Ward returns to soccer Ward returns to soccer (September 01, 2004)lineup and paces win

Cardinal women capture their 17th straight season opener; Volleyball squad will open its season on Friday in Reno tourney

by Rick Eymer

Fifth-year senior forward Marcie Ward looked as though she never took any time off, scoring two goals in Stanford's 3-0 season-opening victory over visiting Utah on Friday night in the women's soccer opener for both teams.

Ward, who missed last year with a foot injury, will be tested again on Friday when the Cardinal travel to the Notre Dame Tournament, where they will meet the Irish in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Stanford plays Southern Methodist on Sunday in South Bend.

Ward scored on her first shot attempt, 48 seconds into the game against Utah. She took a pass from senior forward Natalie Sanderson and punched it past the goalkeeper.

Ward added her second goal, and the 36th of her career, with 14:40 left in the first half.

Junior Leah Tapscott also scored, converting a shot off a double-assist from freshman Lizzy George and junior Hayley Hunt.

Stanford senior goalie Nicole Barnhart recorded one save in 81 minutes. Freshman Erica Holland finished off the shutout.

Stanford won its 17th consecutive season opener.
Field hockey

Stanford opened the season with a pair of one-goal home losses over the weekend.

The Cardinal (0-2) dropped a 3-2 decision to Hoftsra on Saturday, and lost 2-1 to Indiana on Sunday.

Indiana took a 2-0 lead in the second half before Stanford's Missy Halliday cut the margin in half when she scored an unassisted goal at 67:54.

"It's disappointing," Stanford coach Lesley Irvine said. "I thought we had some momentum at several points in the game and created opportunities, but we just need to finish. We show glimpses of what we are capable of, but we need to do that for 70 minutes. The opportunities are there, we just need to put it all together."

Ana Kralovec recorded a game-high six saves.

Stanford continued its homestand on Tuesday when Providence visited. The Cardinal host Boston University on Saturday and Louisville on Sunday, both at 1:00 p.m.

Hofstra scored in the final five minutes to win Saturday's opener.

Stanford led, 2-1, after goals by Aska Sturdevan and Jessica Zutz erased an early 1-0 deficit.

Sturdevan tied the score on a penalty corner and Zutz gave Stanford the lead with an assist from Julia Drewe.
Baseball

Former Stanford star Jeremy Guthrie made his Major League debut on Saturday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning for the Cleveland Indians in a 5-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Guthrie struck out Jose Valentin, the first batter he faced, and hit Joe Crede. He then got another former Stanford star, Joe Borchard, on an inning-ending double play.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.