Oct. 22, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - No. 1 Stanford began a three-match road stretch with a 3-0 victory over an Arizona State team determined to prove itself among the Pac-10 elite.
An early goal by Teresa Noyola was followed second-half scores by Mariah Nogueira and Lindsay Taylor to keep Stanford (14-0-2 overall, 5-0 in the Pac-10) perfect in conference play.
Arizona State (8-4-2, 2-2) entered the match in third-place and had never been beaten by Stanford at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. Instead, Stanford won for the first time in five tries there, and earned its first victory in Tempe since 1999. It was the first loss at home this year for the Sun Devils.
Stanford's Christen Press set up Noyola's goal in the 16th minute and in doing so earned her 40th career assist, tying the school career record held by Marcie Ward since 2004. Press now owns every Stanford career scoring record - points (166), goals (63), and assists.
Press sent a crossing pass to Noyola, whose shot deflected off the post and in. Noyola, a junior midfielder, added to her career-best goal total with her eighth of the season. For Press, her streak of nine consecutive matches with a goal came to an end, but she extended her points streak (goal or assist) to 15.
Annie Case, a redshirt freshman defender, supplied assists on both of Stanford's second-half goals. Case served a ball into the penalty area that Nogueira headed into the corner for her fourth goal, in the 62nd minute.
Taylor scored her seventh goal, in the 67th minute, with another header off a Case pass.
Stanford has gone four consecutive matches with the same lineup, with Case at outside back and Camille Levin at forward. Levin had played that outside back position whenever Stanford went with different forward combinations.
Freshman goalkeeper Emily Oliver made four saves and was credited with her fourth shutout of the season. Stanford has allowed only one goal in its past four matches.
Stanford, the nation's only undefeated team, extended several streaks. The Cardinal has won for the 17th consecutive time on an opponent's home field, and earned its 16th consecutive Pac-10 victory. Stanford also carries a 39-match regular-season unbeaten streak.
Stanford next plays at Arizona (5-8-2, 1-3), an overtime 1-0 winner Friday over visiting California, on Sunday at noon. The Cardinal's next home match is Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. against Pac-10 co-leader in the loss column, Oregon State (12-1-1, 4-0).