STANFORD, Calif. – Fifth-year player Maya Doms netted the game-winner in the first of two overtime periods on Friday afternoon, sending No. 3 Stanford (19-0-4) to the College Cup by way of a 2-1 victory over No. 15 Nebraska (17-4-3) from Cagan Stadium.
The berth in the College Cup is the 11th in program history, including the first for Stanford since its run to the national title in 2019. Stanford has won three national titles (2011, 2017, 2019), including two of the last six overall.
The Cardinal got on the board first in the quarterfinal match, benefitting from a Nebraska own goal in the 11th minute. Allie Montoya sent a cross toward the far post where it was headed back toward the middle of goal by Andrea Kitahata. Freshman Joelle Jung tapped the ball toward goal and Nebraska's Gwen Lane tried to clear the line only to have her clearance find the top corner of the net.
The Cardinal closed the first half with a 9-4 advantage in shots, and forced Nebraska goalkeeper Samantha Hauk into four saves, but was unable to extend the lead after the first 45 minutes.
Stanford, which finished with 68% of the possession on the afternoon, continued to control the match in the second half, but Nebraska drew even with just three minutes left in regulation. The Cardinal was whistled for a foul just on the Nebraska attacking side of the field. Lauryn Anglim played a short pass to Jordan Zade, who sent a 50-50 ball into the box. Ryan Campbell came off her line to try to make a play on the ball, but Sarah Weber got a flick on with her head and sent her shot into the top corner of the goal for the equalizer.
Campbell finished the match with three saves while facing 12 Nebraska shots.
Showing resilience, Stanford opened the first overtime period with a flurry, earning the winner off the foot of Doms in the 95th minute. It was Montoya once again who set up the play, dribbling down the sideline and sending a cross into the box where Jasmine Aikey got a heel-flick on to an unmarked Doms near the back post.
The goal was Doms' 10th of the year, including her second game-winner, and her fourth career postseason goal.
Stanford advances to the College Cup where it will play No. 1 seed BYU on Friday, December 1 at a time to be determined.
GAME NOTES
- The Cardinal is making its 32nd NCAA Tournament appearance, including its 25th in the last 26 seasons
- With Friday's victory, Stanford has reached the NCAA College Cup for the 10th time in the last 16 seasons - including the first since the 2019 national championship season
- With USC dropping a match to BYU on November 16 in the second round, Stanford is the last Pac-12 school standing in the 2023 NCAA Tournament
- The Cardinal has compiled a 69-23-8 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play
- Stanford is 56-4-5 all-time in postseason games hosted on The Farm, and has won 16 straight (last loss: 1-0 (2OT) vs. Santa Clara on November 18, 2016) ... is 44-1-2 over the last 47 postseason home games dating back to 2008
- Stanford has allowed one goal or fewer in 35 straight matches dating back to Sept. 29, 2022 at USC
- Stanford is unbeaten in 29 straight home matches at Cagan Stadium dating back to October 3, 2021
- Stanford owns a 113-5-9 record at Cagan Stadium since the start of the 2014 season
- Stanford went 13-0-1 at Cagan Stadium this season and outscored the opposition 36-5
- The Cardinal has managed unbeaten home slates in six of the last 10 seasons
- Stanford improves to 8-0-0 in games decided by one goal
- Now 19-0-4 to start the season, and with the 2022 campaign coming to an end via a penalty kick shootout, the Cardinal is unbeaten in its last 35 matches (29-0-6) and has posted 19 shutouts in the last 31 contests
- The Cardinal has played to a 437-204 advantage in shots and has outscored the opposition 51-10
- With an assist on Friday, Jasmine Aikey has contributed a point in 16 of the 23 matches this season
- Maya Doms has scored in 10 of 23 matches, including four of the last six and seven of the last 13
- Stanford improves to 7-0-3 this season against ranked opponents