Sophomore All-American candidate Andi Sullivan scored in the 73rd minute and freshman Alana Cook converted less than seven minutes later as the Stanford women’s soccer team avoided a major upset to beat host Hawai’i, 2-1, in the season opener for both teams.
The Cardinal stays in Honolulu to play BYU on Monday night as part of the Outriggers Resort Classic. The 19th-ranked Cougars beat California, 2-0, earlier in the day.
Sullivan had her penalty shot blocked by Hawai’i goalie Monk Berger, but the ball bounced free and last year’s national Freshman of the Year alertly followed with the tying goal.
Cook completed a sequence that began with a Haley Rosen corner kick and another block on Sullivan. Cook picked up possession and drove it home.
Hawai’i, picked to finish eighth in the Big West Conference after going 7-10-1 last season, was less than 20 minutes away from handing the Cardinal its first opening loss since a 2-1 setback to Utah in 2006.
Berger was a big reason the Cardinal failed to break through in the first 72:35 of the contest. Stanford got off 13 shots in the second half, seven on goal. The junior keeper recorded seven saves on the night.
In contrast, Hawai’i could not get a shot off after halftime, partly because of its defensive mindset and partly because of the Cardinal’s stifling defense. Goalie Jane Campbell only needed to make one save in the game.
The Rainbow Wahine did in 31 seconds what it took Stanford opponents 893 minutes, 58 seconds to do last year. Hawai’i’s Sonest Furtado shocked the Cardinal with a goal early in the contest, forcing the nation’s third-ranked team to play catch-up the rest of the way.
Stanford opened last year with a school record nine consecutive shutouts before allowing a goal to Utah early in the second half of game No. 10.
The Cardinal took 10 shots in the first half, two on goal, led by freshman Michelle Xiao’s five shots, while Hawai’i had four shots.
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports