Michelle_Xiao_HGM_10_2_2016_124Michelle_Xiao_HGM_10_2_2016_124
Women's Soccer

Eight in a Row

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STANFORD, Calif. – Michelle Xiao scored twice and No. 2 Stanford improved to 10-1-0 with a 6-0 win over Arizona State on Sunday at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.

The Cardinal (10-1-0 overall, 1-1-1 Pac-12) won its eighth match in a row, scoring four or more goals for the seventh time this season. Xiao led Stanford with two goals and one assist, while Kyra Carusa and Catarina Macario pitched in one goal and one assist apiece.

Jaye Boissiere assisted Stanford's first two goals, and Mariah Lee and Jordan DiBiasi also scored. Alison Jahansouz improved to 5-1-0 on the season, and Stanford's defense didn't allow a single shot on target. The Cardinal jumped all over the Sun Devils (4-5-2, 1-1-1) early in the match, with Macario scoring her ninth goal of the season in the fifth minute.

Stanford strung together several passes before Macario got on the end of Boissiere's ball in, which was cleverly flicked on by Carusa. Macario found herself through on goal, sliding home a neat finish for her first tally since Sept. 10.

Four minutes later, DiBiasi was through after another long build up. Boissiere released Xiao down the left wing, and Xiao fizzed a low ball through the Sun Devils' defense to the foot of DiBiasi, who finished into the bottom right corner.

In the 17th minute, Xiao won a penalty on the left side of the box, and Carusa confidently smashed it into the net to make it 3-0. Stanford finished the break with an 11-0 lead in shots over the Sun Devils, who did not register a shot until the 88th minute.

After halftime, the Cardinal picked up where it left off in the first. Xiao made it 4-0 after Macario's free kick hit the right post, winning the ball in a crowded penalty area and slotting home her third goal of the season.

Three minutes later, Xiao rattled the crossbar from the left side the box. She got her second goal of the game shortly after, collecting a fine cross from Macario and curling it inside the far post.

Lee put the finishing touches on the win in the 68th minute. Pressuring Arizona State in its own penalty area, Lee won the ball back and quickly fired it past Nikki Panas inside the far post for her fourth goal of the season.

The Cardinal returns to action next week when it travels to face No. 24 Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT. Stanford then heads to Boulder, Colorado, to face Colorado on Sunday at 11 a.m. Both matches will broadcast live on Pac-12 Networks, and live statistics will be available at GoStanford.com.Cardinal Notes

  • The Cardinal outshot Arizona State 30-2, finishing with 14 shots on target.
  • Stanford earned its eighth shutout of the season after entering the week ranked 12th in the nation in shutout percentage.
  • Sunday was the fourth time Stanford has scored at least six goals in 2017.
  • Stanford improved to 6-0 at home – the Cardinal has scored 33 times and conceded no goals at Cagan Stadium this season.
  • Following today, six Cardinal have at least 10 points (Macario – 24, Carusa – 19, Boissiere – 16, DiBiasi – 13, Civana Kuhlmann – 10, Xiao – 10).
  • Macario's goal was her first since a 7-0 win over Navy – she leads the Pac-12 with 24 points.
  • Boissiere's two assists gave her six for the season, tied with Andi Sullivan for the team lead.