Box Score
STANFORD, Calif. --- The second-ranked Stanford Cardinal scored two first-half goals before holding on for a 2-1 win over the No. 3 Portland Pilots in a battle of unbeatens on Saturday night at Cagan Stadium. The Pilots got a second-half goal from junior Danielle Foxhoven, but the Cardinal tightened up on defense to hold on for the win.
After the Pilots trailed 2-0 for most of the game, Foxhoven finally capitalized on a loose ball in the 80th minute. When Stanford keeper Emily Oliver couldn’t corrall the ball in front of the Cardinal frame, Foxhoven was there to bury her third goal of the season, pulling Portland within one.
But Stanford would thwart the Pilot attack during the game’s final 10 minutes to improve to 8-0-2 on the season. It’s the first blemish of the fall for Portland, which is now 10-1-0.
The Cardinal had a solid first half, racing out to a healthy 11-1 advantage in shots. Mariah Nogueira scored the game’s first goal in impressive fashion with a well-struck strike from 30 yards out in the 21st minute. Nogueira gained possession, turned, realized she had some space before cracking a rocket into the top shelf.
Stanford still led 1-nil 15 minutes later when Christen Press made it a two-goal advantage. The senior forward received a feed from Teresa Noyola, took a couple of touches inside the 18-yard box and placed a chip shot into the top left corner of the frame to make it a 2-0 game.
Portland, which has outscored its opponents 17-2 in the second half this season, settled down after the break and played the Cardinal fairly even during the game’s final 45 minutes. Stanford did claim a slim 6-5 edge in second-half shots.
UP goalkeeper Hailee DeYoung was active, finishing with six saves on the night. Oliver had two.
The Pilots next set their sights on their third straight Pac-10 opponent as the Oregon Ducks visit Merlo Field on Friday night. The two Northwest rivals are set to kick off at 7:00 p.m.
