STANFORD, Calif. – A second half surge by the Miami RedHawks proved to be too much for No. 16 Stanford as the Cardinal fell 2-1 in the NCAA Opening Round Wednesday afternoon to close out its 2017 season.
The first half was mostly even between both Stanford (13-8) and Miami (12-8) as the Cardinal edged the RedHawks 6-to-4 in shots while Miami led in saves and corners 2-to-1. The Cardinal struck first in the game in the 25th minute as Frances Carstens laid a perfect pass across the circle that Kristina Bassi one-touched into the bottom left corner for her career-best 12th goal.
Miami's Paula Portugal would prove to be the Achilles of the Cardinal on the day though as the RedHawks surged back in the 33rd minute as Henni Otten pushed a ball through traffic where Portugal backhanded a ball into the far left corner to knot it 1-1 headed into the half.
The second period saw the RedHawks take over control, crushing nine shots to Stanford's two while being awarded eight corners to the Cardinal's one. Keeping the Cardinal in it was Kelsey Bing with five of her seven saves on the day coming in the second half to keep Miami at bay.
The final strike would come with just over 90 seconds remaining as Portugal flashed some stickwork to battle past three Stanford defenders and demolish a shot into the left side of the goal past a diving Bing.
The loss closes the 2017 season for the Cardinal, which collected its second conference title in three seasons in the America East Conference before advancing to its 16th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.