STANFORD, Calif. – Ten clutch saves by Allie DaCar highlighted the night as No. 12 Stanford added its second MPSF win of the season to its record with a 9-5 win over the Denver Pioneers.
The first half saw the Pioneers (4-6, 1-2 MPSF) come out blazing as they put up 15 to Stanford’s nine shots, though Allie DaCar had another idea for Denver, denying seven shots to keep them at bay. It was a back-and-forth half as Stanford struck first, though both teams traded off goals with the Cardinal (7-2, 2-0 MPSF) getting the final say in the period as Anna Salemo took a pass from Elizabeth Cusick with two minutes remaining to make it 4-3 headed into the break.
The second half saw Mackenzie Tesei put away a free position shot for her 11th goal of the season before Denver’s Christa Reese scored two goals to knot it 5-5. Both teams burned their timeouts in the half as Stanford started to edge up in shots with 11 to Denver’s eight though the Pioneers upped the physical game accumulating four of its five yellow cards on the night.
Coming out of a timeout after the two Denver goals with the score tied at five each, Stanford proved to be intransigent in the 13 minutes remaining as it dropped four unanswered goals by four different Cardinal to distance itself from the Pioneers for good and polish off the 9-5 win.
MPSF play continues on Sunday as the Colorado Buffalos are set to take on the Cardinal. Game time is set for noon PT at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.