STANFORD, Calif. – No. 2 Stanford coasted to a 4-0 win over Washington on Sunday afternoon at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
"I thought it was a really positive result for us," said the Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe. "We started fast and never let up and I'm really proud of the entire team. I'd also like to thank Lesle Gallimore for her friendship and everything she's done for women's soccer in her 26 years at Washington. It's sad that this is the last game I'll coach against her and I hope she stays involved in the game because women's soccer needs good people like her to continue to move forward."
The Cardinal (10-1-0, 3-0-0 Pac-12) netted three times in the opening half while Lauren Rood made three saves to earn the shutout. Carly Malatskey, Sophia Smith, Catarina Macario and Maya Doms accounted for the goals to give Stanford control of the Pac-12 title race as the only remaining undefeated team in the conference.
Stanford netted twice in the span of less than one minute to make it 2-0 after nine minutes. Malatskey slammed home the rebound from her initial shot, which was saved, and Smith doubled the lead seconds later after winning a foul in the Huskies' (6-3-2, 2-1-0) penalty area.
Washington responded with a surge forward moments later, but Rood stepped up and made a fine save to preserve Stanford's 2-0 lead. Macario scored her team-leading 15th goal of the season, another penalty kick, seconds before halftime after Washington was whistled for a handball in the box to make it 3-0.
After the break, Stanford quickly pushed the lead to four through Doms. Doms' initial attempt was blocked but the ball fell kindly to her just inside the 18-yard line and she volleyed home her second career goal. Stanford nearly made it 5-0 in the 77th minute when Sam Tran's header struck the crossbar and the Cardinal saw out the final stages of the game to earn its fifth shutout of the season and second in a row.
No. 2 Stanford returns to action on Thursday when it takes on Oregon State in Corvallis, Oregon, followed by a Noon kickoff at Oregon on Sunday. All of Stanford's remaining games will broadcast live on Pac-12 Networks.
Cardinal Notes
- Stanford's unbeaten streak in Pac-12 play extends to 32 games with its last defeat in conference action coming on Oct. 6, 2016
- Stanford's unbeaten streak at home stands at 32 games with its last home loss coming on Nov. 18, 2016.
- Macario's 125 career points rank seventh in program history. Her 46 career goals rank eighth while her 33 assists tie Julie Foudy for sixth, all-time.
- Malatskey ranks second on the team with seven goals. She has scored all eight of her career goals in her last 15 appearances, a stretch dating to Nov. 9, 2018.