STANFORD, Calif. – An early break went Pacific's way, Stanford wasn't able to score any of its opportunities and the Tigers came away with a 1-0 win over the Cardinal at Cagan Stadium on Thursday night.
The result was Stanford's first loss in 363 days and ended its program-record unbeaten streak at 21 consecutive matches.
Pacific (5-2-1) scored what ultimately proved to be the winner in the 17th minute when Charles Brewah sent in a long ball from the right side. Camden Riley got a touch on it to Jonathan Jimenez, who was jostling with Cardinal defender Ryan Ludwick for position just above the box on the other half of the field. Ludwick made a turn to force Jimenez outside, but his inside foot slipped and the freshman fell to the turf. Jimenez used the space to fire his left-footed goal to the top left corner past a diving Andrew Thomas.
"We slipped on one ball and a guy had one shot," Cardinal head coach Jeremy Gunn said. "I can't even remember Andrew [Thomas] doing anything else the entire game. And yet we managed to hit a keeper in the face and miss chances even though we had enough to win it 5-1. Especially in the second half we thoroughly deserved to be winning the game never mind tying it up."
Pacific, which had five shots in the match, didn't manage another on frame after its goal until Cooper Riley tried from distance in the 86th minute. The Tigers' early tally, however, ended a Cardinal (3-1-3) stretch of seven consecutive clean sheets at home dating back to last season.
Stanford managed 13 shots and put five on target and had its best flurries in the second half. In the 63rd minute Logan Panchot was the catalyst for a pair of chances. Zach Ryan headed in his cross wide and an ensuing loose ball in the box fell at Ryan's feet, but the striker's shot was saved by Pacific keeper Mateo Gomez.
In the 78th it was redshirt senior Collin Liberty who came close to equalizing after Adam Mosharrafa headed it down to the top of the six. Gomez came off his line and Liberty's right-footed stab deflected off the goalkeeper's face and wide of the goal. Three minutes later Panchot had a chance from the center of the box, but his sweeping, right-footed kick sent the ball a foot over the crossbar.
The loss was Stanford's first since Sept. 23, 2017 at Saint Louis (2-0) and also its first home loss since Sept. 9, 2017 against Tulsa (2-0), snapping the program's home unbeaten streak at 12 matches.
"No not whatsoever," Gunn said about losses perhaps helping his team refocus as it turns the page to conference play. "We've already tied three games. We need wins. It's as simple as that. It's not going to get any easier."
The Cardinal, the four-time defending conference champions, hosts San Diego State for its Pac-12 opener next Thursday at 5 p.m.
