STANFORD, Calif. – No. 1 Stanford allowed just one shot in an impressive 2-0 win over No. 18 Penn State on Sunday afternoon at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
"Penn State is a quality opponent and we knew that, coming into today," said the Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe. "I applaud out student-athletes for the composure, focus and execution. I feel like we are a much-improved team from the start of the season and am proud of our players for way they continue to find ways to improve."
The Cardinal (21-1-0, 11-0-0 Pac-12) dominated possession for 90 minutes, outshooting the Nittany Lions (17-7-1, 9-3-0 Big Ten), 35-1 – Penn State's only shot of the game was a blocked free kick in the 83rd minute. Catarina Macario pushed her program-record tally to 30 goals and Maya Doms added an insurance goal in the second half as Stanford extended its win streak to 16 and unbeaten streak at home to 41 games.
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Stanford was relentless from the opening whistle but needed 30 minutes to finally put the ball in the back of the net after a bevy of chances in the opening stages. In the 18th minute, Kennedy Wesley picked out Carly Malatskey with a perfect ball to the far post and Malatskey forced a diving save from Amanda Dennis, one of 12 on the day.
In the 30th minute, Macario picked up the ball in the middle third of the pitch and charged into space toward the Nittany Lions' penalty area. She unleashed a powerful shot from 20 yards, beating Dennis to the top corner to give Stanford a 1-0 lead entering halftime.
In the 65th minute, Doms doubled the lead, essentially putting the game to rest. The Cardinal pressured Penn State into a poor clearance, which fell to the feet of Doms, whose shot took a wicked deflection past the sprawling Dennis to make it 2-0.
Top-seeded Stanford hosts its third straight NCAA Quarterfinal on Friday at 3 p.m. when it plays host to undefeated Brigham Young. Should it win Friday, Stanford would advance to its eighth College Cup in 12 seasons and ninth in program history.
Cardinal Notes
- During its current 16-game win streak, Stanford is outscoring its opposition, 67-6.
- Stanford has a 21-0 goal difference in the postseason and a 93-10 goal difference on the season.
- Stanford's 93 goals are a program record.
- Stanford has earned 12 shutouts in its last 13 games.
- Macario is the 20th player in history to score 30 goals and the first since Maya Hayes scored 31 in 2011.
- Macario is the fifth player since 2000 to score 30 goals in a season.
- Macario is the only player in program history to score 30 goals. She trails only Christen Press (183 points, 71 goals) for the most goals and points in program history.
- Stanford's 41-game home unbeaten streak is the seventh-longest such streak in NCAA history. Since Nov. 18, 2016, Stanford has outscored its opponents 156-11 at home during the streak.
- Stanford has allowed two or less shots in 16-of-22 matches.