STANFORD, Calif. – Madison Haley's goal in the second minute of overtime sealed a 2-1 win over No. 2 North Carolina on Sunday at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
"I was disappointed we let them back in it, but in the end the team's character shone through in a really tough battle today," said Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe. "These types of games will prepare us for later in the season – North Carolina is one of the better teams we will face this year."
The Cardinal (6-0-0) was pushed to overtime for the second time in three games with Haley bagging the winner 96 seconds into the first period of extra time. Catarina Macario collected the ball 40 yards from goal, dribbling through a host of Tar Heels before teeing up a wide open Haley for a first-time finish inside the far post.
FINAL | 28 in a row. ??
— Stanford Women's Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) September 9, 2018
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Alison Jahansouz tied a career high with five saves, Sophia Smith scored the opening goal and Stanford outshot the Tar Heels (5-2-1), 19-13, in front of a sellout crowd. The Cardinal's program-record win streak extended to 28 games – Stanford's 28th game without a loss ties a program record after the Cardinal went 28 games unbeaten from 2011-12.
After both teams traded scoring chances in the first half, Smith broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute.
63' | @sophsssmith breaks the tie with a classy finish off the far post! Her third career goal makes it 1-0 at Cagan. Catch the finish on @Pac12Network
— Stanford Women's Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) September 9, 2018
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Collecting the ball from Jordan DiBiasi on the left flank, Smith turned past Brianna Pinto to create space and fired it off the far post past the goalkeeper Bailey for her third career goal. Alison Jahansouz kept Stanford in front with her fourth save in the 67th minute, but North Carolina equalized in the 78th minute with Pinto slamming home a loose ball in the box off of a free kick.
Sam Hiatt nearly scored the winner in the 88th minute before the game went to overtime. Haley's goal was her first of the season with Macario picking up her third helper of the year – Macario also picked up the second assist on Smith's goal.
DiBiasi led the team with five shots, Smith had three and three players had two apiece.
Top-ranked Stanford returns to action on Thursday when it plays host to Cal Poly at 7 p.m. PT. The Cardinal then welcomes Santa Clara to Cagan Stadium on Sunday with kickoff set for 4 p.m. PT. Thursday's game will stream live at GoStanford.com with Sunday's game airing on Pac-12 Networks.
Cardinal Notes
- Stanford's 28-game win streak ranks seventh in Division I history and is the longest since North Carolina won 31 games in a row in 2003.
- Jaye Boissiere made her first appearance since Aug. 25 as a substitute.
- Defender Tierna Davidson left the game in the 44th minute with an injury.
- Midfielder Michelle Xiao exited in the 71st minute with an injury.