BERKELEY, Calif. – Despite a raucous rivalry atmosphere and a two-goal deficit the 18th-ranked Cardinal stepped up to outshoot Cal 24-5 Friday night before winning a 3-2 shootout thriller in its first game at Underhill Field in Berkeley, Calif.
The first half saw the Cardinal (6-4, 2-0 America East) outshoot the Bears 7-to-5, but Cal (3-7, 0-2 America East) made the most of their shots, scoring two in the half off of penalty corners. Stanford's offense started to click by the end of the period as it finally capitalized on one of its five penalty corners as time expired to see Kristina Bassi and Nina Randolph set up Phoebe Crosthwaite for her first career goal to make it 2-1 headed into the break.
"I saw an incredible amount of growth in our team today," said head coach Tara Danielson, "In this game I saw us mature and really play for the team. Every player stepped up to give everything they had in a championship-type atmosphere. The team showed its resiliency, and even in a two-goal deficit they remained patient and focused on the game plan. I'm incredibly excited for what we showcased as a team today and the next step is to finish our attacks."
The second half was all Stanford as it went on full attack mode to put up nine more shots while shutting out Cal on offense. The Cardinal capitalized yet again on a deflection that Sarah Helgeson dropped in for her fourth goal of the year to knot it at 2-2 and send it into overtime.
The first overtime period saw the Cardinal continue dominating with four shots, while still holding Cal to zero. Stanford was given a green card in the period, but the impeccably stalwart defense was able to kill it without allowing the Bears an opportunity and sending it into double overtime.
The story remained the same in double OT as the Cardinal kept the pressure on with two more shots and blanking the Bears, but neither could end it in overtime as it headed to a shootout.
In a thrilling shootout, the Bears went first, but Kelsey Bing was an unreal presence in the goal, shutting out every Bear attack but one. The Cardinal found quick success as Millie Stefanowicz went first to outmaneuver Cal's Kori Griswold to take the 1-0 lead. Griswold held off the next two attacks, but Bing's play gave Fran Tew the opportunity to end it, which she did with an elusive reverse to put it past Griswold and clinch the win.
The Cardinal returns home next as it sets to host conference-rival Pacific this Sunday. Game time is set for noon at Varsity Field in Stanford, Calif.