Nov. 16, 2007
Stanford, Calif. - The Stanford Women's soccer team avoided drama in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and defeated Sacramento State 7-0 to advance to the second round on Sunday. The Cardinal (15-2-4) will now play California in match that will be played at 1:00 p.m. at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. Stanford got two goals from Christen Press and goals from four other players as well as a Sacramento State own goal.
The Cardinal came out firing in the first half as Christen Press scored just 37 seconds into the match. Freshman Allison McCann led Press, who made a move towards the center of the field and unleashed a twisting shot that hit the back of the net in the upper left portion of the goal. Stanford didn't let up after the goal ands quickly made it 2-0 when Kelly O'Hara received a pass from Ali Riley on the right end and put another shot past Hornet goalkeeper Mandy Trojan.
The Hornets regrouped for the next 20 minutes, but an own goal in the 27th minute made the score 3-0. The Cardinal went into the halftime break up 3-0 after out shooting the Hornets 15-4 in the opening period.
It was more of the same in the second half as the Cardinal pounded 16 more shots at Trojan and was able to convert on four of them. Lizzy George scored 46 seconds into the second half to re-establish momentum for the Cardinal.
Kristin Stannard then started a three goal barrage in an eight minute span when she scored off a setup by Mimi Yuhas.
Press then added her second goal of the evening when she received the ball on the left side and got the ball over the outreached hands of Trojan to make the score 6-0. Yuhas then added her first goal of the season when she received a skip pass from Press and headed it in front of the net.
The Cardinal out shot the Hornets in the match 31-8 in their highest shot output of the season.
Stanford Head Coach Paul Ratcliffe was pleased with the effort, but knows there is a lot of work ahead. "It was great to go out there and get the early three goal lead, said Ratcliff. "But we all know there is a lot of work ahead, everyone on this team has the goal to win the national championship this season, and that is where we want to be."
Press also was pleased, but focused that Sunday's match will be a challenge. "There is a lot of talent on this team, and we all know what we can do," said Press. "We know Cal (California) is a good team and we will not taken them lightly, it will be a good challenge for us."