FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Trailing 1-0 through the first 85 minutes of an NCAA Tournament second-round match on Friday, No. 14 Stanford (15-4-1) scored a pair of goals in the final five minutes to secure a 2-1 victory over UConn (14-5-4) and a spot in the third round.
Junior Allie Montoya proved key in both goals, dancing along the sideline and shaking a defender in the 86th minute before delivering a perfect cross into the box that found the head of Shae Harvey for the equalizer.
The goal was Harvey’s third of the season.
With the match knotted at one goal apiece and the seconds ticking down on regulation, freshman Lizzie Boamah unleashed a shot that was initially saved by UConn goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mahoney, but kicked out to Montoya who one-timed the rebound into the back of the net with 11 seconds left for her first goal of the season.
The Huskies took an early advantage in the 11th minute as Anaya Johnson picked the pocket of a Cardinal defender, took one touch and unleashed a rocket of a shot from distance into the upper left corner of the goal.
That one opportunity proved to be UConn’s only real chance in the match, as Stanford posted a 27-5 advantage in shots over the course of the contest, including a 16-0 mark in the second half. Stanford goalkeeper Haley Craig faced just two shots on frame, recording one save.
The late game-winner was the second of the year in the 90th minute for Stanford, after Lumi Kostmayer knocked off Louisville 1-0 with two seconds remaining on the clock on October 17. The Cardinal has managed four game-winners in the 80th minute or later this year.
The Cardinal will advance to face the winner of No. 2 seed Arkansas and California on Sunday at 4 p.m. PT.
GAME NOTES:
• The Cardinal is making its 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance, including its 26th in the last 27 seasons … has compiled a 72-24-8 record in NCAA Tournament play … has earned a berth in the NCAA third round in 15 of the past 19 seasons
• The Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe owns a 61-14-5 record in postseason action while at Stanford, having guided the Cardinal to the NCAA Tournament in 21 of his 22 seasons
• Stanford is unbeaten in 52 of its last 57 (45-5-7) matches overall
• Montoya recorded her first career match with at least one goal and one assist … the goal was her first since scoring in the 2023 national semifinal against then-No. 6 BYU on December 1, 2023