BERKELEY, Calif. – Stanford keeps rolling. Brandon Vincent converted a first-half penalty, Foster Langsdorf scored on the counter three minutes later and the No. 3 Cardinal opened its Pac-12 schedule with a 2-1 win at rival California on Sunday afternoon.
The win upped Stanford's win streak to eight, the program's longest since 2001, and moved the Cardinal to 3-0-1 in its last four matches against the Golden Bears (5-3-0, 0-1-0).
Stanford (8-1-0, 1-0-0), 14-1-4 in its last 19 games at Cagan Stadium, returns home to host No. 15 Washington on Friday, October 9 in a game televised on the Pac-12 Networks. Mini plans and single-game seats are available by visiting gostanford.com/tickets or calling 800-STANFORD.
TURNING POINT: In the 18th, the Cardinal took possession in the midfield, turned and put together its attack. Corey Baird, who started up top to fill the void of Jordan Morris, played a through ball to Foster Langsdorf. The sophomore was able to get his left foot on the ball before absorbing a Cal tackle and his shot beat an advancing Alex Mangels to the keeper's left. The goal, Langsdorf's third of the year, put Stanford on top, 2-0.
JEREMY GUNN: That was great attacking play and a good combination by the strikers. It's what we look to do, was a wonderful play by both and another emphatic finish.
Midway through the first half and it's 2-0 Cardinal in Berkeley. Vincent PK and this goal from Langsdorf the tallies so far. Watch now on Pac-12 Networks »
Posted by Stanford Men's Soccer on Sunday, October 4, 2015
THANKS COREY: Each of Langsdorf's three goals this season have come off assists from fellow sophomore Corey Baird. Baird, who leads the team with six assists, has at least one in five of the Cardinal's last six matches.
EARLY ACTION: Langsdorf's strike capped off a frenetic first 20 minutes of play. In the third minute, Stanford's Andrew Epstein made a sensational save on Cal's Jose Carrera-Garcia from the edge of the six-yard box. Four minutes later, Langsdorf played Baird, who slid the ball Eric Verso, but his shot rang off the near post.
JEREMY GUNN II: Andy [Epstein] has been called upon the least in the country per game. That's a testament to how well the team has defended, but that was a huge save and will be one that people are going to look at on the replay. It takes those things [to win games]. There are chances at each end. In the same breath we can talk about how we hit the post in the first few minutes. That's how the game was and it never really died down.
Heck of a save in the early going from one of the nation's best. Watch now on @Pac12Networks. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/aqbtQczOvu
— StanfordMen'sSoccer (@StanfordMSoccer) October 4, 2015
CALM, COOL AND COLLECTED: Stanford struck first in the 15th minute when a hand ball in the box set up a Brandon Vincent penalty. The senior captain converted and is a perfect four-for-four in his career from the spot. It was Vincent's second goal of the season, the ninth of his career, and his eighth in Stanford's last 25 matches. He began his Cardinal career with one goal in his first 41 games.
CAL RESPONDS: The Golden Bears got on the board in the 31st minute when Carrera-Garcia sought out Paul Salcedo with a cross. Salcedo drew a foul in the box and Carrera-Garcia's penalty found its way past Epstein for Cal's only goal of the evening.
JEREMY GUNN III: I thought it was a thrilling game of soccer. Probably both coaches would want to tighten up defensively, but you couldn't get a more exciting game to watch and be a part of. It's a credit to both teams and in the end I felt that our resiliency paid off.
EIGHT STRAIGHT: For the second consecutive season, Stanford has responded to a loss in its opener with an impressive string of victories. Last year's squad racked up seven wins in a row, while this year's group has pushed that streak to eight. It's the longest run for the Cardinal since it won nine consecutive matches to open up the 2001 season.