STANFORD, Calif. - No. 20 Stanford bested Cal 3-2 Sunday afternoon on the Varsity Turf for a fourth straight win and 12th victory over the last 13 contests.
Stanford (12-4, 4-0 America East) also continued its dominance in the rivalry series, as the Cardinal has won 11 of the last 13 matchups overall and owns a 22-6 record against the Golden Bears spanning the last 11 seasons.
The Cardinal jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on a shifty play from sophomore Corinne Zanolli, who dribbled past the defense and fired home a strike to put the Cardinal ahead of Cal (5-10, 2-3 America East) just five minutes into the afternoon.
Cal applied pressure over the next 20 minutes, but the Bears could not break through against junior goalkeeper Kelsey Bing, who finished with a season-high 11 saves. Cal picked up three penalty corners in quick succession, but Bing came up with three key saves to maintain the lead.
Can't get past @Kelsey_Bing. ?????
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 21, 2018
This save gets the @OpusBank #12Best moment.#NCAAFH pic.twitter.com/hGjE21dBBs
After the pressure subsided, Stanford responded to earn the Cardinal's first penalty corner of the afternoon, and Nina Randolph converted it into a goal off a deflection from an attempt by Zanolli. It was the fourth goal of the season for Randolph.
Katrina Carter cut the lead in half for Cal right before the break to make it a 2-1 halftime lead for the Cardinal. It stayed 2-1 for most of the second half before Zanolli broke through again, this time on a high shot past the keeper, for the eventual game winner. Zanolli has now scored in 11 of her past 13 games, and the junior has seven multi-goal games over that stretch to bring her team-leading total 23.
No sophomore slump for Zanolli, who puts the Cardinal ahead 1-0.
— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) October 21, 2018
2017: 1?5? goals
2018: 2?2? goals
Watch live on @Pac12Network. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/Vwb8i5JfDU
Sunday's win marked the 62nd career victory on the Varsity Turf for head coach Tara Danielson and 141st win overall as Stanford's head coach. Since Danielson became head coach in 2010, the Cardinal is 62-13 on the Varsity Turf — a remarkable 83-percent win rate — and 141-63 overall.
Stanford will resume America East play next week, traveling to UC Davis on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Cardinal returns to the Varsity Turf on Friday, Oct. 26, hosting Pacific in a 7 p.m. Senior Night clash.