(Lead Photo by Lyndsay Radnedge)
STANFORD, Calif. – A pair of highlight-worthy goals and a quality defensive effort propelled Stanford to a 2-1 victory against Washington State on Thursday night.
Andi Sullivan and Averie Collins scored a goal apiece in the second half, while goalkeeper Jane Campbell made a season-high six saves.
The Cardinal (9-0-1, 2-0 Pac-12) got the result it wanted but it did not come easy. Washington State (5-4-1, 0-2 Pac-12) pressed high and generated quality scoring opportunities throughout the game. The Cougars held advantages in shots (14-10) and corner kicks (6-3). Seven of the Cardinal's past eight games against Washington State have been decided by one goal.
"Washington State had a great game and created a lot of problems for us," said Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe. "Jane was amazing with some big saves. The two goals we scored were incredible too."
Sullivan, a MAC Hermann Trophy candidate, opened the scoring with a magnificent strike from distance in the 63rd minute. She received the ball near the half line in her own defensive end, carried with pace through the midfield, juked her defender to create space and fired a shot from 25 yards out to the left corner of the goal.
It is Sullivan's fourth goal of the season and 12th point of the year, matching her previous single-season high in points from a year ago.
.@sunshine_sully carries with pace through the midfield, beats her defender and unleashes a ??????. #GoStanford https://t.co/0sFbejHGym
— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) September 30, 2016
Sullivan is tied for the team lead with 12 points.
Collins made it, 2-0, for the Cardinal 15 minutes later in the 78th minute, finishing an outstanding series of six consecutive passes by Stanford before her decisive seventh touch. Tegan McGrady made a nice run through the Cougars' defense to the left corner of the field and received a perfect one-touch pass from Michelle Xiao. McGrady sent a cross into the box where Kyra Carusa used a back-heel flick to get the ball to Collins who finished with her left foot into the right side of the goal.
It is the second consecutive year Collins has scored the game-winning goal against Washington State. She has scored in two consecutive games after notching her first of the year against Oregon last week.
.@Averie_Collins notches her second goal in as many games. Second consecutive year she's scored vs. the Cougars. https://t.co/1lgVQVhBPM
— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) September 30, 2016
Averie Collins scored her second goal in as many games.
Campbell was excellent in goal with six saves, including five in the second half, to preserve the regulation victory. She passed Emily Oliver (184, 2010-13) for fifth all-time in career saves in program history with 190.
Jane Campbell spoke with the Pac-12 Network after the win.
Campbell's defense was strong in front of her and possessed well despite Washington State's high-pressing offense. Alana Cook made one of the night's most important saves in the 59th minute when she cleared a shot off the goal line. Cook was guarding the far post on a corner kick, kept her hands behind her back and blocked the shot with her chest to keep the game knotted at 0-0.
"They were putting us on our heels and from my angle it looked like it was going in – I didn't see Alana," said Ratcliffe. "She's been doing that for a couple years now. She's incredible and has been saving goals off the line."
Maddie Bauer and Cook continued to be a force in the center of the defense, forcing tough shots and the Cougars to play wide. McGrady and Beattie Goad played well at outside back and were aggressive in the offensive zone, regularly stepping up in plays and carrying with pace down the wings.
"Tegan and Beattie did a good job of bringing the ball forward," said Ratcliffe. "They played a system that allowed our outside backs to really get forward. They created good opportunities for us and then defensively they were very sound too."
Stanford will look to continue its momentum Sunday at 2 p.m. (PT) when it takes on Washington.Cardinal Notes
- Stanford improves to 22-3-1 all-time against Washington State.
- Seven of the past eight meetings have been decided by one goal.
- Stanford has not trailed at any point this season.
- Stanford has scored two or more goals in 9-of-10 games this season.
- Andi Sullivan matched her career single-season high in points (12) – she had 12 points in 2015
- Sullivan has registered at least one point in six of 10 games this season.
- Averie Collins scored the game-winning goal against the Cougars for the second consecutive season.
- It is the second straight game Collins has scored a goal.
- Jane Campbell made a season-high six saves.
- Campbell now has 190 career saves, moving her past Emily Oliver (187, 2010-13) for fifth all-time.
- It is the first time Stanford has been outshot (14-10) since Sept. 20, 2015, against Santa Clara (13-11)