Check out photos from the match! (Credit Denis Concordel)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In its second double overtime game of the week, No. 22 Santa Clara women's soccer fell to No. 2 Stanford 3-2 in double overtime. The loss puts the Broncos at 4-3-1 while the Cardinal move to 7-0-1.
Santa Clara returns to the field Fri., Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. to play Kansas at Buck Shaw.
"This was a game we feel we should have won," said Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith. "We had the lead and gave them the tying goal. We scored two quality goals in the run of play and gifted them three goals on dead balls with fouls. I'm disappointed because I feel that we were the better team today. We're happy that we scored two goals in the run of play and took the No. 2 team in the country all the way to the end of the second overtime but disappointed that we didn't get the victory."
Santa Clara was outshot by Stanford 23-13 and 13-4 in shots on goal. Julie Johnston and Sofia Huerta each scored unassisted goals in the 16th minute and 83rd minute respectively. Andi Tostanoski picked up 10 saves in net.
Courtney Verloo of Stanford had a hat trick with all three goals coming off of free kicks.
Stanford scored first in the second minute off of a free kick. Verloo took the kick from just outside the box and hit the corner of the goal and the ball bounced in the net.
Johnston tied the game with a beautiful goal in the 16th minute. Morgan Marlborough attempted to bring down a ball in the air but it deflected off a Stanford defender and Johnston one-timed the shot off one bounce into the back of the net.
In the 37th minute Santa Clara had a terrific chance to take its first lead of the match off the foot of Marlborough. Marlborough got the ball on the left side of the box and was able to gather herself for a low shot but she misfired and it went wide right for a goal kick.
Santa Clara outshot Stanford 9-7 but Stanford had the edge in shots on goal at 6-2 in the first half.
In the 44th minute Stanford got the ball in the box and centered to the head of Taylor Uhl but Uhl's shot went off the outside of the left post for a Bronco goal kick.
Santa Clara took its first lead of the match in the 83rd minute. Huerta gained control of the ball near the top right of the box and lined up her shot before curling a perfect shot into the left side of the net.
A foul in the box in the 90th minute gave Stanford a penalty kick with just 54 seconds remaining in the game. Verloo converted the attempt and the game went into overtime, tied 2-2.
In the second overtime Stanford had the best scoring opportunity when Uhl got a ball past the defense and slid into the ball for a shot but Tostanoski made a fantastic save.
A foul outside the box in the 108th minute gave Stanford a free kick. Verloo took the kick and scored her third goal of the match to give the Cardinal the double overtime victory.
Game Notes: Attendance was 3,252 … It was the second time in three matches Santa Clara gave up a goal in the second minute … It was the second double overtime game in a row for Santa Clara … Stanford was issued a yellow card in the 106th minute … Santa Clara was issued a yellow card after the match.