No. 12 Stanford (3-2)
No. 24 Pacific (3-3) | Thurs. • 7 p.m. (PT)
Varsity Field Hockey Turf • Stanford, Calif.
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STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 12 Cardinal returns to Varsity Turf this week as it sets to open America East Conference action against No. 24 Pacific Thursday at 7 p.m. PT.
Last Time Out:
Stanford is coming off a 10-day break from games after a grueling week in intense heat that saw the Cardinal sweep a three-game series against ranked opponents.
No. 17 Iowa
The Hawkeyes came out to score first in the game, but a corner set up by Sarah Johnson and Katie Keyser gave Corinne Zanolli the green light to score the first Cardinal goal of the season. Rookies played a key role in the win as Kaylie Mings flicked her only shot of the game over the Iowa goalie to make it 2-1 early in the second half.
The Hawkeyes knotted it again in the 45th minute, but Zanolli earned her America East Rookie of the Week award with the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute after a steal and perfect pass from Marissa Cicione.
No. 22 UMass
A career-best day from Cicione awaited Stanford against the Minutewomen as the senior attacker scored her first of two goals in only the second minute of play. While the Cardinal was only awarded one penalty corner in the entire game, it proved to be vital as Zanolli added her third goal of the week putting it into the top shelf as Stanford led UMass 2-0 at the half.
Cicione found herself in the right place for the final Cardinal goal of the day where she put away a rebound in the 50th minute. The Minutewomen were able to scrap a goal back towards the end of the game, but Stanford dominated from start to finish.
No. 20 Harvard
In a thrilling showdown between the Cardinal and the Crimson, Kelsey Bing would prove to be clutch in a 2-1 shootout victory for Stanford. The first half closed in a 0-0 stalemate before the 46th minute saw Zanolli and Cicione set up Sarah Helgeson for the only goal in regulation.
The game looked to close in a 1-0 victory for the Cardinal until a last-second penalty corner was converted by Harvard as time elapsed. With both teams unable to score in the two overtime periods to send it to a shootout, it was Bing who moved her career record in shootouts to 3-0 after she turned away three Crimson shots to clinch the win.
On Tap - No. 24 Pacific:
The Tigers return to Varsity Turf to kick-off the Cardinal's America East Conference slate with a 3-3 record. Pacific's three wins have come over Michigan State, UMass Lowell and Sacred Heart while their three losses have all come from ranked opponents.
Last week the Tigers fell to No. 2 UConn before topping UMass Lowell and SHU. Savannah Burns led the way on the week with four goals, though Kriekie van Wyk posted a hat trick against the UML Riverhawks.
Thursday's game has the potential to be a preview of the America East Tournament championship game - as it was last season when Jordan Barry's goal propelled the Cardinal past Pacific 1-0 to claim the title.
Under head coach Tara Danielson, the Cardinal have posted a 13-2 record against Pacific including her Stanford coaching debut on August 27, 2010 in a 6-0 win. In fact, the Tigers have only scored more than one goal on Stanford once in that period - a 3-2 overtime win for the Cardinal on October 3, 2014.
Youth Movement:
The Cardinal roster boasts a combination of both experienced upperclassmen and hungry freshmen and sophomore classes. In Stanford's five games four freshmen have started with rookie and Max Preps top-10 recruit Corinne Zanolli leading the offense with three goals and an assist for seven points.
To Be the Best You Need to Play the Best:
Danielson is notorious for having one of the hardest schedules in the NCAA - with this year being no different. Right out of the gate the Cardinal's first six opponents this season are all ranked in the top-25. The Cardinal's two losses have both come top-15 ranked teams including No. 1 UConn and No. 14 Northwestern.