STANFORD, Calif. - Jessica Welch scored twice as a red-hot team effort in the second half saw the Cardinal blow past the visiting Kent State Golden Flashes 5-1 Sunday afternoon at Varsity Turf.
The Cardinal (1-2) came out heated from the start, as it put up seven shots in the first half, while the defense kept the Flashes (2-1) at bay, allowing only two shots for Kent State. Stanford broke the stalemate in 26th minute as Casey Deeds sent in a penalty corner that Katie Keyser set up for Jessica Welch to crush into the goal to head into the half up 1-0.
On the game, head coach Tara Danielson commented, "Today we were able to get our offense rolling and build connections into the attacking half. We showed a hunger around the goal and solid execution in the attacking D."
The second half saw the Cardinal tear the game open as it took only about two minutes before Keyser collected her second assist by crossing it to Kristina Bassi for the put away. Marissa Cicione struck 11 minutes later off a penalty corner to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
Kent State found its own golden flash in the 54th minute off a penalty corner, but the Cardinal answered 10 minutes later with Jessica Welch putting away her second goal of the game with a nasty shot into the left side of the goal. An all-rookie fifth goal closed out the game as Hailey Szybunka set up Nina Randolph with a textbook cross that Randolph finished.
The Cardinal will hit the road for the first time this week as it travels to take on Boston College on September 10th and reigning NCAA Champion, Syracuse September 11th. Both games are set to be played at 11:00 a.m. PT in Syracuse, N.Y.
