STANFORD, CALIF. – A different Cardinal player has recorded a brace in each of the first four matches on the year for the Cardinal. This time it was freshman Allie Montoya whose first two career goals handed No. 12 Stanford (4-0-0) a 2-0 victory over No. 8 Penn State (3-1-1) on Thursday night from Cagan Stadium.
Montoya joins Samantha Williams, Lumi Kostmayer and Amy Sayer as Cardinal with a brace this year.
Perfect passing set up Montoya's first of the night to break the scoreless match in the 38th minute. Sophomore Andrea Kitahata played the ball to freshman Jasmine Aikey, who threaded a pass between two defenders and hit Montoya in stride headed into the box. The native of Los Altos, Calif. took one touch before slotting a shot past Penn State's goalkeeper Katherine Asman.
Montoya wasted no time getting her second career goal, punching in a rebound off a blocked shot from Maya Doms in the 56th minute. Doms' original chance bounced off a Penn State defender and fell right at the foot of Montoya who deposited it in the back of the net.
Junior goalkeeper Ryan Campbell was outstanding in the shutout victory, making five saves while facing nine total shots from the Nittany Lions. Notable saves came in the 77th and 83rd minutes as Penn State desperately searched for goals late. Campbell dove to her right to poke away a would-be goal off the head of Ellie Wheeler in the former before coming off her line and lunging once more to turn away Amelia White in the latter.
The shutout was the second of the season for Campbell as Stanford has allowed just one goal through four matches this year.
Stanford, which entered the match averaging 26.30 shots per game, fired 20 against Penn State, including putting 11 on frame and forcing Asman into nine saves.
The Cardinal will return to action on Sunday at 3 p.m. when it welcomes Cal Poly to The Farm.