STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford senior Megan Turner produced the first two-goal performance of her collegiate career, but Notre Dame capped off a wild three-goal sequence with a 59th-minute equalizer Sunday at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium and two overtimes failed to decide a 2-2 soccer draw.
The result was the first blemish on the record for No. 2 Stanford (6-0-1), which was off the best start since its 2009 squad – assisted by current Notre Dame coach Theresa Romagnolo – went 25-0 going into the NCAA final. The No. 20 Irish is 5-1-2.
Turner gave Stanford a brief 2-1 lead, but Notre Dame's Jennifer Westendorf fired a 25-yard free kick wide of a five-player wall and inside the right post only 2:19 later. The goal ended a flurry of three goals – two by the Irish -- within a span of 6:01.
Until then, Turner was the woman of the match after volleying in a goal in the 27th minute and scoring with a deflection off her chest in the 57th.
The Irish maintain its lead in the all-time series at 7-6-3 and in goals, at 17-16. The teams have met four times in NCAA tournament play, and 10 of their matches have been decided by one goal or fewer.
Turner, who had never scored more than two goals in a season before this year, scored first at the end of a 12-pass sequence that took 1:20 off the clock. Stanford won the ball off a Notre Dame throw-in at midfield and played it back-and-forth in the back line before Andi Sullivan brought it up.
Passes to Kyra Carusa and center back Maddie Bauer eventually found Ceci Gee. The freshman right back delivered a perfect cross from the right side to Turner on a run down the middle of the penalty area. The pass met Turner's right foot at the top of the 6-yard goal box, withstanding a collision with a defender running alongside, and goalkeeper Kaela Little didn't have a chance.
Stanford up on Turner's third of the season and Gee's first career assist.
— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) September 11, 2016
Watch on @Pac12Network.https://t.co/jgn4VD1Hzs#GoStanford
However, the Irish countered at 52:01 on a first-touch goal by Meghan Doyle at the far post. Doyle took advantage of a cross by Karin Muya and a dummy pass from Kaleigh Olmsted, occupying Bauer, at the near post.
Again, Stanford took advantage of a long possession to move ahead. By the time Turner knocked the ball in for her career-high fourth season goal, the Cardinal possessed the ball for 1:19. A streak of nine passes was stopped by an Irish foul and Sullivan sent the ensuing free kick toward the end line.
A Notre Dame defender had a play on it, but Carusa beat her to the ball and, through pure grit, emerged to send a short cross that Turner met at point-blank range for Stanford's second lead of the match.
Multi-goal game for Megan Turner.
— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) September 11, 2016
We're tied, 2-2, on @Pac12Network.#GoStanford https://t.co/CmdWeS7K2m
Stanford had two excellent opportunities to re-take the lead in the final stretch of regulation. Sullivan's right-footed, curling shot to the back post in the 61st minute was parried by a great save from Little, who made six saves overall. The goalkeeper came through again in the 87th minute, by getting a glove on a 25-yarder by Jordan DiBiasi and deflecting it against the post before it settled in Little's arms.
Contrary to how the match evolved, chances were few in the first half, with only four shots total. The first shot came from Olmsted from the perimeter to Stanford goalkeeper Jane Campbell at 16:33. Stanford's first shot came even later, by freshman Tierna Davidson at 24:04, which forced a dive from Little.
Both teams threatened in the two 10-minute overtime periods, with Sullivan having the best chance in the waning seconds. She settled a ball inside the box, but her shot was high.
Stanford still has four matches remaining on its nine-match homestand, with South Bay rival Santa Clara next, on Friday at 5 p.m.