BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA — Stanford dismantled California 8-2 on Thursday night, extending its winning streak to nine games with a dominant display that left the home crowd searching for answers. The Cardinal, ranked among the nation's elite with a 15-1-1 record, overwhelmed the Bears with clinical finishing and relentless pressure throughout the match in front of a sparse crowd at the Berkeley campus.
Charlotte Kohler opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, capitalizing on an early opportunity with an assist from Shae Harvey to give Stanford an immediate advantage. Eleanor Klinger doubled the lead in the 19th minute, with Jasmine Aikey and Kohler combining on the setup. Aikey then added her own goal in the 25th minute off a feed from Lizzie Boamah, putting the Cardinal firmly in control before halftime. California managed a response through Lumi Kostmayer in the 49th minute, assisted by Noelle Bond-Flasza and Mia Fontana, but it proved merely a consolation in what became a lopsided affair.
The first half belonged entirely to Stanford. The Cardinal controlled possession, dictated tempo, and created chances at will while California struggled to establish any meaningful rhythm. Shots from players like Kohler and Aikey kept Bears goalkeeper busy, though the home side managed to stay within striking distance at 3-0 heading into the break. California's defense looked vulnerable to Stanford's quick transitions and incisive passing, particularly down the flanks where the Cardinal found consistent space.
Stanford's dominance only intensified after the interval. Aikey struck again in the 60th minute to extend the advantage to 4-1, then Andrea Kitahata added another in the 74th minute with Aikey providing the assist. Brooke Holden made it 6-1 in the 81st minute, assisted by Logan Smith, before Jaden Thomas capped the onslaught with a goal in the 84th minute. Erica Grilione finished the rout in the 89th minute with Milly Bray setting up the final tally. California's Noelle Bond-Flasza scored a late goal in the 84th minute, but it did little to change the narrative of a thoroughly dominant performance.
The statistics told the story of a mismatch. Stanford outshot California 16-9 overall and 10-7 on target, controlling the game's rhythm with six corner kicks to California's five. The Cardinal's defense was equally impressive, with goalkeeper making five saves compared to California's two. Y-Lan Nguyen received a yellow card for unsporting conduct in the 67th minute, Stanford's only disciplinary issue on a night when the team's focus never wavered.
Aikey emerged as the standout performer, scoring twice and assisting on multiple other chances while constantly troubling California's backline with her pace and positioning. Kohler was equally influential in the opening stages, setting the tone with her early goal and creating problems throughout. For California, Kostmayer's goal represented one of the few bright spots in an otherwise frustrating evening.
The loss drops California to 8-3-8 on the season, extending their recent struggles after a solid start to the campaign. Stanford's ninth consecutive victory reinforces the Cardinal's status as a national championship contender with an elite tournament resume. The Cardinal's 15-1-1 record and conference dominance at 9-0-1 position them among the favorites heading into the NCAA Tournament selection process.
Stanford returns to action with continued Pac-12 play, while California seeks to bounce back and salvage their postseason hopes with strong performances down the stretch.