STANFORD, CALIFORNIA — #1 Stanford dismantled #2 Michigan State 5-1 Friday night in a dominant NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship semifinal, extending the Cardinal's winning streak to four games. Playing before 2,088 fans at home, Stanford's attacking prowess overwhelmed the Spartans, who managed just three shots on goal despite their second-ranked national status. The loss snapped Michigan State's two-game winning streak and marked a stunning upset in a matchup between the tournament's top two seeds.
Eleanor Klinger opened the scoring for Stanford in the 15th minute, capitalizing on a setup from Charlotte Kohler to give the hosts an early advantage. Kohler herself doubled the lead just before halftime in the 25th minute with an assist from Elise Evans, putting Stanford firmly in control heading into the break. The Cardinal's clinical finishing in the opening 45 minutes set the tone for what would become a lopsided affair, with Michigan State unable to generate meaningful offensive chances against Stanford's suffocating defense.
The second half saw Stanford continue its relentless attack. Andrea Kitahata extended the lead to 3-0 in the 59th minute with help from Kohler and Jasmine Aikey, then added another just four minutes later to make it 4-0. Aikey capped the scoring spree with a goal in the 67th minute, giving Stanford a commanding 5-0 advantage. Michigan State's Bella Najera finally broke through late, scoring in the 76th minute off assists from Kennedy Bell and Regan Dalton, but the damage was long done.
Stanford controlled possession throughout, outshooting Michigan State 14-9 overall and 9-3 on shots on goal. The Cardinal's defense limited the Spartans' opportunities, with goalkeeper making two saves compared to four for Michigan State's keeper. Stanford also dominated the corner kick battle 6-2, reflecting their sustained pressure on the Michigan State goal.
Kohler emerged as Stanford's standout performer, scoring once and assisting on multiple goals while orchestrating the Cardinal attack from the midfield. Kitahata's two-goal second-half performance provided the finishing touch to Stanford's dominant display, while Aikey's involvement in the attacking third created constant problems for Michigan State's backline.
For Michigan State, the loss represents a disappointing end to an otherwise strong tournament run. The Spartans go to the College Cup and play Duke on 12/05 in Kansas City.