The #3 Stanford Cardinal women's soccer team put on a show at home, dominating Virginia Tech 5-0 on a thrilling Thursday night. The sold-out crowd at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium witnessed a masterclass performance from the Cardinal, with five different players finding the back of the net.
The goals started flowing early, with Elise Evans opening the scoring in the 7th minute, assisted by a beautiful through ball from Lily Freer. Just four minutes later, Shae Harvey doubled the lead, thanks to a clever combination with Charlotte Kohler and Joelle Jung, who provided the assist in the 11th minute. The Cardinal's offense was clicking, and Virginia Tech's defense was struggling to keep up.
The first half ended with Stanford in control, having outshot Virginia Tech 9-1. The Hokies' goalkeeper made several crucial saves to keep the score respectable, but it was clear that Stanford was the better team. The Cardinal's confidence was palpable as they took to the field for the second half.
The goals kept coming in the second half, with Jasmine Aikey netting her first of the season in the 58th minute, assisted by Eleanor Klinger. Shae Harvey scored her second of the night just two minutes later, with Joelle Jung again providing the assist. The Cardinal's fourth goal was a testament to their teamwork, with multiple players involved in the buildup.
The final goal of the night came in the 69th minute, when Brooke Holden finished a beautiful counter-attacking move, assisted by Eleanor Klinger and Shae Harvey. The Cardinal's fifth goal capped off an impressive performance, with their 17 shot attempts and 11 shots on goal dwarfing Virginia Tech's meager 3 attempts.
Stanford's defensive solidity was also on display, with goalkeeper Katie Vaughan making one save to secure her shutout. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, was unable to threaten the Cardinal's goal, managing just one shot on goal. The Hokies were also issued two yellow cards, a sign of the frustration they felt against Stanford's stifling defense.
The 5-0 win was a statement performance from the Cardinal, who are now looking to build on this momentum as they continue their Pac-12 schedule. With eight corner kicks and a dominant possession count, Stanford controlled the tempo of the game from start to finish. The team's next challenge will be to maintain this level of performance against tougher opponents.
The statistics told the story of a one-sided contest: Stanford outshot Virginia Tech 17-3, outscored them 5-0, and won 8-5 in corner kicks. The Cardinal's yellow card count remained at zero, a testament to their discipline on the field. As the team looks to the future, they can take confidence from this impressive win, knowing they have the talent and depth to compete with the best in the Pac-12.