STANFORD, Calif. – Catarina Macario set a pair of program records as No. 2 Stanford wrapped up a perfect run through Pac-12 play with a 4-0 win over California on Friday night at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
"I can't thank our seniors enough for the way they've carried the legacy of our program for four seasons," said the Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe. "Cal is a very good team and we're pleased with this result, but the real fun starts in a week when we open the postseason."
Macario finished with a pair of assists, the first of which gave her 17 on the season, a new program record, and the second of which gave her 42 career assists, passing Christen Press for the program record. Seniors Carly Malatskey and Sam Tran scored on Senior Night with Naomi Girma and Sophia Smith picking up the other two goals and Beattie Goad had two assists. Stanford allowed just one shot on the night, finishing with 39 attempts of its own.
A goal on Senior Night for @sam_tran ?? #GoStanford
A post shared by Stanford Women's Soccer (@stanfordwsoc) on Nov 8, 2019 at 8:50pm PST
The Cardinal (18-1-0, 11-0-0 Pac-12) finishes with a perfect record in Pac-12 play with a 41-4 goal difference in conference matches. Stanford is unbeaten in its last 41 Pac-12 contests, the seventh-longest such streak in NCAA history, and unbeaten in 38 home matches, the ninth-longest such streak in history.
In the second minute, Macario lofted a ball into the box, which was hammered home by Girma, giving Stanford a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Malatskey doubled Stanford's lead with Madison Haley and Beattie Goad picking up the assists. Goad played the ball wide the Malatskey, who smartly dragged her shot inside the near post to beat Angelina Anderson and make it 2-0.
In the 55th minute, Smith made it 3-0 with a beautiful strike from the left half of the box. Macario and Goad combined to switch the point of attack toward Smith, who unleashed a powerful shot into the right corner her for 10th goal of the season.
Tran put a bow on the night in the 74th minute with her second goal of the season. Kiki Pickett battled through multiple defenders before crossing to the head of Tran, who nodded it home from close range, making it 4-0.
Prior to the match, Stanford honored its five graduating seniors, Beattie Goad, Sam Hiatt, Carly Malatskey, Lauren Rood and Sam Tran, with Senior Day recognition.
No. 2 Stanford clinched its unprecedented fifth consecutive outright Pac-12 championship last week, the program's 14th conference championship and ninth in 11 seasons. The NCAA Selection Show will take place on Monday at 1:30 p.m. and will determine Stanford's seeding in the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinal, which has been to eight of the last 11 College Cups, earned the No. 1 overall seed in each of the last three seasons.
Cardinal Notes
- Macario's 64 points rank only behind Kelley O'Hara (65) for the single-season program record.
- Stanford's senior class enters the postseason with a 81-5-2 record, including a 46-1-2 record at home and a 42-1-2 record in Pac-12 conference play.