CARY, N.C. – In the first battle of two undefeated teams in the NCAA Women's College Cup national championship history, No. 3 Stanford (20-1-4) dropped a 5-1 decision to No. 1 Florida State (22-0-1) on Monday from WakeMed Soccer Park.
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The Cardinal, which had not allowed more than one goal in 36 straight matches dating back to September 29, 2022, surrendered a penalty kick goal in the 29th minute before conceding a second less than 30 seconds later.
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Trailing 2-0 headed into the second half, Stanford got a spark from fifth-year captain Maya Doms in the 52nd minute. Sophomore Jasmine Aikey made a penetrating run into the box before laying off a pass for Andrea Kitahata. Doms called for the ball and received a pass across the top of the box, cutting to her right and delivering her shot into the back of the net.
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The goal was the first allowed by Florida State in the postseason and was Doms' fourth of the 2023 NCAA tournament.
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Refusing to surrender any momentum, the Seminoles responded with a goal in the 58th minute and added two more down the stretch to eventually earn the 5-1 victory.
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Following the match, Doms and freshman Shae Harvey were named to the Women's College Cup All-Tournament team.
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Completing its 11th run at the College Cup, Stanford finishes as the national runner-up for the third time (2009, 2010). The 2023 season also marks the end of Stanford's tenure in the Pac-12 as it will join Florida State in the ACC for the 2024 campaign.
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GAME NOTES:
- The five goals allowed are the most surrendered by Stanford since dropping a 5-0 match to BYU on November 11, 2000 in the NCAA tournament second round
- The Cardinal made its 32nd NCAA Tournament appearance, including its 25th in the last 26 seasons
- Stanford reached the NCAA College Cup final for the sixth time in program history - including the first since the 2019 national championship season
- With USC dropping a match to BYU on November 16 in the second round, Stanford was the last Pac-12 school standing in the 2023 NCAA Tournament
- The Cardinal has compiled a 70-24-8 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play
- The loss also ended Stanford's 36-match unbeaten streak (30-0-6)
- With an assist on Monday, Jasmine Aikey contributed a point in 18 of the 25 matches this season
- Maya Doms scored in 12 of 25 matches this year, including each of the final three, six of the last eight and nine of the last 15 … she finishes the year as Stanford's leading scorer with 12 goals
- Stanford finishes the year 8-1-3 this season against ranked opponents