A freshman was involved with every scoring play, including an own goal, and the top-ranked Stanford women’s soccer team defeated visiting Oregon State, 6-0, in a Pac-12 Conference match Sunday.
In a bit of fortunate scheduling, the final three regular-season matches involve the Pac-12’s top four teams in a kind of round-robin format. Stanford (15-1, 8-0) is at UCLA (13-1-2, 6-1-1) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and at USC (13-1-1, 7-0-1) on Sunday at 3 p.m. The Cardinal hosts Cal (13-2-1, 6-1-1) on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
Cal plays at USC on Thursday and at UCLA on Sunday before meeting Stanford in the regular-season finale. USC plays at UCLA on Nov. 3.
Civana Kuhlmann and Catarina Macario led the way for Cardinal freshmen, combining on three goals and two assists. Kiki Pickett, Sophia Serafin and Belle Briede each added an assist. Briede’s crossing pass to the middle resulted in the own goal.
Kyra Carusa and Michelle Xiao also scored for Stanford, which won its 13th straight. Lauren Rood made three saves to earn her seventh shutout of the season. She has allowed one goal in 720:00 minutes, holding a 0.13 goals-against average. The Cardinal extended it scoreless streak to 693:20 minutes, dating to the Pac-12 opener a mionth ago.
The Cardinal again played without team captain Andi Sullivan, who was with the U.S. senior national team for a pair of international friendlies with South Korea. She was en route to rejoin the Cardinal.
Stanford outshot the Beavers, 28-5, including 18-3 on goal, and never looked back after Carusa’s sixth-minute score.
Michelle Xiao won a free kick on the edge of the box, setting up Macario for the service. The freshman curled it with pace to the near post, and Carusa was there to nod home her 12th of the season.
Rood smartly tipped over an Oregon State corner in the 31st minute that appeared goal-bound. Two minutes later, Xiao doubled the lead.
Jordan DiBiasi and Macario combined at the edge of the box, setting up Xiao to blast home her seventh goal of the season with her left foot.
Kuhlmann made it 3-0 in the 40th minute with the assist going to Pickett. Kuhlmann dribbled toward the edge of the box and unleashed a left-footed curler into the top corner, leaving keeper Bella Geist with no chance.
After the break, Macario scored her 12th goal of the season for Stanford’s fourth of the day. Sacred Herat Prep grad Tierna Davidson started the move from the back line, linking up with Macario and Briede to find space in the box and cross to Macario.
Macario leads the team with 33 points on the season. Entering the week, she led the Pac-12 with 24 points.
In the 71st minute, it was Briede who unlocked the Beavers’ defense with a clever run to the end line and dangerous ball in, resulting in an own goal. Sam Tran’s run in the box caused problems for Oregon State, which fell down 5-0 as a result.
Kuhlmann made it 6-0 in the 84th minute with a calm finish on the break after Serafin put her through over the top. It was Kuhlmann’s second two-goal outing in four games.
Team USA 6, Korea Republic 0
Stanford grad Christen Press scored her third goal of the year and 44th of her career. Taking a pass at the top of the penalty box, Press used one touch to clear an opening before launching a shot into the upper right corner.
( Press’ goal)
Sacred Heart Prep grad Abby Dahlkemper recorded her first career assist with a beautifully placed corner kick to the far post, from where Samantha Mewis had no trouble heading past the Korea goalie.
( Mewis goal)
Stanford grad Kelley O’Hara was given the day off but Jane Campbell played the second half in goal for her second career cap. Press appeared in her 94th game. Dahlkemper has 11 caps.