STANFORD Calif. – Stanford put six shots on frame and Andrew Epstein was only forced to make one save in the 94th minute, but a packed in Penn State side held firm on Friday night and played the No. 1 Cardinal to a scoreless draw in the season opener for both teams.
"We were really solid defensively," head coach Jeremy Gunn said. "I don't recall Andy [Epstein] having to make saves at all. We had massive percentages of the possession, the best chances and were on the top side the whole game through. We were just missing that goal."
After some feeling out through the opening minutes, Stanford (0-0-1) began to pepper Penn State (0-0-1) keeper Evan Finney – and the post – with headers in close and strikes from distance. Drew Skundrich rocketed one over the bar in the 19th, Foster Langsdorf tried to flick one in from his back inside the six in the 44th and had a diving header snagged by Finney in the 85th, but all three left the Cardinal wanting.
Stanford's most awe-inducing chance came in the 78th minute when Bryce Marion pounced on a loose ball and cracked one off the post from the top of the 18.
"We were always looking and searching," Gunn said. "Any different chance could have gone in and we're going away happy and instead we're going away frustrated. We had some great shots [and] Bryce nearly knocked the goalpost out of the ground with a great strike. It wasn't quite there today, but I do think we can be pleased with so much of what we did."
Andrew Epstein, 10th in the nation in goals against average in 2015, wasn't tested at all until the first overtime period and that save came off a soft header.
Penn State had four shots in the first seven minutes of the second period, including three from outside the 18 successfully blocked by Stanford defenders, and then didn't challenge the Cardinal back line again until Epstein made his first save in the 94th minute.
"The only way we can improve is being more assertive in the first 15 [minutes]," Gunn added. "We were working our way into the game at a time when they were there for the taking. If we score an early goal, it's totally different and they have to come out and play. Instead we were a bit tentative at the beginning, feeling our way in, and then they got to sit in, which is their prerogative. If they're going to do that, it's up to us to break them down."
Stanford turns around to host another 5 p.m. kick, this time on Sunday against Saint Mary's. Troy Clardy and Cobi Jones will call that match on the Pac-12 Network and Pac-12 Bay Area.