Sept. 17, 2009
Santa Clara, Calif. - Stanford improved to 3-1-0 on the season with a win 2-0 over Santa Clara on Thursday night from Buckshaw Stadium. The Cardinal used two first half goals earn the victory in the opening game of the Bay Area Classic.
Head coach Bret Simon was happy with the victory. "This is a hard place to play. Any win against Santa Clara is a good one, but especially here. They play a very strong defensive style that is hard to break down."
The Cardinal got on the board first with some nifty one-touch passing in the offensive third of the field. After a ball was slid through to Evan Morgan, he chased it to the endline where he dropped a pass back across the goal to Bobby Warshaw. Warshaw used just one touch to finish his first goal of the year.
Warshaw who led the Cardinal in scoring in both 2007 and 2008 was moved to a central defense position in 2009. However, Thursday's goal proved he can still be a threat in the attack.
The assist was the second of the year for Morgan, who leads Stanford in points with six.
Stanford extended its lead in the 33rd minute when it went on the break after a quick counter attack. Daniel Leon and Adam Jahn completed a perfect give and go to leave Leon with a scoring opportunity. His shot hit the post, but a hustling Dominique Yahyavi quickly collected the rebound and centered the ball back to Leon who this time would not be denied.
It was the first goal of the season for Leon and the second assist this season from Yahyavi.
Stanford continued to put the pressure on as they outshot Santa Clara 7-3 in the half. Warshaw almost found the back of the net again in the 37th minute when his header hit the post on another cross from Yahyavi.
Taylor Amman also had an opportunity off a header in the 41st minute, but his shot sailed wide.
The best chance for the Broncos came just before half when Erik Hurtado dribbled up the left side and crossed the ball to Ross Smith whose volley from in front of the goal was on net. However, John Moore made a flying save to preserve the two goal lead. It was the lone save of the half for Moore, but he won't make many better.
The second half saw more action on both ends with Santa Clara outshooting the Cardinal 7-1. However, the Stanford defense did not break, lowering its goals against average to 1.00 on the season.
"We knew Santa Clara would throw everything at us in the second half, but the defense stayed strong," said Simon.
Stanford's best chance of the second half came in the 73rd minute when Yahyavi had a break off a turnover, but his shot rolled wide.
Moore totaled five saves to earn his second shutout of the season and the 11th of his career. He also earner his coaches praise.
"John Moore was solid as a rock," said Simon.
The win for Simon was the 71st of his Stanford career. It ties him for fourth on the Stanford all-time coaching victories list with Bobby Clark.
Stanford will continue with the Bay Area Classic when they return home to Laird Q. Cagan Stadium to face San Francisco on Sunday night at 7:00 pm.