SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Playing to a 30-5 advantage in shots, No. 8 Stanford recorded a 2-0 shutout victory at Syracuse on Thursday night in ACC play.
With the win, the Cardinal improved to 8-2-2 overall, including 2-2-1 in the ACC. Syracuse dropped to 4-7-2 on the season, including 1-5-0 in the conference.
The Cardinal broke the scoreless match in the 23rd minute as junior Bella Winn played a ball forward for senior Charlotte Kohler as she broke through the Syracuse back line. Kohler sent her cross toward the penalty spot and junior Eleanor Klinger provided the cheeky redirect toward the back post and in for her second goal of the season.
Klinger, who played for England at the U20 World Cup, was making her first start of the season.
Stanford had a golden opportunity to double the lead in the final minute of the first half, but Syracuse goalkeeper Maya Naimoli tipped a driven shot from Y-Lan Nguyen over the bar for her second save of the night.
Despite the lopsided shot totals, the Cardinal managed to put just seven of its 30 shots on frame – forcing Naimoli into five saves.
Stil leading 1-0 in the 65th minute, the Cardinal finally converted on its 14th corner kick opportunity of the night as freshman Peyton Marinos punched her shot into the goal following a scramble in front of the net.
The goal was Marinos’ third of the season, and Stanford finished the match with a 16-0 advantage in corner kicks.
While the Cardinal defense limited Syracuse to just five total shots in the match, sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Birkel made a huge one-on-one save in the 76th minute to deny Syracuse’s Leda Naihin and secure her fifth shutout of the season.Â
Birkel, who made two saves on the night, has yet to allow a goal this year while logging 495 minutes.
The Cardinal will return home next week, hosting rival California on Friday, October 16 at 7 p.m. from Cagan Stadium.
MATCH NOTES:
- Stanford is now 2-0 with a pair of shutouts in program history against Syracuse after posting a 4-0 victory on Sept. 28, 2025
- The Cardinal is 75-10-12 over its last 97 matches and has managed a clean sheet in 50 of its last 93 contests, including each of the last three and nine of the first 12 matches this season … has outscored the opposition 93-25 over its last 29 matches
- Caroline Birkel posted her fifth shutout of the season and her eighth career shutout
- Eleanor Klinger managed a goal and an assist in her first start of the season … is her fourth career match with at least one goal and an assist (last: 2 goals, 2 assists vs. BYU on Nov. 24, 2025)
- Charlotte Kohler managed an assist and has a point in nine of the 12 matches this season … has contributed on 12 of Stanford’s 29 goals this year while totaling 19 points (7 goals, 5 assists) ... has managed 50 goal contributions in her career (24 goals, 26 assists)
- Peyton Marinos is tied for third on the team in goals with three
- Bella Winn has contributed 11 points (3 goals, 5 assists) this season