Oct. 31, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The fifth-ranked Stanford women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season this evening. The Cardinal fell at the hands of the fourth-ranked UCLA Bruins, 1-0, after senior Christina DiMartino was able to get one past sophomore goalkeeper Kira Maker in the 77th minute.
The game between the two teams atop the Pac-10 proved to be evenly matched. The two sides traded shots back and forth the entire game, and UCLA ended up narrowly edging Stanford in shots on the game 13-11. Each keeper was forced to make eight saves, a career high for Maker.
In the 65th minute, Christen Press nearly gave the Cardinal the lead, as her shot beat Bruin keeper Ashley Thompson, but clanged off the crossbar and out of danger.
12 minutes later, DiMartino played the part of the hero for UCLA, capitalizing on a shot from 25 yards out that sailed into the upper right corner.
Freshman Camille Levin tallied three shots, all on goal, in the game, and fellow rookie Teresa Noyola also produced two chances on net.
"The team played very well," said head coach Paul Ratcliffe. "We got some great chances and it was a close game, but unfortunately for us UCLA scored a great goal and we weren't able to put one in."
The loss brings Stanford's undefeated campaign to an end with a 16-1-1 record. The Cardinal will remain in Los Angeles for the rest of the weekend and will take on No. 10 USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum Sunday at 1 p.m.