Emphatic FinishEmphatic Finish
Jim Shorin/Stanford Athletics
Women's Soccer

Emphatic Finish

TEMPE, Ariz. – No. 1 Stanford completed an undefeated regular season with a 4-1 win against Arizona State on Sunday at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.

The Cardinal (17-0-2, 10-0-1) was led by Jordan DiBiasi, who netted two goals for the second straight game. Civana Kuhlmann had one goal and one assist, Belle Briede scored with Jojo Harber and Sam Hiatt picking up one assist apiece. Lauren Rood (4-0-0) finished with two saves to earn the win while Stanford's program-record unbeaten streak stands at 41 games entering the postseason.

Sunday's fixture was originally scheduled for Oct. 13 but was postponed due to inclement weather and field conditions – the game kicked off less than 48 hours after Stanford's Pac-12 championship-clinching 2-0 win in Berkeley, California, on Friday.

DiBiasi's fabulous form continued after scoring both of Stanford's goals in a 2-0 win at Cal on Friday. In the sixth minute, DiBiasi tested goalkeeper Nikki Panas from the top of the box, forcing a difficult save. Lauren Rood, making her fourth start of the season, made a tremendous diving save two minutes later to deny Marleen Schimmer on the counter attack.

The teams exchanged half chances before DiBiasi opened the scoring with a perfect free kick from 25 yards. The senior drilled a right-footed shot beyond the reach of Panas into the top corner for her eighth goal of the season.

DiBiasi doubled her tally shortly after the break in the 50th minute. Civana Kuhlmann collected Jojo Harber's throw-in and played a sublime back heel to DiBiasi, who slammed it inside the far post to make it 2-0. The goal would prove to be the game winner and the 14th such goal of DiBiasi's career.

Six minutes later, Belle Briede made it 3-0. Hiatt played it to Briede, who charged forward and cut onto her left foot before placing it into the far corner for her second goal of the season. Immediately following Briede's goal, the Sun Devils (10-7-1, 5-5-1) struck back. Gemma Purfield's 25-yard rocket beat Rood for just the fourth goal conceded in Pac-12 play by the Cardinal.

In the 67th minute, Kuhlmann's hard work nearly resulted in another goal as she held it up in the box before firing over the crossbar. Kuhlmann got her goal, however, in the 71st minute, winning a penalty kick and slotting home past Panas to restore Stanford's three-goal lead.

Jojo Harber tested Panas from 25 yards in the 81st minute, forcing a fingertip save over the crossbar, and Lauren Rood made her second save to deny Schimmer in the 87th minute and preserve the Cardinal's advantage.

Stanford outshot Arizona State 19-8, including a 7-3 advantage in shots on goal and a 7-3 lead in corner kicks. DiBiasi and Kuhlmann led all players with four shots each while three Cardinal had two apiece.

Stanford's first-round opponent in the NCAA Tournament will be revealed tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. with the NCAA Selection Show. It will be Stanford's 28th appearance in the postseason field, having featured in 21 straight tournaments. The Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe owns a 43-11-4 record in the postseason, having guided the Cardinal to the NCAA Tournament in each of his 16 seasons on The Farm.

Cardinal Notes

  • Stanford will almost certainly be the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season.
  • It is Stanford's fourth undefeated regular season in program history (2009-11).
  • The Cardinal finished the regular season with a 51-9 goal difference.
  • It is the ninth time Stanford has gone undefeated in conference action and second season in a row.
  • Stanford's 41-game unbeaten streak is the sixth-longest in NCAA Division I history and the longest since UCLA went 44 games unbeaten from 2013-14.
  • The Cardinal's 29-game unbeaten streak in Pac-12 play is tied for the 15th-longest such streak in history.
  • Alana Cook and Jordan DiBiasi are the only Cardinal to start all 19 matches.