STANFORD, Calif. – Allie DaCar's valiant effort in the cage with 11 saves couldn't hold off the No. 8 USC Trojans as the Cardinal fell 15-12 Friday night at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
Kelsey Murray kept her streak of 52 games of earning a point alive as well as tying the all-time leader Megan Burker in Stanford history in points with 207 and tying Lauren Schmidt for fifth all-time in goals with 132.
The first half proved to be thrilling as Stanford (10-5, 5-2 MPSF) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with Kelly Myers putting away both. A USC (13-3, 7-0 MPSF) five-goal spree put the Trojans ahead for good, but the Cardinal kept the pressure on throughout.
Allie DaCar was phenomenal right out of the gate, turning away six USC shots in the half while the offense chipped away at the Trojan lead with four different Cardinal scoring to head into the break with USC holding a 7-5 advantage.
Stanford started strong again in the second half with Dillon Schoen cutting the lead to one before USC and the Cardinal began trading off goals. The difference came with a USC five-goal run to put the lead out of the reach of the Cardinal. Stanford rallied towards the end with three goals to close the game, but USC was able to claim the win.
The Cardinal will close out its home slate on Sunday as it hosts San Diego State. Game time is set for 1 p.m. PT at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.