LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Jordan Morris returned from Olympic qualifying duties on Wednesday, spent all of 24 hours on Stanford's campus before traveling to Southern California with the No. 3 Cardinal Thursday and Friday night reminded everyone of the sublime skill that has placed him at the center of the soccer discussion in the United States.
It was the junior's 65th-minute strike which catapulted Stanford (10-1-1, 3-0-1 Pac-12) to a 2-1 win at UCLA (6-6-0, 2-2-0 Pac-12), the Cardinal's first win against the Bruins in five years and the first victory in Westwood in program history.
TURNING POINT » Morris started the second half on the bench and checked in for Foster Langsdorf in the 56th. Less than 10 minutes later, Slater Meehan intercepted an errant pass from UCLA's Jordan Vale and left it for a streaking Eric Verso. Verso made a touch before getting sandwiched by a pair of defenders to set up Morris at the corner of the 18. Morris turned, took one touch and unleashed a top-shelf, rocket to the far post.
STAY HOT, YOUNG MAN » Morris, who scored three goals in five matches over the past two weeks with the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team, has converted at an even better clip in his recent collegiate appearances. Now with five goals in eight games this season, the science, technology and society major has put home one in each of his last four with the Cardinal, including back-to-back winners.
Last four collegiate games for @JmoSmooth13 = four goals. Watch the final 20 on @Pac12Networks. #GoStanford http://t.co/KlOP0jVzVw
— StanfordMen'sSoccer (@StanfordMSoccer) October 17, 2015
FIRSTS » Stanford had never won against UCLA in Westwood. It had only beaten the Bruins six previous times in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2000 and 1987 and each of those matches came on The Farm. The Cardinal's last win in the series came on October 15, 2010 (2-1).
KEEP IT GOING » The win also extended Stanford's unbeaten streak to 11, which ties the second-longest streak in program history. The Cardinal has won 10 and tied one since a season-opening loss at UC Santa Barbara on August 28. Stanford went unbeaten in a school-record 20 consecutive matches in 1996-97 and also had 11-match runs in 2001 and 1980-81.
GETTING COMFORTABLE » Freshman Amir Bashti has seemed to find his stride since the start of Pac-12 play and has scored in each of the Cardinal's past two contests. His first collegiate goal came last Sunday against Oregon State at the tail end of the first half (43:54). Tonight, Bashti got Stanford on the board at almost the exact same time (43:52). Adrian Alabi chipped it into the box from the right flank and Edgar Contreras tried to head it away, but Bashti followed the play and used his chest to smother the ball and push it past Juan Cervantes.
Amir likes the 44th. First career goal came at 43:54. Tonight? 43:52. Watch on @Pac12Networks. #GoStanford http://t.co/PcjogsWSrP
— StanfordMen'sSoccer (@StanfordMSoccer) October 17, 2015
GETTING TIME » The assist from Alabi was the first career point for the Stanford senior. After not appearing in a match in his first three seasons on The Farm, the electrical engineering major has come on as a substitute seven times in 2015, including each of the past six matches. He also was the catalyst for the Cardinal's 100th minute winner against Davidson on September 20, starting the play that led to Jordan Morris' goal.
SEASON START » The Cardinal's 10-1-1 record through 12 games is its best since it began the 2002 season 11-1-0 en route to the NCAA Final.
CONFERENCE START » Stanford is unbeaten through four conference games for the first time since 2006, when it had the same 3-0-1 mark after playing San Diego State (W; 2-1), UCLA (T; 1-1), Washington (W; 2-0) and Oregon State (W; 2-0).