| STATISTICS | ||
|---|---|---|
| STANFORD | UC DAVIS | |
| GOALS | 1 | 0 |
| SHOTS | 23 | 2 |
| CORNERS | 9 | 0 |
| SAVES | 5 | 1 |
| TIME OF POSS. | 52:11 (69%) | 23:28 (31%) |
| GOAL SCORERS |
Xiao, 94' |
|
STANFORD, Calif. - Michelle Xiao scored the game-winning goal on a pass from Kyra Carusa to lift No. 6 Stanford to a 1-0 overtime victory against UC Davis.
Siobhan Cox initiated the goal from the right defense position, stepping up near midfield and sending a long-ball to the right corner of the 18-yard box. Carusa chased down the long-ball to the endline, beat her defender and centered a pass to Xiao who was waiting at the center of the box near the penalty spot.
Xiao let the ball run onto her left foot and buried her team-high fifth shot of the game into the back of the net to seal the victory. She leads the team with three goals on the season.
“Kyra worked so hard to get the ball and she played the perfect ball back to me,” said Xiao. “I just saw the defender coming, took a touch and placed it.”
It is the second consecutive game a Cardinal freshman has scored an overtime winner after Tegan McGrady did so this past Sunday in a 2-1 victory against Oklahoma.
It was a game filled with near misses for Stanford (6-1), which outshot the Aggies (5-3-1) 23-2 and held a 9-0 corner kick advantage. Stanford hit the crossbar twice, courtesy of Mariah Lee in the 47th minute and Andi Sullivan in the 76th minute.
“The thing I’m most proud of is the team is playing a good brand of soccer,” said Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe. “It’s attractive attacking soccer. We’re creating opportunities but we need to have players who finish those chances.”
There were plenty of highlights that did not show up on the stat sheet for the Cardinal as well. Alison Jahansouz made her first collegiate start in goal and registered her first career save. Sarah Cox relieved Jahansouz at halftime and picked up the win, her first of the season.
Stanford shuffled the positions of quite a few players due to injuries and an attempt to get players experience in different spots. McGrady spent significant time on the left side of the defense and worked well with Xiao on the wing to generate offensive opportunities. Andi Sullivan spent time throughout the game at defender, midfielder and forward.
“Because we weren’t breaking the ice and getting that goal, I made a lot of adjustments to see if [UC Davis was] vulnerable and to see where players could step up,” said Ratcliffe. “They all did well in the different spots but we still have to score that goal.”
Siobhan Cox played the second half on the right side of the defense and did well to limit UC Davis’ attack and maintain possession, along with initiate the game-winning goal.
“Siobhan came in and did a nice job,” said Ratcliffe. “Her decision-making was fantastic and she was connecting a lot of passes. She gave us a little more composure coming out of the back. She was a good addition.”
Stanford will look to carry its momentum into its final nonconference game Sunday at 7:30 p.m. (PT) at Santa Clara. The game will be streamed live on TheW.tv.
Cardinal Notes
- Stanford has shut out its opponent in four-of-seven games. Three of its four shutouts have been by scores of 1-0.
- The Cardinal has not allowed its opponent a corner kick in five-of-seven games.
- From 32:26 to 37:53, all five of Stanford’s freshmen field players (Collins, Cook, DiBiasi, McGrady, Xiao) were on the field at the same time.
- Stanford has registered more than 20 shots in four-of-seven games.
- The Cardinal holds advantages over opponents in shots (141-29) and corner kicks (57-8).
