland and the Stanford defense denied the Huskies all three times. Holland posted two first half saves, and the Cardinal went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The Huskies took three shots to begin the second half, but the Cardinal matched them with four of its own, including one by O'Hara, which forced Rasmussen to make her third save.
In the 63rd minute, Stannard set up O'Hara with a one-on-one chance with Rasmussen on a counter-attack and this time the freshmen sent in her sixth goal of the season. Stannard gained possession and served a long switching pass to a streaking O'Hara on the left flank. O'Hara collected the pass, took it to goal and drove home a ball from 10-yards out to seal the Cardinal win. O'Hara now leads Stanford in scoring, with 13 points on the year.
The Huskies tested the Cardinal defense with five shots in the ensuing minutes and a second corner kick opportunity. The Stanford defense battled, however, and kept the Huskies without a second half shot on goal. Stannard added three shots before the final horn, and led the team with six for the match. The Huskies were led by the four shots of reserve Katy Dowling. In goal, Holland posted her fourth win and third shutout of the season for the Cardinal. Stanford out-shot Washington, 15-14, and has now out-shot 15 of its last 16 opponents.
"This is always one of the toughest weekend's in Pac-10 play," said Head Coach Paul Ratcliffe. "Both Washington schools are tough places to play and I'm proud of the team's gutsy result. We need to keep this up next weekend against two very good Oregon teams."
Stanford returns to action on Friday against Oregon State, with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Maloney Field. Sunday, the Cardinal will face the Oregon Ducks, who are currently undefeated in conference play. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. with Senior Day ceremonies preceding the match.