SEATTLE, Wash. – Sam Werner crushed his first career goal past Ryan Herman in the 15th minute to give his team an early lead, but Washington held the Cardinal in check the final 75 minutes while scoring two of its own to hand No. 4 Stanford a 2-1 loss in Seattle on Monday night.
The defeat snapped Stanford's 15-match unbeaten streak, the second-longest run in program history. The Cardinal hadn't lost since a season-opening setback at UC Santa Barbara on August 28, a span of 66 days. It also kept alive Washington's hopes to share the Pac-12 title with Stanford, which clinched at least a co-championship on Friday. The Huskies must win their final three matches at San Diego State, UCLA and Oregon State and hope for a Cardinal loss to California in its season finale.
Stanford is off for 10 days until it celebrates Senior Day and hosts the Golden Bears on The Farm on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. in a game televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
TURNING POINT » With Stanford dominating play and possession for the majority of the first half and holding a 1-0 lead, UW's Beau Blanchard made a run a went down in the box. The Cardinal was whistled for a foul and the Huskies' Steven Wright beat Andrew Epstein to the left to level things heading into the break.
JEREMY GUNN » We were absolutely magnificent in the first half, passed and moved the ball so well and were very much bossing the game. Obviously one play changes things completely and it gave UW a little bit more belief.
THE WINNER » A quick re-start following a Cardinal foul just across the midline freed up Kyle Coffee in the 64th minute. The redshirt freshman dribbled centrally and slid his attempt through to the back of the net to put Stanford in a hole.
JEREMY GUNN II » The second half was wonderfully poised for both teams, but they scored a goal and we lost our way for a few minutes. We were disappointed with how that was given up. It was a very good performance and we're happy with how we played, but disappointed with how the contest was decided.
LASER BEAM » Sam Werner, starting for the second consecutive match in place of an injured Ty Thompson,sent a rocket into goal for his first career strike. A Corey Baird free kick from the near side was headed out to the waiting boot of Stanford's redshirt freshman, who used his right foot to fire a missile from the top of the box. Herman didn't even have a chance to move as Stanford enjoyed an early lead.
JEREMY GUNN III » That was an absolutely fantastic strike. Sam is a natural left-footed player, but unleashed a right-footed strike that any player with a right would have been proud of. It was an emphatic finish and a deserved lead to the game.
CHANCES » Stanford put five shots on frame and had a number just miss the target. Its best chance to equalize came in the 83rd minute when Jordan Morris worked himself free and scooted ahead of his defender. The junior's far-post shot from his left foot was out of the reach of Herman and inches wide of the post.
STREAK SNAPPED » The loss not only ended Stanford's 15-match unbeaten streak in 2015, but also snapped the program's 16-match unbeaten streak in conference play dating back to last season, a run which is tied for 17th in NCAA history. The Cardinal's last league loss also came at UW on Oct. 5, 2014. Since then, Stanford had gone 11-0-5 until tonight.
JEREMY GUNN IV » With the players, all we can ever do is look at how we perform. We always want to perform at our best and I thought we performed very well today. Everyone looks philosophically and says sometimes it's good to take a loss. I don't think it will hurt us, but make us a little bit hungrier.
WHAT'S NEXT » Stanford is off until Nov. 12, when it hosts Cal to close out the regular season. Washington plays at San Diego State on Nov. 6, at UCLA on Nov. 8 and at Oregon State on Nov. 12. It must win all three to challenge the Cardinal for the league crown. If that happens, Stanford will need a win or draw against the Golden Bears to claim the title outright. The Huskies play at OSU at 2 p.m. on the 12th while Stanford hosts Cal at 6 p.m. so the Cardinal will know where it stands heading into its regular season finale.