Women’s soccer wins first game of season in come-from-behind victory

After relinquishing a goal in the first minute, No. 3 Stanford women’s soccer (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) fought back with two late second-half goals to secure the 2-1 win in its first game of the 2015 season.

Sophomore Andi Sullivan (right) netted Stanford’s first and game-tying goal in the 73rd minute. Sullivan, last season’s Pac-12 and national Freshman of the Year, scored one goal and had 4 assists in 2014. (BOB DREBIN/stanfordphoto.com)

Sophomore midfielder Andi Sullivan equalized the game in the 73rd minute when she scored off of a rebound from a blocked penalty kick. Alana Cook, a freshman from Far Hills, New Jersey, netted the game-winner fewer than seven minutes later, scoring the first goal of her college career.

Despite giving up an early goal, Stanford dominated ball control throughout the entire game and put together a full-out attack on Hawaii’s defense, outshooting Hawaii 23-4, including 13-0 in the second half.

The Cardinal also held a 6-0 corner kick advantage over Hawaii.

Freshman midfielder Michelle Xiao and Sullivan notched 5 shots apiece, while fifth-year senior forward Haley Rosen had 4 and sophomore Mariah Lee had 3 off the bench.

After giving up a goal with 31 seconds on the clock, junior goalie Jane Campbell needed just 1 save the rest of the way, while Monk Berger of Hawaii had 7.

Another tough schedule stands between Stanford and another NCAA College Cup appearance, featuring strong Pac-12 opponents such as UCLA, and non-conference teams such as Penn State and BYU.

The team graduated seven of its 12 scorers from last year, including standouts Lo’eau LaBonta, Taylor Uhl and Chioma Ubogagu, who combined for 33 goals. Despite losing these stars, who helped the Cardinal go 20-2-3 in 2014 and reach the College Cup for the sixth time in the past seven years, this year’s squad still earned a No. 3 preseason ranking and has the potential to continue its historic success on the field.

Stanford’s 15 returning letterwinners, two redshirt freshmen and a top-ranked freshman class are looking to make sure that the effects of those losses aren’t felt too strongly.

Most notably, this group includes Sullivan, who earned recognition as national and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and, along with Campbell, was named to the Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List.

Junior forward Ryan Walker-Hartshorn, who scored 8 goals last season, also will be expected to step up for the Cardinal.

Their freshman class, which impressed many during the team’s exhibition against Fresno State, is poised to contribute greatly this season. Not only did Cook and Xiao stand out against Hawaii, but four of the six freshmen started in Friday’s game.

The team returns to action Monday at 10 p.m. when it takes on No. 19 Brigham Young in the last game of its Hawaii road trip before returning to the Farm for its home opener on Friday, Aug. 28.

Contact Alexa Philippou at aphil723 ‘at’ stanford.edu