STANFORD, Calif. - A goal in the 90th minute secured a late result for No. 3 Stanford on Wednesday evening, as the Cardinal battled Bay Area foe San Jose State to a 2-2 draw at Spartan Soccer Complex.
Stanford (6-1-1) extended a 19-year undefeated streak against the Spartans (4-1-2) with the tie, moving to 10-0-3 in the series during that span.
“I’m proud of how we fought back on a night where it wasn’t quite there for us,” said Jeremy Gunn, the Knowles Family director of men’s soccer. “Yet again, we saw the mentality, the drive, and the fight of our team came through."
Stanford got to its attack early by putting each of its first three shots on frame, breaking through just three minutes in as Alfonso Tenconi-Gradillas flicked a header inside the back post on a set-piece chance. Joshua Partal provided the assist from the corner flag.
Stanford controlled the next 20 minutes while pressing for a second goal but couldn’t convert, leaving the door open in the 24th minute when San Jose State's Arnold Matshazi’s right-footed strike found its way through traffic and into the back of the net to tie the match.
Both sides reached a stalemate for the remainder of the first half, as the teams went into the locker room tied 1-1.
Momentum swung in the Spartans’ favor after the break as Matshazi struck again in the 54th minute, finishing in the top-right corner after receiving a cross at the top of the goal area to give San Jose State a 2-1 lead.
Stanford scrambled to create chances throughout the second half, earning several corner kicks but was unable to translate them into threatening chances. As the clock continued to tick away, the Cardinal forced one last corner kick chance with under a minute left.
Partal again stepped up to take the corner, delivering the ball to the front post where Tenconi-Gradillas was waiting to head it into the roof of the cage for the game-tying goal with 37 seconds remaining.
With little time left, San Jose State had no chance to respond, and the match ended in a draw.
Stanford finished with a 17-6 advantage in shots, including five on goal, and held an 8-2 edge in corner kicks. With the brace, Tenconi-Gradillas became the first Stanford player to record multiple braces in a season since Zach Bohane in 2023.
“They’re a very good team, but we’ve got to have more intensity in what we’re doing,” Gunn said. “Well done for the comeback, but we’ve got to rest up and be sharper come Sunday.”
The Cardinal hosts Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. PT on Sunday, Sept. 21 for its first ACC home match of the season, kicking off a three-game homestand at Cagan Stadium. Tickets are available here.