WEST POINT, N.Y. — No. 4/6 Stanford battled hard but could not overcome a first quarter deficit, falling to Army West Point, 12-9, on the road at Michie Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Army started the stronger of the two sides, grabbing the first goal of the contest after the Cardinal failed to register a shot on its opening possession as Allison Reilly got her first of the quarter to give Army a 1-0 lead. Stanford, which registered five shots during the quarter, was unable to direct any on goal while on the other end Reilly gave the hosts a three-goal lead with a first quarter hat trick to stun the visitors.
Stanford came out swinging in the second quarter, carving into the deficit with two-consecutive goals as Aliya Polisky got the visitors on the board on the man-up for her 37th of the season. Just over a minute later, Ava Arceri connected to get her first of the day on a behind-the-back bouncer to put Stanford within distance.
AVA! BTB! WHAT CAN'T SHE DO!
— Stanford Lacrosse (@StanfordWLax) March 26, 2025
Arceri puts it behind the back, off the turf, and into the netting to get us back in this one!#GoStanford x #Together pic.twitter.com/WVZtfGe0kr
Having given up two of the following three goals, Lexi Rodell connected for her 13th of the season before Arceri grabbed another on the afternoon to level the scoreline at 5-5. Needing a stop, the Cardinal relied on goalkeeper Lucy Pearson to control the chaos as the junior stonewalled the Black Knights in the final seconds of the half to keep the scoreline level. Pearson ended the afternoon with six saves.
LUCY!
— Stanford Lacrosse (@StanfordWLax) March 26, 2025
(that's it. that's the tweet.) pic.twitter.com/0wTVmj5JWZ
Having started out as the stronger side to open regulation, Army came out and struck first blood to open the half with a Chloe Garrett tally. However, Stanford doubled down with two of its own, courtesy of a Rylee Bouvier free-position goal and Rodell’s second tally of the afternoon, to take its first lead of the afternoon. Army, though, struck back with the final two goals of the frame to take a one-goal lead into the fourth quarter.
Army, which grabbed a sliver of momentum scored twice within the first three minutes of the final frame, tallying consecutive goals within 17 seconds to take a three-goal lead before amassing a game-high, four-goal lead with 8:45 left.
Stanford clawed back in the final five minutes as Polisky grabbed her second goal of the contest with just over four minutes remaining in regulation to give the visitors life. Under a minute later, Polisky completed the hat trick, grabbing her 39th of the season to cut the deficit to two with 3:28 remaining while drawing a yellow card on Army. However, with the advantage, Stanford was unable to connect as the Cardinal could not complete the comeback bid, falling 12-9.
The Cardinal is back in action this weekend with an ACC matchup against the Louisville Cardinals. Opening draw from Louisville, Ky. is slated for 9 a.m. PT.