Oct. 26, 2008
STANFORD, Calif.- In a season that has been filled with several hard-fought, one-goal defeats, Stanford picked up a much-needed close victory in an unfamiliar fashion.
Thanks to a pair of key saves from redshirt freshman Alessandra Moss and a game-winning goal from sophomore Katherine Donner, Stanford edged Pacific 2-1 in a contest decided by penalty strokes on Sunday afternoon in Stockton, Calif.
The Cardinal moves to 5-10 overall with the victory, winning for the second time in three games. More importantly, Stanford improves to 3-2 in NorPac play with next weekend's conference match against California representing the lone remaining game on the schedule before NorPac Tournament play begins Nov. 6.
Stanford's victory also completes a season sweep of Pacific (5-10, 4-2 NorPac), as the Cardinal blanked the Tigers 7-0 back on Sept. 27 with junior Midori Uehara scoring four goals in a match that did not count toward the league standings.
But Sunday's triumph counts in the NorPac standings and hopefully the win will provide Stanford with enough momentum to duplicate last year's memorable late-season surge.
Two days after dropping its eighth one-goal defeat of the year in a 2-1 loss at No. 15 California, Stanford rebounded to collect its second road victory of the season.
Involved in its first penalty stroke contest since a 4-3 loss to Pacific back on Oct. 1, 2005, Stanford converted on all four of its attempts in the shootout. Pacific's first attempt was saved by Moss, instantly putting Stanford in the driver's seat. The Tigers connected on their next three chances before being denied again by Moss in a must-make situation with the Cardinal ahead 4-3.
Stanford held advantages in shots (15-12) and penalty corners (14-10) on the afternoon. All year long the Cardinal has made a habit of starting slow before coming alive in the second half, but Sunday proved different.
Stephanie Byrne scored her sixth goal of the year to give the Cardinal a quick 1-0 lead at the 13:13 mark of the first period. After a quick restart following a foul, sophomore Xanthe Travlos sent in a cross to Byrne for the assist.
The match remained scoreless until the 58:17 mark, when Lisa Muhl eluded a defender and scored unassisted following a penalty corner to even the contest at 1-1.
Stanford was in control of the first overtime, holding edges in shots (5-1) and penalty corners (6-0). However, Pacific goalie Kelly Miller made four saves to help keep the match knotted at 1-1.
The teams again battled tightly in the second overtime, with the Tigers outshooting the Cardinal 5-3 as the game progressed toward a shootout.
Pacific was first to shoot in penalty strokes and Sasha Larsen's attempt was saved by Moss. Travlos then converted Stanford's first attempt to take a 1-0 lead. Six consecutive goals were scored from this point, with sophomore Camille Gandhi, senior Hillary Braun and sophomore Katherine Donner successfully finding the cage for the Cardinal.
Pacific's Kim Keyawa had to make her shot in order to extend the game, but Moss was able to slide her body in front of the ball and preserve a 2-1 Stanford victory.
Senior Bailey Richardson led the Cardinal with four shots, while Gandhi and Travlos chipped in with three apiece.
Moss made five saves in goal for the Cardinal.
Stanford's regular season finale is slated for Saturday, Nov. 1, when the Cardinal hosts No. 15 California on Senior Day in a 1 p.m. contest.