Sept. 4, 2009
Let There Be Light...At The Varsity Turf
STANFORD, Calif.- Backed by a first-half goal and a solid defensive effort, Stanford blanked Northeastern 1-0 on Friday evening in the first-ever night game to be played at the Varsity Turf.
Junior Jaimee Erickson found the cage in the 23rd minute and that proved to be all the offense Stanford (2-0) needed, hanging on for its second straight win to open the year.
Northeastern (0-2) came into the game as a deceiving yet formidable early-season opponent. The Huskies lost a hard-fought 2-1 decision to No. 3 Syracuse in their season opener and dropped a 1-0 decision to defending NCAA champion Maryland in their only scrimmage. Friday night's contest was no different, as the Huskies managed to stay within striking distance of the Cardinal.
The difference was Stanford's offensive pressure, resulting in a 16-8 advantage in shot attempts and an 8-3 edge in penalty corners.
At the 22:23 mark of the first half, junior Xanthe Travlos sent a pass deep toward the endline, where Erickson collected the ball and fired a shot past Northeastern goalkeeper Lizzie Priest for her first goal of the year.
Travlos was a key part of the Cardinal's offensive attack, registering a game-high five shots in addition to garnering her 10th career assist. Junior Camille Gandhi chipped in with three shot attempts.
Nicola Graham led Northeastern with three shot attempts, two of which were on frame.
Stanford netminder Alessandra Moss earned the shutout while making seven saves, while Priest kept Northeastern in the game with 10 saves.
The Cardinal had a chance to pad its lead in the 48th minute, but Priest made an impressive save lunging to her right and denied freshman Becky Dru's penalty stroke attempt.
Stanford is back in action on Sunday, Sept. 6, against Kent State at 1 p.m. The Cardinal then embarks on a four-match road trip before its next home contest on Sept. 27 against Pacific (7 p.m.).
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NOTES: Stanford avenged a 3-2 loss to Northeastern last year in Boston ... A crowd of 189 witnessed the first field hockey game in school history to be played under the lights. Stanford has two more night games on the ledger (Sept. 27 vs. Pacific at 7 p.m. and Oct. 23 vs. California at 7 p.m.) ... Sophomore Alessandra Moss posted her third career shutout and has not allowed a goal over the last 136 minutes ... The Cardinal attempted only one penalty stroke in 2008, with Xanthe Travlos connecting for a goal. In 2007, Stanford misfired on all four of its penalty stroke opportunities ... Freshman Kelsey Lloyd was the only reserve used by head coach Lesley Irvine. Lloyd has appeared in both of the first two games off the bench and attempted her first career shot in the second half.