STANFORD, Calif. - A 64th-minute goal from Alfonso Tenconi-Gradillas was all No. 12 Stanford needed to advance on Sunday evening, as the Cardinal defeated Kansas City 1–0 in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship.
An overwhelming offensive attack and a rock-solid defensive performance lifted Stanford (14-3-2) to victory, as the Cardinal outshot Kansas City 18-6 with a 13-2 advantage on corner kicks.
"Great performance from our guys," said Jeremy Gunn, the Knowles Family Director of Men's Soccer. "I thought we were on top from the first whistle and put them under a lot of pressure. We couldn't find the final touch in the first half but we kept pushing, scored off a set piece, and then I thought we saw the game out really well."
While shots were limited in the opening stages, Stanford established control of the contest by earning nine corner kicks in the first 45 minutes. The Cardinal's most best look came in the 11th minute, as a Will Cleary header forced a leaping save off a corner opportunity.
Despite Stanford's control of possession, which resulted in six shots to Kansas City's two in the first half, the two sides headed into the locker rooms in a scoreless deadlock.
Stanford picked up the tempo out of the break and began to stretch the Roos defense, highlighted by a pair of strong chances from Fletcher Bank in the 56th minute. After Zach Bohane cross was punched away by the Kansas City goalkeeper, Bank's initial strike was blocked, and his follow-up attempt sailed just over the crossbar.
Still, Stanford's sustained presence in the attacking zone proved to be a difference-maker, and would ultimately allow the Cardinal to break through in the 64th minute. Awarded a free kick from 30 yards out, Jack Pymm deliverd a brilliant service into the box and found a streaking Tenconi-Gradillas for a tap-in at the front post.
"We had a big emphasis this week on having eyes for the ball on those set pieces," Tenconi-Gradillas said. "I had a feeling it was going to land there, and I'm just happy I was able to get something on it."
Stanford continued to create chances and generate numbers in transition as it searched for a second goal, but it was the defense who kept Kansas City at bay down the stretch to seal the result.
Kansas City's lone serious chance came in the 89th minute, when Jeremy Francou found space at the back post but sent his shot high, and the clock hit zeroes shortly thereafter.
Stanford will remain at home for the third round of the NCAA tournament, hosting former Pac-12 foe Washington after the Huskies knocked off fifth-seed SMU 1–0.
"It will be a fantastic matchup," Gunn said. "They're a great soccer team and we've had such a tradition of great matches with each other, so let's bring it on."
The Cardinal will welcome Washington to Cagan Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. PT. Tickets to next weekend's third round matchup can be purchased here.