SANTA CLARA, Calif. – A late goal and missed opportunities were too much for No 6 Stanford to overcome as the Cardinal dropped a 1-0 decision at Santa Clara on Sunday night.
The loss snaps the Cardinal's 10-game winning streak against the Broncos and is the first loss against Santa Clara since Sept. 30, 2006 – a 2-0 defeat.
Stanford (6-2) generated numerous scoring chances throughout the game, including a penalty kick, but could not find the finishing touch to get on the board. Santa Clara (6-3) became the first team this season to outshoot the Cardinal, holding a 13-11 advantage, and capitalized on one of its three corner kicks.
Stanford's best opportunity came in the 78th minute when a Cardinal attacker was taken down in the box and the Cardinal was awarded a penalty kick. Haley Rosen stepped up to the spot and hammered a shot to the bottom left corner. However, the Broncos' Andi Tostanoski chose the correct direction in goal and made the save to keep the game at 0-0.
The Broncos got on the board seven minutes later when it earned a corner kick and Megan Crosson whipped an in-swinging cross from the right corner. Her service landed in the box, causing confusion and eventually ended up in the back of the net to give Santa Clara a late 1-0 lead.
"It was a hard-fought game," said Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe. "When we missed the penalty kick, the momentum changed to Santa Clara and they did a good job and got the result off the corner kick."
Stanford pressed forward the remainder of the game but could not produce an equalizer.
It was a back-and-forth game that featured regular opportunities for both teams. Stanford's defense did well to limit Santa Clara's opportunities to outside the 18-yard box a majority of the time and Jane Campbell was strong in goal. However, the Broncos pressed high throughout the game, disrupting the flow of Stanford's possession.
"The defense played well," said Ratcliffe. "Our possession style was not as effective today. We didn't get in our rhythm which was disappointing. That's the key for us, we need to get in a good rhythm to play good soccer."
The game started at a frenetic pace with both teams creating opportunities.
Stanford nearly scored in the fourth minute when Jordan DiBiasi intercepted a pass in the center of the field from a Santa Clara defender and slipped a pass to Mariah Lee who was streaking to her right. Lee hit the ball well but it sailed just right of the goal.
Stanford generated a quality scoring opportunity in the 36th minute, connecting a series of passes before DiBiasi hit a shot headed to goal that was deflected out of bounds by a Broncos defender.
Santa Clara earned its first corner kick of the game in the 41st minute and sent in a dangerous cross inside the 6-yard box, which Campbell did well to punch the ball out of the box to safety.
Campbell came up big again to start the second half, stopping two consecutive point-blank shots from Santa Clara's Jenna Roering. Campbell dove to her left to stop the first shot from just outside the 18-yard box and dove to her right to stop the second shot off the rebound.
DiBiasi continued to be active in the midfield, making regular runs forward and created two good opportunities in the 54th minute. DiBiasi found herself on the receiving end of two separate crosses with the first being a header that went high and the second a volley that sailed wide left.
One of Stanford's most dangerous opportunities came in the 68th minute when Laura Liedle stepped up from defense to intercept a pass. She carried the ball to the top right corner of the 18-yard box and slid a pass to Rosen at the top of the box. Rosen fired a shot that just missed the top-right corner of the goal.
Despite the opportunities, Stanford couldn't find the touch needed to get on the board and take control of the game. The Cardinal will look to rebound quickly as Pac-12 play begins Friday.
"We have a lot to prove," said Ratcliffe. "It's a group that needs to prove they're a great team and we need to learn from this and move forward and get ready for Pac-12."
The Cardinal begins Pac-12 play next weekend beginning at Utah at 3 p.m. (PT). The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
Cardinal Notes
- The loss snaps the Cardinal's 10-game winning streak against the Broncos and is the first loss against Santa Clara since Sept. 30, 2006 – a 2-0 defeat.
- Jane Campbell made a season-high five saves.
- Stanford was outshot 7-5 in the first half. It was the first time the Cardinal was outshot in a half this season.
- The Cardinal was outshot 13-11 in the game, marking the first time Stanford has been outshot this season. Stanford's 11 shots is its fewest of the season.