Oct. 14, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. - Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe made one alteration to his usual lineup, rewarding Marjani Hing-Glover with her first start this season.
Hing-Glover, playing near her home of Scottsdale, Ariz., responded with her fifth goal of the season to close the Cardinal scoring in No. 1 Stanford's 3-1 victory over Arizona State in a Pac-12 women's soccer match Friday night.
Hing-Glover eclipsed her season high of four goals by first-timing a pass from Natalie Griffen in the 78th minute to give the Cardinal a 3-0 lead.
She was among three scorers - Lindsay Taylor and Chioma Ubogabu were the others -- for Stanford (14-0-1 overall, 6-0 in the Pac-12), which extended its conference winning streak to 26 and its regular-season unbeaten streak to 57.
"It was a good team performance," Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. "We played decent soccer, but I thought we could have played better."
Stanford scored first when Teresa Noyola, who was fouled a moment earlier 35 yards out, floated a free kick over the defense to the edge of the six-yard box, just to the right of the goal. The ball met the head of Lindsay Taylor on the run.
With goalkeeper Alyssa Gilmore rushing to meet her, Taylor's header rippled the open net in the 25th minute. It was her 10th goal of the season and pushed her alone in seventh on Stanford's all-time goal-scoring list, with 43.
For Noyola, the assist allowed her to pass the great Julie Foudy the all-time list and into a tie for third with Sarah Rafanelli, with the 34th of her career. The school record is 41, established last year by Christen Press.
About nine minutes later, Rachel Quon stole the ball on the right side, sending the Cardinal into motion. She passed to Ubogagu, who sent the ball in to Natalie Griffen.
Though the ball got away, a defender's clearing try deflected off Griffen and landed directly in the path of Ubogagu, who met the loose ball with a left foot from 12 yards for a 2-0 lead.
It was Ubogagu's seventh goal of the season, placing her alone in ninth among Stanford's all-time freshman scorers.
Stanford had other first-half chances. Kristy Zurmuhlen hit the post, Taylor forced a diving save and Noyola had a one-on-one opportunity that ended with a shot right at Gilmore.
In the 59th minute, Taylor had a hard left-footed shot from outside the box that was pushed over the bar by Gilmore.
In the 78th minute, Griffen pushed the ball up the right flank and sent a bending ball across the goal mouth that Hing-Glover met with her left foot with a first-time shot from deep inside the box.
Arizona State (6-8, 2-4) scored on a penalty kick by Nicki Stone in the 88th minute after a handball call.
Stanford returns home next week to play host to Utah on Friday and Colorado on Sunday at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.