STANFORD, Calif. – Kelsey Bing's nine saves and incredible action in a shootout led No. 13 Stanford to complete a sweep of three ranked opponents this weekend as the Cardinal topped No. 20 Harvard 2-1 Monday afternoon.
The first half saw defensive efforts at their pinnacle for both teams as the Cardinal (3-2) only allowed three shots to Harvard (2-1) with both goalies making two saves with the period ending in a scoreless tie.
The pace picked up in the second half as both teams showcased a spark in offense with the Cardinal putting 10 shots up to Harvard's six. Stanford struck first in the 46th minute as Corinne Zanolli crossed a ball in front of the Harvard cage that Marissa Cicione tipped up before Sarah Helgeson came crashing in for the finish into the top of the net.
The game looked to be in control with Bing adding four saves in the half, but the Crimson were able to pull a last-second corner with time elapsing where Hannah Wellington was in the right place at the right time to tip in Bente van Vijmen's corner shot in to knot it 1-1 and send it into overtime.
The first OT period saw Harvard come out gunning, putting five shots up to Stanford's one. Bing remained phenomenal throughout with three saves in the half to send it into double OT.
The second overtime started with Stanford battling off an early green card to Jessica Welch for a successful penalty kill though both teams were unable to generate any offensive power in the half sending it into a shootout.
In thrilling fashion, the Crimson went first where Bing easily stopped the first attacker before Millie Stefanowicz gave Stanford the 1-0 advantage. Bing again turned away the next Crimson attack before Zanolli was able to make it 2-0.
A penalty on Bing gave Harvard a penalty stroke which the Crimson put away to make it 2-1, before edging closer with a miss by Welch and another Crimson goal to knot it 2-2.
Katie Keyser played the eventual clincher in the game, but not before an epic face-off by Bing and Harvard's Hannah Pearce to give the sophomore goalie a 3-0 record in shootouts after winning two last year.
The Cardinal will now take a 10-day break from games before it returns to Varsity Turf on September 14 when it hosts Pacific in America East Conference action at 7 p.m. PT.
