CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 13 Stanford battled all game long, taking on the two-time defending national champions and No. 1 North Carolina, but couldn't find the back of the net, falling 2-0 in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
The Cardinal concludes its season with an overall record of 11-3, including a 6-2 mark in conference play, and its fourth America East championship in the last five years. Stanford also won its third NCAA Tournament game in program history, defeating Miami (OH) in the first round on Friday. The result marked the first time Stanford had been shutout all season long.
The game was hard fought and featured a high tempo from the opening whistle. Neither team gave an inch, and both squads were adept at locking down the other in the defensive third of the field. The game's first shot on goal came from Juli Porto, who scored twice in Stanford's opening round victory, in the eighth minute.
After both teams traded possession in the midfield, the Tar Heels went on the attack near the end of the first period, peppering in four shots in the span of 80 seconds, but the Cardinal defense was up to the task, with Hannah Santos collecting two saves to keep the game knotted 0-0 after 15 minutes.
Stanford had another chance early in the second period, as Corinne Zanolli, the nation's second-leading goal scorer, hammered a missile that angled just wide of the cage. Stanford continued to withstand some dangerous moments, clogging up the UNC offense, but the Tar Heels broke through on their third penalty corner of the afternoon in the 23rd minute for a 1-0 lead that they would take into halftime.
After the Cardinal was unable to generate the offense it needed in the third period, while still holding the Tar Heels at bay, Stanford began to ignite thing more in the closing minutes, knowing it needed the equalizer. A long shot in the 52nd minute from the Cardinal that appeared to find the back of the cage was rule inconclusive upon video review, and UNC would wind up doubling its lead with just over three minutes to play. The Cardinal responded with a flurry of shots in the waning moments of the game, but were denied each time by UNC.
Santos finished the game with a career-high six saves, while Zanolli, Kaylie Mings and Porto combined for Stanford's six shots on the day.