Oct. 5, 2007
The Stanford men's soccer team (4-2-3, 1-0-0) began Pac-10 play with an impressive 4-0 victory over Oregon State tonight at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. The Cardinal out shot the Beavers 20 to six, and recorded its second straight shutout, the fourth of the season. Three Stanford players were able to notch their first goals of the season in this Pac-10 opener.
The Cardinal played a solid first half, both offensively and defensively. Stanford recorded eight shots in the period, while holding Oregon State without a shot. The Cardinal had a great opportunity to score in the third minute of the game as Dan Shapiro booted the ball from just outside the box, but it hit the right post and bounced away. Stanford was denied by the post once again in the 35th minute as Tom Montgomery stole an errant pass from the Beaver defense, dribbled passed the keeper to the far left of the box, but was not able to capitalize as his shot ricochet off the post. The third opportunity of the half proved to be the charm as Kyle Hency flicked the ball onto Bobby Warshaw inside the box and Warshaw was able to beat the Oregon State keeper to the lower left corner for his fourth goal of the season. That is the way the half ended, with Stanford leading the Beavers by a score of 1-0.
Stanford came out attacking in the second half as they recorded 12 shots, compared to Oregon State's six. The Cardinal defense was stout again this evening, as the Beavers attempted just six shots, only one of which required a save by goalkeeper Andrew Kartunen. The Cardinal got on the scoreboard for the second time in the match on the first goal of the season from Hency in the 71st minute. Hency received a pass from Ryan Thomas in the box and was able to find the open lower left corner to make the score 2-0. The floodgates opened after the second goal, this time it was Daniel Leon recording his first goal of the season on a nice pass from T.J. Novak in the 73rd minute. On a similar play to the previous goal, Leon took the pass in the box and was able to sneak the ball past the Oregon State goalkeeper and into the left corner of the net, giving the Cardinal a 3-0 advantage. Not to be outdone, Alex Kozachenko felt it was time for his first goal of the season in the 74th minute. After a deflected shot inside the box, Kozachenko managed to settle the ball and fire a shot to the back of the net to put the final nail in the Beaver's coffin, as the game ended with a 4-0 Stanford victory.
Stanford returns to action at home on Sunday, October 7 at 1:00 p.m. where they will take on Pac-10 foe Washington.