STANFORD, Calif. – Graduate student Jojo Harber made her season debut on Thursday night, netting a game-winning goal at the start of the 72nd minute to hand Stanford (4-2-0) a 1-0 shutout victory over San Francisco (2-2-1) from Cagan Stadium.
The goal, the sixth of Harber's career, improved Stanford to 3-0 at home this season.
"It was a hard-fought match tonight," The Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe said after the victory. "It was great to see Jojo make an immediate impact by scoring a goal in her return from injury."
Stanford outshot the Dons 30-4 over the course of the match, finally breaking through as Harber collected a deflected ball in the box and fired a shot that bounced off the crossbar, down to the end line, and in.
72' | GOALLLLLLL ??
— Stanford Women's Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) September 10, 2021
Welcome back, @JojoHarber!
In her first match played this season, Harber has Stanford on top.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/3d30P9vcr7
The Cardinal forced USF goalkeeper Molly Eby into 13 saves on the night, and narrowly missed a second goal in the final minute of the match as Belle Briede rolled a shot past Eby only to have a Don defender slide at the final moment and clear it off the line.
Briede finished the match with five shots – including three on goal to earn a share of the team lead. Maya Doms also put three of her team-high eight shots on frame as the Cardinal finished the match with 15 shots on goal.
San Francisco's best opportunity came in the 26th minute as the Dons fired three of their four total shots in succession. Kenna Roth had the initial shot blocked by the defense, with the rebound settling at the foot of Kaylin Lunsford. Lunsford's shot was batted away by Katie Meyer before Jayd Sprague sent a follow-up off the crossbar – ultimately allowing Stanford to clear the danger.
Meyer finished the match with the one save while recording her 17th career shutout. The shutout total ranks ninth in Stanford history – surpassing Erica Holland's 16 clean sheets from 2004-07.
In addition to the 30 shots, Stanford also managed 11 corner kicks in the match.
The Cardinal, which opened a six-match home stand on Thursday, will return to action on Sunday when it hosts LMU at 1 p.m. from Cagan Stadium.