Oct. 27, 2006
Stanford, Calif. - The Stanford women's soccer team scored two second half goals to blow by the Oregon State Beavers tonight, 2-0. Freshman Kelley O'Hara and senior Shari Summers recorded their seventh goals of the season and the Cardinal pulled into sole possession of second place in the Pac-10. Stanford improves to 12-5-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the Pac-10 with the win, while Oregon State drops to 8-7-2, 1-5-0.
Oregon State took the first three shots of the match, but the early attack would be all the Beavers could muster. Freshman Jessica Velazquez took the first one in the 14th minute, but goalkeeper Erica Holland was there to make the save. Less than a minute later, Oregon State had its best chance of the match, when leading scorer Jodie Taylor took off on a breakaway and had a one-on-one chance with Holland. Taylor cracked a shot from 15 yards out, but Holland made another impressive save to keep the match scoreless.
O'Hara took the first shot for the Cardinal in the 20th minute, but Beaver goalkeeper Melissa Onstad was there to make her first of six saves. Summers, sophomore Hillary Heath and freshman Katie Riley all took shots on frame before halftime, but Onstad made a series of saves to keep the match knotted at 0-0.
In the second half, the Cardinal stepped up the level of play significantly and took control of the match. Heath drove down the right side in the 60th minute, and sent a long cross to O'Hara on the far side. O'Hara headed it back across the net to fellow freshman Kristin Stannard and Stannard tipped it to Summers, who finished the play with a diving header. The goal was Summers' seventh of the season and her fifth game-winner.
In the 74th minute, the Cardinal struck again. Sophomore Kelley Birch lofted the ball to O'Hara in the middle, who sent a bouncing header to the left corner of the net, beyond the reach of Onstad. The freshman's goal was her seventh of the season and gave the Cardinal a 2-0 lead.
Stanford pushed for a third goal and nearly got it when a Lizzy George shot hit the post in the 84th minute. Junior Mimi Yuhas had another look in the 87th minute, but her shot was saved by Onstad.
The Cardinal was led by O'Hara with three shots and three points on the night. Holland recorded her fourth-straight shutout and the Cardinal out-shot the Beavers 10-3. Stanford now has 12 shutouts on the year, and has out-shot opponents in 16 of its last 17 matches.
"I'm a little disappointed in our first half performance but we came back and were much more cohesive in the second half," said head coach Paul Ratcliffe. "I'm proud of the team's performance tonight and am looking forward to playing Oregon on Sunday."
The Cardinal will play its last regular-season home game on Sunday, meeting the Oregon Ducks in a 1 p.m. start at Maloney Field. The match will be the last on home turf for Cardinal seniors Shari Summers and Melissa Esparza, who will be honored in a Senior Day ceremony prior to the match.