The second-ranked Stanford women’s soccer team leads the nation in scoring. That’s usually the case when you score 22 goals within a three-match time frame. It will be a little harder to penetrate the Santa Clara defense but the Cardinal is willing to give it a shot.
Stanford (6-1) and the Broncos (3-4-1) meet at 7:30 p.m. inside Stevens Stadium, which for the first 53 years of its existence was known as Buck Shaw Stadium, at 7:30 p.m.
For nonconference rivalries, this is one of the more intense. The teams usually meet during the early rounds of the NCAA tournament, which is a shame given the tradition of both programs.
Early in the series, it was rather one-sided, with Santa Clara dominating the action. Since about 2002, though, Stanford held its own and even went on a nice winning streak.
Stanford’s last match against the Broncos ended in heartbreak, with Santa Clara bagging a goal in double overtime in a second-round NCAA Tournament game at Cagan Stadium last November.
Stanford has an 18-20-5 (.477) all-time record against the Broncos.
The Cardinal recently completed a four-game home stand, outscoring opponents by 26-0 over the four games. Stanford’s 22 goals over its last three matches is a program record.
Redshirt junior Kyra Carusa and freshman Catarina Macario have combined for 15 goals and 35 total points over Stanford’s first seven matches.
They’ve combined to score more than 236 Division I teams this season. Their 15 goals are more than 278 Division I teams.
Macario has been impressive starting her college career. She doesn’t appear to have an ‘off’ switch.
She managed, during a brief, 30-second conversation inside the Arrillaga Family Sports Center earlier in the week, to convey a bubbly, sparkling personality.
Menlo School grad Jaye Boissiere has started six of the first seven games and ranks third on with nine points on three goals and three assists.
During the 2016 regular season, Santa Clara visited Cagan Stadium with the Cardinal coming out on top, 2-1, thanks to goals from Jordan DiBiasi and Sam Tran.
Next week, Stanford travels to Pullman, Washington, to visit Washington State for the Pac-12 opener, which will broadcast live on Pac-12 Networks.
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Stanford Athletics