STANFORD, Calif. – Ryan Walker-Hartshorn accomplished something only three others in Stanford history have ever done – scored two hat tricks in one season.
The sophomore from Oakland scored three goals in 22 minutes to break open a close match and help the No. 3 Cardinal women’s soccer team to a 4-1 Pac-12 home-opening victory over Washington on Friday night.
Only Sarah Rafanelli in 1990, Erin Martin in 1993, and Kelley O’Hara in 2009 have ever earned two hat tricks in a single season for the Cardinal.
“I feel honored,” Walker-Hartshorn said. “But it’s nothing without my team setting me up. Those goals weren’t hard goals to score. It’s because we had such great movement between the forwards and the midfielders to open up that space for me, and I just happened to be there.”
Stanford (9-0-2 overall, 1-0-1 Pac-12) got a final goal from Lo’eau LaBonta on a spectacular bending 28-yarder that carried over the goalkeeper and dipped under the crossbar, in the 61st minute.
“Lo is phenomenal,” Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. “She strikes the ball as well as any player I’ve ever coached. That was an absolute screamer.
Earlier, she uncorked a 35-yarder that required a great save from goalkeeper Megan Kufeld, who crashed into the post while doing so.
The match provided one of Stanford’s best performances of the season, largely because of the team’s energy and especially because of the team’s great combination play throughout the match. And Walker-Hartshorn was the main beneficiary as she built her team-high goal total to eight.
“I give a lot of the credit to the team and I’m sure Ryan will to,” Ratcliffe said. “She was the benefactor of great team combination play. And she’s the final one in the final third that’s putting them away.”
Her first goal, at 24:58, completed a buildup from the back on a possession that consisted of nine passes before Walker-Hartshorn controlled a Chioma Ubogagu pass with her left foot and swung with her right from 16 yards.
Washington (7-4, 0-2) took advantage of a collision between Stanford goalkeeper Jane Campbell and defender Stephanie Amack that resulted in a loose ball to tie the match 23 seconds later. Kimberly Keever’s goal was the first against Stanford at home in 678 minutes, 7 seconds.
But Walker-Hartshorn scored the go-ahead goal off a double assist from Ubogagu and Megan Turner, and got her third by shielding her body as she received a long pass from Laura Liedle and turning into space for an uncontested shot.
“Our main goal was to come in and go for it,” Walker-Hartshorn said. “Against Utah, we had a slow start and got a draw. This was the Pac-12 home opener and we really wanted to set the tone. That’s exactly what we did -- a lot of high pressure and interchangeable play. A real positive vibe. A great team effort.”
Walker-Hartshorn matched her hat trick from Sept. 14 in an 8-0 victory over Dayton. Next, Stanford returns to action Sunday against first-place Washington State (7-0-2, 2-0) at 1 p.m. at Cagan Stadium.
| Washington | 1 | 0 | -- | 1 |
| Stanford | 2 | 2 | -- | 4 |
Scoring: Stanford -- Ryan Walker-Hartshorn (Chioma Ubogagu), 24:58; Washington -- Kimberly Keever (unassisted), 25:21; Stanford -- Walker-Hartshorn (Ubogagu, Megan Turner), 28:52; Walker-Hartshorn (Liedle); Lo'eau LaBonta (unassisted), 60:58.
Records: Stanford 9-0-2, 1-0-1; Washington 7-4-0, 0-2-0.
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Walker-Hartshorn's Goal No. 1
Walker-Hartshorn's Goal No. 2
Walker-Hartshorn's Goal No. 3
LaBonta's Golazo