Five on FridayFive on Friday
Women's Soccer

Five on Friday

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STANFORD, Calif. – No. 1 Stanford opened its 2018 home schedule with a comfortable 5-1 win over San Francisco on Friday night at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.

"We're pleased with the result but disappointed to have conceded so easily," said Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe. "I was very happy with some of our freshmen tonight, and the depth of this team is going to play a big role this season. We have some tightening up to do before we face some tougher opponents in September."

The Cardinal (2-0-0) outshot the Dons (2-1-0) 34-5, including a 16-4 advantage in shots on goal, and were led by its three Colorado natives – Jordan DiBiasi, Sophia Smith and Civana Kuhlmann. The trio combined for three goals and four assists, and Catarina Macario added two of her own in a 26-minute cameo off the bench.

Smith, making her Stanford debut, opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a phenomenal right-footed shot into the top corner. DiBiasi won a header in midfield, which was flicked on by Kuhlmann. As the referee played the advantage after Kuhlmann was brought down, Smith latched onto the ball and unleashed a 20-yard strike which left Molly Eby no chance in goal.

After the Dons equalized off of a corner kick in the 30th minute through Kalena Teufel, Stanford scored four unanswered to make it 5-1 by the 59th minute. The substitute Macario scored a penalty kick in the 31st minute before slamming home the rebound from Smith's dangerous effort in the 51st minute.

Kuhlmann made it 4-1 after a clever give-and-go with DiBiasi, curling a powerful left-footed shot inside the far post. Kuhlmann won Stanford's second penalty of the night in the 59th minute, and DiBiasi slotted it into the side netting for her first strike of the season.

Lauren Rood (1-0-0) finished with three saves, while Smith and Kuhlmann led the team with eight shots apiece. DiBiasi led the team with two assists while Smith and Kuhlmann tallied one apiece.

Top-ranked Stanford returns to action on Thursday when it faces BYU in Provo, Utah, at 6 p.m. PT on BYUTV. The Cardinal then travels to Minneapolis to face Minnesota on Sept. 2 on Big 10 Network.

Cardinal Notes

  • It was Stanford's 24th win in a row, a streak dating to Aug. 25, 2017. The longest win streak in program history stands at 28.
  • Stanford's streak of not allowing a goal from open play extended to 2,168:59 minutes – the Dons' goal came off of a corner kick.
  • Freshman Abby Greubel made the start, finishing with three shots.
  • Kiki Pickett and Sam Hiatt made their 2018 debuts and freshman Naomi Girma made her Cardinal debut, starting alongside Alana Cook in central defense.
  • Tierna Davidson played 31 minutes off the bench.