STANFORD, Calif. – History was made and honored on Thursday night at Cagan Stadium as No. 3 Stanford defeated Boston College 2-0 to improve to 8-1-1 on the season, including 2-0-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The victory was No. 400 on The Farm for Stanford’s Knowles Family Director of Women’s Soccer, and came on a night that the Cardinal honored Kelley O’Hara ahead of her induction into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night.
With the loss, Boston College dropped to 4-3-4 overall and 0-2-1 in ACC play.
Having not played since a 6-0 victory at Pitt on September 14, Stanford returned to the pitch and generated plenty of opportunities, but faced some struggles finishing. The Cardinal recorded a 36-5 advantage in shots, but led just 1-0 entering the 77th minute.
Furthermore, the Cardinal’s opening tally was a result of relentless pursuit from Jasmine Aikey, and a bit of good fortune. Aikey closed ground on a pass intended for BC goalkeeper Olivia Shippee in the 11th minute and blocked Shippee’s attempted clearance, sending the ricochet back toward goal and into the net.
For Aikey, the goal was her team-best eighth of the season.
Stanford finally added some breathing room on its 32nd shot of the night when Aikey played a ball out to Andrea Kitahata on the left wing. With the clock entering the 77th minute, the redshirt senior cut to her right before uncorking a right-footed shot that snuck inside the far post for her sixth tally of the year.
Freshman goalkeeper Caroline Birkel secured her first career solo shutout, making one save on the lone Boston College shot on frame.
The Cardinal will return to action on Sunday when it hosts Syracuse at 1 p.m. from Cagan Stadium.
GAME NOTES:
- Paul Ratcliffe’s record sits at 400-73-42 at Stanford – good for an .817 win percentage
- The 36 shots are the most for Stanford since taking 38 in a 4-1 victory vs. Cal Poly on September 4, 2022
- The Cardinal owns a 54-7-9 overall record over its last 70 matches
- Stanford has conceded just seven goals so far this season, has posted five shutouts, and has managed a clean sheet in 37 of its last 66 contests overall
- The Cardinal owns a 126-7-10 record at Cagan Stadium since the start of the 2014 season
- Jasmine Aikey has contributed at least a point in eight of the first 10 matches this season … has a goal in six of the 10 contests this season ... leads the team in total points with 19 (team-high eight goals and three assists) and has contributed three game-winners ... recorded her fourth career match featuring a goal and an assist, including her first since November 10, 2023 vs. Pepperdine
- Andrea Kitahata has a point in nine of the 10 matches this year ... has scored in three straight contests, and four of the last five overall ... ranks second on the team in points with 18 (six goals and six assists)
- Boston College goalkeeper Olivia Shippee finished the match with 10 saves