STANFORD, Calif. – Junior Jordan Morris continues to deliver for the No. 3 Cardinal. Celebrating his 21st birthday on Monday night, the Stanford forward scored for the sixth time in his last seven collegiate games and added an assist on his team's first goal to lead the Cardinal over visiting San Diego State, 3-1, at Cagan Stadium.
Stanford (12-1-2, 5-0-2 Pac-12) hasn't lost since a season-opening setback at UC Santa Barbara, is unbeaten in 14 straight and has won 12 during that stretch. The Cardinal is also unbeaten in its last 15 conference matches dating back to last season, going 10-0-5 over that span.
The Cardinal, in search of back-to-back conference titles, extended its lead at the top of the Pac-12 table and is now seven points clear of second place with three games left to play.
Stanford, which next hits the road for games at Oregon State (Oct. 30) and No. 17 Washington (Nov. 2), closes out its regular-season schedule on The Farm on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. against Cal.
Tickets are available by calling 800-STANFORD or visiting gostanford.com/tickets.
TURNING POINT » Stanford started strong from the start. In the 11th minute Eric Verso played it out wide to Morris, who clipped a phenomenal cross to the back post and Tomas Hilliard-Arce. The Stanford sophomore shoveled the ball into the back of the net with the outside of his right boot to give the Cardinal an early lead.
Phenomenal ball from @JmoSmooth13 to @TomasHilliard has the Cardinal up early. WATCH on @Pac12Networks. #GoStanford https://t.co/TRroevryPb
— StanfordMen'sSoccer (@StanfordMSoccer) October 27, 2015
PILING ON » Stanford added another less than six minutes later when Slater Meehan headed it forward to Morris. Morris settled the ball with a deft first touch, cruised forward to the top of the six and beat Adam Allmaras far post. In the 27th, Verso dribbled into the box and served it back to Foster Langsdorf at the top of the 18, who fired home his sixth of the season.
BIRTHDAY BOY » In his last seven appearances for the Cardinal, Morris has six goals, two assists and 14 points. He's scored seven times in 11 matches in 2015 (0.64 goals per game) and by taking the pitch Friday at Oregon State will reach the necessary threshold to begin appearing in the national statistics in goals and points per game (appearing in 75 percent of team's games).
Jordan Morris scores the goal for @StanfordMSoccer that gets the #12Best Moment -- on his 21st birthday! ?? https://t.co/uh4pVRLnNn
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) October 27, 2015
VERSO KEEPS DELIVERING » Eric Verso added two more assists on Monday night, has at least one in each of Stanford's last five games and 10 total on the year. He's the first Cardinal to reach double digits in assists since both Todd Dunivant (11) and Roger Levesque (13) did so in 2002. With 16 career assists, Verso needs just two more to tie for 10th on Stanford's career list.
STAYING AHEAD » Stanford, which didn't trail on Monday night, has been out in front of most of its opponents this season. The Cardinal has trailed in just 4.3 percent of its total minutes played in 2015. Stanford has been on the field for 1,417:39 and been behind for 61:27.
CONFINES OF CAGAN » Stanford is 7-0-2 at home this season and is 16-1-6 in its last 23 matches at Cagan Stadium.