STANFORD, Calif. – Freshman Jasmine Aikey scored four goals, including three in the span of three minutes during the second half, to guide No. 7 Stanford (17-2-2) to a 6-0 victory over San Jose State (8-7-7) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
The four goals, which pushed Aikey's season total to nine, are the most for a Stanford player since Catarina Macario had four against Prairie View A&M on November 15, 2019 to open that NCAA Tournament run.
For Aikey, the multi-goal game is the second of her career, besting a hat trick at Oregon State on October 23 of this season.
The Palo Alto, Calif. native got the scoring started in the 31st minute when she volleyed home a shot from about 20 yards out. Sophomore Kellie Pagador was credited with the assist after winning a header near mid field.
The Cardinal stretched the lead to 2-0 in the 34th minute when Catherine Paulson was taken down in the box and earned a penalty kick. Senior Maya Doms stepped to the spot and converted the chance.
Aikey's stellar three-minute run kicked off in the 49th minute when she headed home her second goal of the night following a save from San Jose State goalkeeper Bente Pernot. Pernot turned away an initial chance from Julia Leontini, but Aikey was ready and waiting for the second opportunity to make it 3-0.
The hat trick was secured in the 51st minute when Avani Brandt played a long ball down the right wing where Samantha Williams made a run to track it down. Williams dribbled past a defender before playing a cross to the foot of Aikey who tapped it home.
With a sub waiting to replace her for the remainder of the match, Aikey got one final goal in the 52nd minute when Paige Rubinstein played her a long pass into the box and the freshman dribbled to her left and used the outside of her right foot to beat Pernot.
She finished the match with four goals scored on just five shots in 42 minutes played.
Pernot, who finished the match with 14 saves, did all she could to try to keep Stanford from extending the lead to six, but freshman Logan Smith put the final goal on the board in the 59th minute. The tally once again came on the heels of a Pernot save as she denied Lumi Kostmayer only to have Smith pounce on the rebound.
The goal was Smith's second of the season and pushed Stanford to six goals for the first time since scoring six against San Diego State on August 29, 2021.
San Jose State did not manage a shot in the first half, but put five up in the second half – forcing sophomore Haley Craig into three saves. Craig relieved starter Ryan Campbell after Campbell logged the first 57 minutes.
Stanford's offense managed the season-best six goals on 28 total shots, including 20 on frame. The Cardinal took 13 corner kicks, the most since taking 13 against San Diego State last August.
With the win, the Cardinal advances to play BYU on Thursday of next week at a time and location to be determined. If North Carolina defeats Old Dominion on Saturday, the match would be played in North Carolina. Should North Carolina drop the match on Saturday, the Cardinal would host BYU.
