Oct. 8, 2010
LOS ANGELES - A record-breaking goal by Christen Press and another score by Teresa Noyola were enough to allow No. 1 Stanford to hold off No. 20 USC, 2-1, in a Pacific-10 Conference women’s soccer opener at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Friday night.
“It was a hard fought victory,” Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said.
Stanford (10-0-2, 1-0) did not respond well at first to a USC team that came out with intensity from the opening kickoff, and that’s what Ratcliffe hopes his team learns from this match.
“We learned a lot about the mentality it takes to win a game in the Pac-10,” he said. “USC went after us. We’ve got to be hungry, hungry enough to win."
Stanford was in the second half, scoring two goals within six minutes to take a 2-0 lead.
“We came out more aggressive and went after them,” Ratcliffe said.
Press scored her national-leading 15th goal of the season on an outstanding individual effort, scoring unassisted from 20 yards in the 59th minute. It was the 60th goal of her career, breaking the Stanford all-time record held by Sarah Rafanelli since 1993.
“Cool,” said Ratcliffe, when he learned of Press' record. “It was an incredible goal. Hopefully, she’ll keep it going. She’s having a great season.”
Press has scored in six consecutive matches, and has gone 11 matches with a goal or assist.
Stanford extended its lead when Noyola scored her fifth of the season after working a combination with Lindsay Taylor at the top of the box in the 65th minute. A return of her wall pass opened up space for Noyola’s shot.
Stanford surrendered a goal by Mia Bruno in the 84th minute, but was able to hold off the Women of Troy (7-3-2, 0-1) to earn its 12th consecutive Pac-10 victory, dating back to 2008. The Cardinal hasn’t lost on the road to USC in 12 years.
Stanford went with a new lineup, with sophomore Marjani Hing-Glover earning her first collegiate start. Camille Levin, who has started most recently at forward, instead started at outside back.
Stanford was outshot, 13-12. It was only the second time this season that has happened, after North Carolina outshot the Cardinal, 14-12, in a 2-2 draw on Aug. 27.
For Ratcliffe, the venue brought back memories. While growing up in the Los Angeles County town of Calabasas, Ratcliffe played in the Los Angeles Coliseum when he was 11. His club team played at halftime of a North American Soccer League match of the Los Angeles Aztecs, and Ratcliffe scored a goal.
Stanford continues on the most demanding trip in the Pac-10 when it plays at No. 14 UCLA (8-3-1, 1-0) on Sunday at Drake Stadium at 1 p.m. Stanford and UCLA have earned at least a share of 15 of the 16 titles in Pac-10 history. The teams last played in the 2009 NCAA College Cup semifinals, which Stanford won on a Press golden goal.