Freshman Jordan DiBiasi is making a habit of scoring crucial goals.
The midfielder scored twice Thursday night to propel the Stanford women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over BYU at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
Four of DiBiasi’s five goals this season have been game-winners. It is the second time this year DiBiasi got the better of the Cougars after scoring the game-winner in a 1-0 regular-season win on Sept. 7 at Stanford.
Though, this time, her game-winner sends Stanford to the third round of the NCAA tournament. Arizona, which beat Santa Clara, 2-0, earlier in the day, will play the Cardinal for a berth into the Elite Eight.
Stanford has advanced to at least the third round for the 10th consecutive season and it’s also the 27th consecutive game the Cardinal has advanced to the next round of the tournament when playing at home.
“To score two goals against BYU is amazing,” said Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe. “She’s been phenomenal all year and just consistent. Happy to see her getting a big reward and critical goals for us.”
Stanford started the game strong and held a 4-1 advantage in shots through the first 25 minutes.
DiBiasi broke through in the 28th minute when she unleashed a quality right-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box to the upper left corner of the goal on a half volley after a failed clearance by BYU’s defense.
“We played BYU earlier this season and they’re an awesome team and they played us really well,” said DiBiasi. “We knew what we were going up against and knew we needed to bring it.”
Stanford did just that and continued to control a majority of the pace of play until the final five minutes of the first half. The Cougars began to increase its offensive pressure with its attackers staying higher on the Cardinal’s defense.
BYU’s aggressive style bridged the halftime break as it came out to a quick start in the second half and leveled the score at 1-1 on a penalty kick in the 46th minute by Bizzy Phillips.
The Cougars fed off the momentum following the goal but Stanford’s defense made sure that was all BYU would get. The backline did well to halt BYU runs through the middle of the field and Jane Campbell made five saves in net to limit the Cougars to one goal.
DiBiasi would not be denied her second game-winner of the season against the Cougars and found the back of the net for a second time in the 75th minute. DiBiasi got the goal, but it was Kyra Carusa who made it happen. Carusa challenged her defender down the right edge of the penalty box and battled to create space to send a cross to DiBiasi.
“They’re resilient, they’re competitive and they’re winners,” said Ratcliffe. “They wanted to bounce back and that’s a really strong sign going forward. The disappointment of conceding a goal early and to bounce back and get the victory – I was really proud of that.”
Stanford freshmen have accounted for three of four goals for the Cardinal during the NCAA Tournament. The one goal the freshman class did not score was an own goal by San Jose State.
“What’s really special about this team is we have this belief in each other in that we’re going to win the game so no matter what happens we’re able to regroup, collect ourselves and go back out and get that goal back,” said DiBiasi.
Campbell made a crucial save in the 82nd minute when BYU’s Nadia Gomes lofted in a cross to Ashley Hatch who headed a shot to the far post. Campbell made a leaping save to her left to parry the ball away from the front of the goal.
The Cardinal chewed up minutes off the clock the remainder of the game by controlling possession mainly in the offensive corners of the field.
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics
By Stanford Athletics