STANFORD, Calif. – A slow start proved costly on Sunday afternoon as No. 13 Stanford allowed a pair of goals in the first nine minutes to No. 9 Notre Dame in an eventual 2-1 setback from Cagan Stadium.
The Cardinal dropped to 10-4-2 on the season, including 4-4-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Notre Dame improved to 9-1-6 overall and 7-1-1 in the ACC.
The match was the final regular-season home contest for Stanford, which finished 7-2-1 at home in the regular season.Â
Notre Dame’s Izzy Engle immediately put the Cardinal in a hole, scoring her ninth goal of the season just 45 seconds into the contest. Morgan Roy was credited with the assist after playing a ball into the box that Engle settled at the penalty spot and bounced past Stanford goalkeeper Caroline Birkel.
The Fighting Irish would add a second goal, this one from Lily Joseph, in the ninth minute to make it 2-0. Stanford’s midfield had a breakdown on the play, leading to a quick counterattack where Joseph cut to her left and delivered a rocket into the back of the net.
The visitors would finish the first half with a 7-3 advantage in shots, controlling the pace of play in the first 45 minutes.
Regrouping at halftime, Stanford came out with a renewed energy in the second half, playing to an 8-5 advantage in shots.
Senior Mia Bhuta netted her second goal of the year in the 56th minutes, heading home a cross from Charlotte Kohler to cut the deficit to one at 2-1.
Stanford continued to push down the stretch, but Notre Dame managed to hold off the comeback bid to secure the victory.
The Cardinal will complete the regular-season schedule next week when it travels to Boston College for a 3 p.m. PT kickoff on Thursday, November 5.
MATCH NOTES:
- Stanford is now 8-9-4 all-time against Notre Dame … suffered its first loss to the Fighting Irish since 2024, and its first at home in program history (5-1-2) … is 3-3 against ranked opponents this season
- Caroline Birkel was credited with three saves in the loss
- Charlotte Kohler contributed an assist in the loss … has a point in 12 of 16 matches this season ... has contributed on 15 of Stanford’s 37 goals this year while totaling a team-high 23 points (8 goals, 7 assists) ... has managed 53 goal contributions in her career (25 goals, 28 assists)