STANFORD, Calif. — Liv Martin and Nadine Brenninkmeyer each bagged a brace while Daisy Ford and Kendall Dowd combined for a shutout as the Stanford Field Hockey team downed Ball State, 6-0, from Varsity Field Hockey Turf on Thursday afternoon.
Beginning its four-game homestand with a midweek matinee, the Cardinal started on the back foot as Ball State looked to open the scoring in the first quarter. Having failed to generate chances in the opening few minutes, Ball State amassed a 4-1 advantage in shots before a late resurgence from the Cardinal edged the shot total in favor of the hosts. For her troubles in the early going Ford recorded one save on one shot on frame.
It was the lone save of her afternoon.
“I was not happy with the way we started, but I thought our emotional intelligence to be able to build through the remaining quarters was noteworthy,” said Susan Ewing York Director of Women’s Field Hockey head coach Roz Ellis.
Ford, and her, defense rarely saw the Cardinals for her remaining 30 minutes between the posts as the Cardinal outshot Ball State 14-1 between the second and third quarters. During the run, Stanford pounced on the visitors, scoring twice in both quarters to take a 4-0 lead into the fourth.
Kickstarting the Cardinal run was Kate Nemec’s first goal of the season after picking up a loose chance inside the circle and slotting it home to give Stanford a 1-0 lead five minutes into the second quarter. Just five minutes later, Stanford capitalized off of a penalty corner with Nadine Brenninkmeyer tipping home a Mia Clark shot from the top of the circle past the Ball State goalkeeper to give the Cardinal a 2-0 lead that it saw into the half.
Out of the break, Stanford continued the barrage with two goals in 17 seconds to double its lead over the visitors. Off of a penalty corner midway through the third, Brenninkmeyer earned her brace after picking up a chance just in front of the Cardinals goal to push the Stanford lead to three. Immediately off a turnover following the ensuing pass-back, Liv Martin went solo and rifled a shot that bounced off the turf past multiple Ball State players and into the goal to increase the lead, 4-0.
“We have been building so much of our forward momentum and the bravery and risk that individuals are taking to get up in the circle is exactly what we want to see,” said Ellis. “It also has to feel good for them and seeing the work they’ve put in pay off has to feel good.”
Stanford continued its dominance in the fourth, rifling home the final two goals of the afternoon while fending off a late bid from the visitors to spoil the shutout. With over five minutes left in regulation, another blitz from the Cardinal resulted in two goals in 30 seconds to extend the lead past its bounds.
Martin, who earned her first goal of the season in the third quarter, doubled her account with a rebound attempt that found her on the back post to put Stanford ahead, 5-0. 30 seconds later, Stanford submitted the final blow with Maroussia Walckiers saving a loose ball along the end line and deking it back onto the pitch before sending it home for the final goal of the afternoon.
However, Ball State looked to try and spoil the shutout bid late in the fourth. Nearing the finale of the contest, Kendall Dowd was put to the test in her first appearance this season, stymying the Cardinals on both of their shots on goal in the waning moments as the Cardinal secured a 6-0 shutout win.