STANFORD, Calif. – A strong defensive effort and goals by Fran Tew and Clemence Couteau lifted No. 8 Stanford to a 2-1 victory against California Sunday at the Varsity Turf.
It was the sixth straight win for the Cardinal (8-1, 1-0 NorPac West) against the Golden Bears (5-3, 1-1 NorPac) and 15th victory in the past 19 matchups.
Facing a 1-0 deficit midway through the first half, Stanford rallied for two goals to gain the advantage and momentum into halftime. Alex McCawley, an international relations major, helped generate the scoring opportunity on the first goal when she used crafty stickhandling within the semicircle to draw a penalty corner.
On the ensuing penalty corner, Elise Ogle, a communication major, fed a nice pass to Tew on the left side of the goal. Tew took a touch to control the pass then fired a hard shot to the lower left-hand corner of the goal that deflected off California’s goalkeeper and into the back of the cage.
Couteau scored her second game-winning goal on the season less than 12 minutes later when she received a pass from Kasey Quon, made a move to her backhand and fired it into the goal. Couteau has taken three shots this season and two have been game-winning goals.
Stanford controlled a majority of the play during the first portion of the second half but came under increased pressure during the second segment. The Cardinal defense rose to the occasion and shut down potential scoring opportunities by keeping the Golden Bears away from the front of the goal.
Kelsey Harbin and Shannon Herold controlled the center of the field and did well to step up in plays to intercept California passes. Dulcie Davies, a science, technology and society major, made four saves in goal and was active off her line to keep the goal area clear.
Stanford will look to carry its momentum into next weekend when it faces off against defending national champion Connecticut on Friday at 3 p.m. (PT). The Cardinal will play six of its next seven games away from The Farm.
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Notes: Stanford has won 15 of the past 19 matchups against Cal, including the last six straight … The Cardinal improved to 23-2 in NorPac regular season play under head coach Tara Danielson … Clemence Couteau has taken three shots this season and two have been game-winning goals … Stanford had held opponents to one goal or less in all nine games this season … Kasey Quon became the 11th Cardinal player to register at least one point … Stanford hold advantages over opponents in shots (100-51), penalty corners (46-27), goals (22-4) this season.