LOS ANGELES – Lo’eau LaBonta gave No. 3 Stanford the lead with a 53rd minute volley, but No. 1 UCLA rallied with two goals in the final 14 minutes to pull out a 2-1 victory in a matchup between undefeated women’s soccer teams at Drake Stadium on Thursday.
Stanford (10-1-2 overall, 2-1-1 Pac-12) fell behind for the first time this season when Annie Alvarado scored from about 10 yards on a low cross-goal shot that snuck inside the left post for the winner at 84:49. It was the third consecutive victory for UCLA (11-0-2, 3-0-1) in the series and vaults the Bruins into sole possession of first place in the Pac-12.
LaBonta opened the scoring off a sequence that began with Andi Sullivan’s corner kick. Goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland punched the ball out of the box, but LaBonta struck a half-volley from 21 yards for her fifth goal of the season.
UCLA tied the score at 76:15 when Ally Courtnall carried down the right and cut inside to unleash a left-footed shot that traveled over the reach of Stanford goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who had five saves in the match. Stanford entered the match with the nation’s top defense, leading the country in goals allowed (two) and goals-against average (0.16).
Stanford next plays Sunday at 3 p.m. at USC in a match televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
* * *
| Stanford | 0 | 1 | -- | 1 |
| UCLA | 0 | 2 | -- | 2 |
Scoring: Stanford -- Lo'eau LaBonta (unassisted), 52:36. UCLA -- Ally Courtnall (Annie Alvarado, Darian Jenkins), 76:15; UCLA -- Annie Alvarado (Sam Mewis), 84:49.
Records: Stanford 10-1-2, 2-1-1; UCLA 11-0-2, 3-0-1.