March 10, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - The 18th-ranked Stanford lacrosse team pulled out a gutsy 14-10 victory over Temple, Sunday afternoon at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
After leading the entire first half, Stanford (4-2) endured a 4-2 scoring run by Temple (4-1) to start the second that knotted the game at 8-8 with 22:39 to play.
The tie wouldn't last long, however, as Stanford junior Rachel Ozer scored her first goal on the day to spark a 4-0 run for the Cardinal. Sophomore Rachel Hinds added two unassisted goals just 27 seconds apart, while freshman Meg Lentz capped the rally with her sixth goal on the year.
Ozer has been on a scoring tear to start the season and tallied two goals and an assist against Temple. She leads Stanford with 24 points on 16 goals and eight assists on the season.
Hinds doubled her season total in goals with her two scores and also picked up her first assist of the year. Head coach Amy Bokker was impressed with Hinds' performance in such a crucial moment of the game.
"She always brings a good element of speed to the midfield and she had a nose for the net today," Bokker said. "Her goals came at really key moments that gave our team a lot of momentum."
Temple's Jaymie Tabor followed Lentz's goals with two of her own to cut Stanford's lead to 12-10. Tabor led the Owls with three goals on the day.
Stanford juniors Anna Kim and Ozer added a goal each with under six minutes to play to stretch the Cardinal's lead to 14-10 and secure the victory.
"I thought we needed to show a little more discipline at both ends of the field but we're really happy with the win against Temple, who was an undefeated opponent and a good team," Bokker said.
Stanford started the game strong, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead. Kyle Fraser opened the scoring for the Cardinal less than two minutes in. It was the first of a team-high four goals for Fraser who has established herself as one of Stanford's most potent attackers. Fraser is second on Stanford with 12 goals.
"She's a hard shooter and really makes the most of her opportunities," Bokker said. "She doesn't really force anything and she lets the game come to her."
Charlotte Swavola got Temple on the board with a free-possession shot 12 minutes into the half.
After Hannah Farr's goal with 12:52 remaining in the first, Temple closed out the half on a 3-1 scoring run to cut its deficit to 6-4.
Stanford was strong defensively throughout the game and tightened up in the second half, holding advantages in ground balls (6-2) and draw controls (8-7). Goalkeeper Lyndsey Munoz made five of her nine saves in the second to ensure Stanford never trailed in the match.
The Cardinal enters a two week break before it hits the road for a matchup at Vanderbilt on Tuesday, March 26 at 1 p.m. (PT).