Nov. 14, 2004
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Sophomore forward Tina Estrada scored the golden goal in double overtime to lift fourth-ranked Santa Clara University past No. 18 Stanford 1-0 in the second round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship. The Broncos (16-4-2) are the tournament's 16th overall seed, and advanced with Estrada's eighth goal of the season. Stanford's season ends with a 13-6-3 record.
The 23rd NCAA Championship continues next weekend with the third round. Top-seed North Carolina will host the event Saturday at 11 a.m. Pacific Time in Chapel Hill.
"We're ready... I think that since last year we've been ready to play this game again," senior midfielder Leslie Osborne said about facing the Tar Heels once again. "The entire team wanted to go through Carolina again. We're going to give them the best game we can give them but we're ready. Today was a perfect game for us to get even more prepared for next weekend."
Senior Bree Horvath started the game-winning play, driving down the sideline. She found fellow senior Megan Kakadelas, who drew Stanford keeper Nicole Barnhart to the near post. Kakadelas had a shot, but decided to bend the ball around a Cardinal defender to Estrada, who one-timed it for the golden goal.
Estrada took nine of SCU's 16 shots of the afternoon, including one in the 28th minute, from 25 yards that sailed just high. Stanford countered with an opportunity by Heidi Herrick, who was attempting a breakaway, but the Bronco defense caught up to end the threat.
Bronco senior Lana Bowen was fouled just outside the box midway through the second half, setting up a free kick for Estrada. Barnhart notched the save, one of four impressive stops she made on the afternoon.
"It was a great soccer game today and I'm very proud of our team," head coach Jerry Smith said post-game. "It was nice, composed soccer I thought for most of the game by one or both teams. They have one of the best defensive teams in the country and, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the country and between those two things, they were a very tough team to break down."
With just over eight minutes remaining in regulation, Stanford's Leah Tapscott stole the ball in midfield and found Natalie Sanderson streaking into the Bronco box, but goalkeeper Julie Ryder came off of her line and made a diving stop to thwart the Cardinal attempt.
Horvath broke through the Stanford defense in the first overtime period, but her shot went just wide of the Cardinal post. Just minutes later, Barnhart made a diving save from a point blank shot by SCU's Estrada to preserve the scoreless tie.