Nov. 8, 2008
BERKELEY, Calif. - The sixth-ranked Stanford women's soccer season concluded the regular season on a high note, taking down rival California 3-0 this afternoon in the annual Bay Area derby. Junior Kelley O'Hara knocked in the game winner, and sophomore Christen Press put away two insurance goals to give the Cardinal the win.
1,463 fans were on hand in the soggy conditions to witness the game, which also served as Cal's senior day. The two sides played to a scoreless tie in the first half, and each team's goalkeeper was forced to make three saves. Stanford out-shot the Golden Bears 9-4 in the half.
Just over six minutes into the second half, O'Hara took advantage of a bouncing ball that came off one of Cal's defender after junior Kristin Stannard headed the ball back into the box off a clearance, half-volleying the awkwardly bouncing ball into the back of the net on the lower right to break the draw at 51:15. Press furthered the distance from the Bears in the 59th minute when she poked the ball past Cal's keeper and into the right side of the net.
Press added her second of the game to make it 3-0 with a brilliant shot after completing a give and go with Stannard towards the end of the match at 84:33, solidifying the Cardinal victory.
"The team performed very well today, said head coach Paul Ratcliffe. "We again scored three great goals and it was a good way to end the regular season."
"It was a really hard fought game, and it was good to end with a bang heading into the NCAAs, said Press."
With the win, the Cardinal completed the regular season schedule with a 18-1-1 record (.925), second only to the 2002 season for a program best, when Stanford went 18-1-0 (.947) before NCAA tournament play began.
The Cardinal will now await the NCAA Tournament draw to find out where and when its next game will be played. The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will air live on ESPNEWS this coming Monday at 5 p.m. PT.