Will Drinkwater – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com Breaking news from the Farm since 1892 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:07:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://stanforddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-DailyIcon-CardinalRed.png?w=32 Will Drinkwater – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com 32 32 204779320 Jordan Morris and his decision to remain at Stanford https://stanforddaily.com/2015/01/13/jordan-morris-and-his-decision-to-remain-at-stanford/ https://stanforddaily.com/2015/01/13/jordan-morris-and-his-decision-to-remain-at-stanford/#respond Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:07:45 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1093710 Stanford men’s soccer supporters rejoiced last week, as news broke of sophomore striker Jordan Morris’ decision to stay with the Cardinal for the 2015 campaign. The precocious sophomore made headlines as he declined a professional contract offer from his hometown club, Seattle Sounders FC. Under MLS rules, the Northwest club was able to tempt Morris […]

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Stanford men’s soccer supporters rejoiced last week, as news broke of sophomore striker Jordan Morris’ decision to stay with the Cardinal for the 2015 campaign. The precocious sophomore made headlines as he declined a professional contract offer from his hometown club, Seattle Sounders FC. Under MLS rules, the Northwest club was able to tempt Morris with a Homegrown Player contract.

Jordan Morris (center)
Sophomore Jordan Morris (center) excited Cardinal soccer fans by declaring his intention to return for his junior season. Morris will try to help the Card repeat as Pac-12 conference champions. (RAHIM ULLAH/ The Stanford Daily)

Such contracts are available to players who spent at least one year in the club’s academy system. Morris spent much of his youth career with Eastside FC in Bellevue, Washington, but burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old. In one year at the Sounders Academy, the Mercer Island, Washington product scored 27 goals in 28 games and was named the U17/U18 US Soccer Development Academy Player of the Year. Morris’ academy exploits, along with two impressive seasons at Stanford, put him firmly in the shop window for a professional contract.

“It has always been my dream to play professional soccer, so it was a big honor to get that offer,” Morris said.

However, while such a proposition would lure many young players away from their college team, Morris displayed maturity and foresight beyond his years.

“Soccer is going to come to an end [for me] at some point, and having an education, especially at a school like Stanford, is very beneficial,” Morris said.

As is widely said, though, the Stanford experience is more than just education. The sophomore also credits the environment that Stanford provides as a major reason for his prolonged departure.

“I’m really just loving it here,” Morris said. “I have the friends here now, and the experience would be so different coming back later to finish my degree.”

Such a decision takes much thought and deliberation. Throughout the process, Morris was keen to seek advice from anyone who might prove helpful.

“I talked to some of the guys on the Sounders that had to make similar decisions,” he noted. But the most praise was reserved for Morris’ brother, Christopher.

“I talked to him a lot. He played soccer in college as well, and is someone I really trust. In talking with him and my dad, we thought that leaving early might be something that I would really regret.”

Stanford men’s soccer has a recent precedent of players leaving to accept Homegrown Player contracts. Last year, midfielder Aaron Kovar signed with the Seattle Sounders, a path that Morris may soon follow. Kovar played two seasons with the Card before returning to his boyhood club.

“I played with [Aaron] for one season [at Stanford]. Whenever I go back to Seattle, I always talk with him. He’s definitely a good person to talk to about this,” Morris said.

Along with the initial opportunity to play with the Sounders, rumors have begun to swirl about Morris’ ultimate future in the sport. The best leagues, clubs and players are all in Europe, and it is every player’s dream to play overseas. However, when asked if foreign interest could tempt him away from the club he supported as a youth, he was surprisingly grounded.

“Right now, I really want to go play for Seattle. It’s a very comfortable place for me,” he said. The Stanford #13 also mentioned the proximity to family as a reason to stay with the Sounders.

Morris did not rule out Europe, but said it may take “a couple of years.” He pointed out other American starlets that had brief spells in the MLS before getting snapped up. This January, Sounders product DeAndre Yedlin was purchased by English club Tottenham Hotspur. The London team took a sharp interest in the fullback, who dazzled in one season for Seattle after signing the club’s first Homegrown Player contract.

“If the offer is there after a couple of years [to go to Europe], then going there could potentially be an option. But right now, I am definitely going to Seattle,” he reaffirmed.

Morris made his senior international debut this fall in a friendly against Ireland, coming on as a second-half substitute. Many have pegged the Sounders Academy product as one for the future with the United States, with an eye on the 2018 World Cup squad. Morris must prove his worth over the country’s best professionals, and the impact that staying in the college system could have on his National Team chances weighed heavy on his decision.

“I talked with Jurgen [Klinsmann] a lot, and he was very supportive of my choice to stay.”  The US National Team coach, however, told Morris that there might be some areas in which he could supplement his development while still staying in school.

“Maybe over some breaks I could go over to Europe and train with a team to try and make up that difference [in training],” he said.

Professional clubs in Europe have a history of hosting American players for spells of training, especially during the MLS off-season. Klinsmann’s rapport with a host of European managers would no doubt help facilitate such an arrangement.

Morris heaped praise on Klinsmann and the whole National Team coaching staff, crediting them with helping him feel comfortable with staying. When asked whether his decision to stay could affect his National Team prospects, he gave reassurance.

“It’s been a dream of mine to play for the National Team, and if staying would jeopardize that, I might have had to make a different decision,” he said. “But from talks with them it seems that [Klinsmann] is comfortable with me staying and growing here.”

With the Morris saga seemingly over before it started, Jordan Morris will be with the Cardinal in 2015. However, he was unwilling to commit as to whether he will stay for four years. In any case, he does plan to return to the Farm after his career is over and finish his degree.

The next 12 months will be exciting for the precocious star, as summer will bring the return of possible National Team call-ups. Fall will see the to-be junior lead his Cardinal squad on an assault of the NCAA tournament. Morris listed winning the College Cup as one of his top goals for the coming year.

“That’s why I wanted to stay another year, to help in any way I can to achieve that goal as a team,” he said.

Morris also credited his college coaches and the facilities available to athletes for convincing him to stay.

“We have such great coaches, and I’ve learned so much here already,” he said.

The sophomore plans to use the next year to continue to develop his game to make the jump to the professional ranks that much smoother. As evidenced by his decision to stay, there was no better place for him to undergo that development than with his college teammates.

Options abound for the 20-year-old, but for now, Jordan Morris has spurned the Rave Green of the Sounders for the Cardinal of Stanford.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu. 

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Season in review: A tall tale ended too soon for men’s soccer https://stanforddaily.com/2014/12/03/season-in-review-a-tall-tale-ended-too-soon-for-mens-soccer/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/12/03/season-in-review-a-tall-tale-ended-too-soon-for-mens-soccer/#respond Thu, 04 Dec 2014 04:26:11 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1092889 The Stanford men’s soccer team entered the 2014 NCAA Tournament firing on all cylinders. A near-flawless run in had seen the team rewarded with the Pac-12 trophy and a No. 6 seed in the 48-team cup. Receiving a bye into the second round, the Cardinal men awaited the result of a first-round match to determine their opponent. UC Irvine’s victory over UNLV earned the Anteaters a trip to the Farm. In the end, it was the visitors that would tip the scales, finding a winner in overtime to oust Jeremy Gunn’s outfit.

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It is said that all good things must come to an end, even though many times it seems all too soon.

The Stanford men’s soccer team entered the 2014 NCAA Tournament firing on all cylinders. A near-flawless run had seen the team rewarded with the Pac-12 trophy and a No. 6 seed in the 48-team cup. Receiving a bye into the second round, the Cardinal men awaited the result of a first-round match to determine their opponent. UC Irvine’s victory over UNLV earned the Anteaters a trip to the Farm. In the end, it was the visitors that would tip the scales, finding a winner in overtime to oust Jeremy Gunn’s outfit.

(RAHIM ULLAH/The Stanford Daily)
Junior midfielder Ty Thomson (right) work ethic, passing ability and knack for finding space placed him in the team’s rotation early and often. (RAHIM ULLAH/The Stanford Daily)

Despite what could perhaps be labeled as a premature exit for the Palo Alto side, the season was not without its successes. What follows is a look back at Stanford’s most recent campaign, complete with all the highs, lows and looks to the future.

Stanford entered the 2014 season looking for something big. As a side that made a memorable run to the NCAA Round of 16 last fall, it was safe to say that at least equaling that feat was well within the team’s sights.

The Card entered the season with a No. 20 ranking in the national poll, but perhaps gave the first laugh to the critics as they lost 2-0 away at Creighton on opening day. This loss only seemed to awaken the beast, however, as the Cardinal kicked on to win seven matches on the spin, running the table in its non-conference slate of games.

A banner win against Delaware on Sept. 21 reintroduced the Bay Area team to the national eye, as the Card knocked off the then-No. 11 Blue Hens 2-1. The match also served as a Corey Baird coming-out party of sorts, as the silky winger’s first goal in the cardinal and white proved to be the winner.

October brought about the advent of Pac-12 play. With only 10 fixtures in the league system, each game would be of paramount importance in the title race. Match one saw Stanford best a dogged Oregon State outfit 1-0 in a “battle in the trenches” sort of affair, but tougher tests lay ahead. A trip north to Seattle pitted the Card against the then-No. 5 Washington Huskies, a high-flying side that had knocked Stanford out of the NCAA tournament not 11 months prior.

The host Huskies escaped with all 3 points through a 3-1 victory to go the top of the table, as Gunn and his men were sent home with questions to answer. As evidenced earlier in the year, however, a loss seemed to be an exceptional catalyst for the Cardinal.

Stanford went unbeaten for the rest of the regular season, winning its final four games in a run-in that saw three teams vying for the Pac-12 crown. UCLA and Washington had led the chase for much of the season, but sputters from both sides allowed Stanford’s healthy collection of points to slowly trim the gap.

As was only fitting of the season, the title was to be decided on the final day, as all three fixtures kicked off simultaneously. The Cardinal men controlled their own destiny, and knew a win would secure them the title. Standing in their way was a formidable Cal squad playing on its home turf. It seems that Derby Day never fails to disappoint, and this was no exception. A back-and-forth match saw the sides deadlocked after 90 minutes and beyond, until an Austin Meyer shot found the back of the net. Stanford was champion, and seemed to be in scintillating form for the NCAA tournament.

But alas, the Cardinal fell 1-0 to an overtime goal against UC Irvine. Was it a fair result? I guess that depends on who you ask. Sometimes, for better or for worse, that is just soccer. On any other day, the favorite might have prevailed.

Gunn has to be quite pleased with the season, early tournament bow aside, as his team has come quite a distance during his three-year tenure. The past two seasons have seen the Cardinal finish in third and fourth in the Pac-12, and only receive a tournament bid in the second of those two years. Although last year’s NCAA tournament run was a good bit more impressive than that of 2014, the level of Stanford soccer has improved. 2013 saw the men lose five out of 10 Pac-12 matches and finish on 11 points. This year saw them finish on 21 points as champions. It is safe to say that things are looking up for Gunn and his charges.

Gunn will also be pleased with his offensive production this year, as 13 different players were able to find the back of the net. Left back Brandon Vincent made the most of his venturing forward and led all players with 6 goals. Sophomore Jordan Morris, who made headlines for his recent cap with the USMNT, led all players with 6 assists. The striker added 4 goals of his own, an impressive tally in both categories considering his absence from a handful of games due to national team duties.

Junior midfielder Ty Thompson also had himself a stellar season. While his contributions may be invisible to the untrained eye, he was the catalyst that kept Stanford’s engine room churning the whole year. His unparalleled work rate, keen passing ability and knack for finding space were all integral to his side’s success. It seemed all the man would do was either keep possession or win the ball back from the opposition. An often thankless job in soccer, Thompson applied himself with a true workman’s attitude, and was probably one of Gunn’s first names on the team sheet prior to kickoff.

The thing that may make this Stanford squad so special, however, is its depth in quality. Substitutions were nary a worry for Gunn as, at least through the first 16 or 17 on the squad, there was no real drop-off in ability. This sort of squad depth is paramount in soccer, and bodes very well for the future. A rock-solid team of great players who play well together are the teams that achieve greatness. Relying on a couple of superstars is often not sustainable and lends itself to a basket of issues.

As we close the book on the 2014 season, the Cardinal should be excited. An early tournament exit will leave a bitter taste in the mouth, but this team has the makings of something special. And when that clicks, it will be a spectacle to behold.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s soccer primed for NCAAs https://stanforddaily.com/2014/11/22/mens-soccer-primed-for-ncaas/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/11/22/mens-soccer-primed-for-ncaas/#respond Sun, 23 Nov 2014 00:00:29 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1092683 The Stanford men’s soccer team (13-2-3) will look to continue its magical season come Sunday afternoon, as they host the UC Irvine Anteaters in a second round clash in the NCAA tournament. Fresh off a Pac-12 league crown, the Card were awarded the 6th overall seed in the 48 team competition, and as a result […]

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Austin Meyer (17) (Frank Chen)
Senior midfielder Austin Meyer (above) kicked the game winning goal against Cal last Sunday to clinch the program’s first conference title since 2001. (FRANK CHEN/The Stanford Daily)

The Stanford men’s soccer team (13-2-3) will look to continue its magical season come Sunday afternoon, as they host the UC Irvine Anteaters in a second round clash in the NCAA tournament. Fresh off a Pac-12 league crown, the Card were awarded the 6th overall seed in the 48 team competition, and as a result received a bye into the second round.

UC Irvine earned its trip to the Farm Thursday evening, as they bested UNLV at home 3-0. A first-half brace from senior striker Cameron Iwasa put the Anteaters well in control at the break, while Dennis Martinez killed the game off with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The Big West side has been in good form as of late, unbeaten in their last four matches, with a marquee win away at eventual conference champions UCSB on Nov. 8. Thus far, it has been a decent season for the Southern California club, who finished second in the South division of the Big West Conference and T-4th overall.

In Sunday’s game, Irvine head coach Chris Volk will be looking to his heavy artillery to perform well, as his side will need to turn in a great performance to give them a chance of advancing. Leading scorer Eduardo Calzada (7 goals) will be one to watch in the attack, along with a brilliant supporting cast of playmakers. Junior Mats Bjurman assisted on both Iwasa goals in the UNLV match, while leading set-up man Gor Kirakosyan will also be looking to get in on the act.

As the Anteaters will most likely be outmatched for quality, expect the away side to compete with the grit of a second-rate prizefighter. While they may not possess the skill of their superiors, they will by no means let a lack of effort be the cause of their demise.

Stanford should be well equipped to counter their opposition, as their distinct style of possession-oriented soccer will be able to stretch the defense. Head coach Jeremy Gunn will want his side to possess the ball early and dictate the tempo of the game, leaving nothing to chance.

The Cardinal enters this match as the newly minted Pac-12 conference champions. It is the team’s first trophy since 2001, and was the result of one of the more dramatic run-ins in recent memory. Stanford went unbeaten in its final eight conference fixtures, and secured the championship in a Big Derby clash in Berkeley. The final league contest was full of late drama, as an overtime goal by Austin Meyer gave his squad the three points it needed to win the league.

The home side will welcome sophomore Jordan Morris back into the fold Sunday, after he missed the Cal match due to a senior USMNT call-up. Having earned his first cap in a 15 minute run-out against the Republic of Ireland, the precocious striker will be brimming with confidence come kickoff.

The return of Morris may present a bit of a selection headache for Gunn, who has striking options aplenty at his disposal. Senior Eric Verso was given the start at Cal in place of Morris, and validated his selection with an early goal. It is always touchy to leave an in-form striker on the bench, so it will be interesting to see how the Stanford manager utilizes his squad depth. US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann deployed Morris in a wide left role against the Irish, but the Seattle Sounders Academy graduate has played almost exclusively up front for the Cardinal.

Winger Bobby Edwards will also be looking to contribute in the attack after perhaps his best game of the year against the Golden Bears. The Danville, California native was a constant threat on the dribble and was unlucky not to score in the match.

The Cardinal will also require a strong defensive performance, as knockout fixtures are often low-scoring affairs. Keeping a clean sheet can often be the difference between advancing and going home. The traditional back four of Callinan, Nana-Sinkham, Hilliard-Arse and Vincent has been brilliant all year, and their cohesion has become more apparent each game. Look for the fullbacks to get involved in the attack and provide that extra spark.

For Stanford, the tournament could not have arrived at a better time. Momentum is an integral concept in football, and the Cardinal has that in spades now. But once the whistle blows, anything can happen.

The second round NCAA matchup with UC Irvine is at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Cagan Stadium and will be televised on Pac-12 Bay Area.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Sophomore forward Jordan Morris debuts for USMNT in 4-1 loss to Ireland https://stanforddaily.com/2014/11/19/sophomore-forward-jordan-morris-debuts-for-usmnt-in-4-1-loss-to-ireland/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/11/19/sophomore-forward-jordan-morris-debuts-for-usmnt-in-4-1-loss-to-ireland/#respond Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:21:10 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1092465 Stanford sophomore Jordan Morris earned his first United States senior team cap this past Tuesday evening, as the Stars and Stripes were in Dublin to contest a friendly against the Republic of Ireland. It was a historic day for @stanfordmsoccer‘s Jordan Morris and the #USMNT yesterday. http://t.co/GdsJu4M2RB pic.twitter.com/DFpClJrbHk — Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) November 19, 2014 […]

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Stanford sophomore Jordan Morris earned his first United States senior team cap this past Tuesday evening, as the Stars and Stripes were in Dublin to contest a friendly against the Republic of Ireland.

With 76 minutes gone in the match, Morris replaced Timmy Chandler. Sporting the number 24 shirt, the Mercer Island, Washington native was deployed in the wide left position of a fairly straightforward 4-4-2 formation.

Morris had just over a quarter of an hour to show his worth to manager Jurgen Klinsmann. The German coach has touted the Stanford attacker as one for the future, and patrolled the edge of his technical area for the entirety of Morris’ run out.

The debutant’s first touch in the red, white and blue was a simple layoff to a teammate, but the All-Pac-12 First Teamer didn’t take long to warm to the match.

Sophomore striker Jordan Morris (above)
Sophomore striker Jordan Morris (left) made his debut for the U.S. Men’s National Team on Tuesday, coming on as a late substitute in the United States’ 4-1 loss to Ireland in Dublin. (SHIRLEY PEFLEY/stanfordphoto.com)

Only minutes after coming on, Morris was the target of Mix Diskeroud’s long ball to the left corner. A deft touch from the orange boots of Morris resulted in instant control as the 20-year-old was able to get his head up and pick out a pass. Morris played a ball cleanly to an arriving Greg Garza, whose first-time effort forced Irish keeper Shay Given into a decent save.

The United States conceded two goals during Morris’ stint on the pitch, but he lacked responsibility in either. In total, it was a poor performance from the Americans, as they lost the match 4-1 to continue their post-World Cup run of lackadaisical form.

Morris’ debut has to be one of the brighter spots from the otherwise dreary match from Klinsmann’s perspective. The Seattle Sounders Academy product looked the part from beginning to end, and showed a willingness to get stuck in as he drew a yellow card from Irish defender Aiden McGeady.

The sophomore is the 50th player to be deployed for the senior team this year, which shows that Klinsmann is scraping the depths of the talent pool in search of players for the 2018 World Cup and beyond.

It is a great honor to be selected for a national team, and Morris carried himself with a quiet confidence and the quality to match. The youngster never looked out of place, and if things continue in the same manner for the boy, we may be seeing him the USMNT strip for years to come.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s soccer wins Pac-12 for first time since 2001 https://stanforddaily.com/2014/11/17/mens-soccer-wins-pac-12-for-first-time-since-2001/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/11/17/mens-soccer-wins-pac-12-for-first-time-since-2001/#respond Mon, 17 Nov 2014 09:06:37 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1092206 Pac-12 men’s soccer came to a scintillating climax Sunday afternoon, with Stanford controlling its own destiny, as a win would clinch the league title over challengers UCLA and Washington. Jeremy Gunn’s side travelled across the Bay, where a No. 11 California team awaited, to complete the return fixture of the Big Derby.

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Pac-12 men’s soccer came to a scintillating climax Sunday afternoon, with No. 3 Stanford controlling its own destiny, as a win would clinch the league title over challengers UCLA and Washington. Head coach Jeremy Gunn’s side travelled across the Bay, where a No. 11 California team awaited, to complete the return fixture of the Big Derby. After having been unable to earn a point in its previous two matches, the Berkeley outfit would have been keen to get a result with NCAA tournament selection on the horizon. A riveting contest required two overtimes to find a winner, with the Cardinal ultimately winning the game — and the conference — by a score of 3-2.

The scoring opened in the 13th minute, as Stanford winger Corey Baird beat his marker through an intricate one-two with Eric Verso and burst into the box. Cal keeper Alex Mangels was quick off his line, however, and deflected Baird’s effort. The ball then fell back to Verso in front of the goal. The LA Galaxy Academy product was then able to put a right-footed effort past a helpless Bears center back. Verso, who was inserted into the starting 11 due to a Jordan Morris national team call-up, seemingly vindicated his selection to Gunn.

Stanford was able to keep up its quality and work rate after the goal, and looked likely to add to its advantage. Winger Bobby Edwards was especially impressive on the dribble and caused the Cal defense fits the entire afternoon.

The Golden Bears were not going to lie down easily, however, as the 26th minute saw Stefano Bonomo receive a ball on the top of the box, make a cute half turn and send a shot to the far post out of the reach of Stanford keeper Andrew Epstein.

Stanford was quick to respond to the equalizer, as Edwards continued to shift through the gears.

It was Edwards who drew the foul that led to Stanford’s second goal, as he was brought down about 25 yards out after a scorching solo run. Midfielder Ty Thompson stood over the ball and delivered an inviting cross to the back post for a waiting Brian Nana-Sinkham, who chose a fantastic moment to record his first goal of the year. The sophomore center back rose the highest and directed a headed effort back across goal to send the Cardinal a goal in front at the break.

The early second half was characterized by high pressure from the away side. Baird was quite effective in an uncustomary central role, combining passing and dribbling skills to ignite the Cardinal offense.

As the game began to stretch, Gunn was willing to go deeply to his bench to keep his charges fresh. The game had opened and become quite end-to-end, with each team looking to land a killer blow.

Stanford seemed to be in control as the final 20 minutes approached, but a defensive blunder gave the hosts a lifeline. Cardinal midfielder Slater Meehan failed to deal with a flick into the box, and instead let the ball run behind him into the feet of Bobby Sekine, who slotted home to tie the match.

Both sides had clear chances to win in the final 10 minutes, but lacked the quality to find the back of the net. An Austin Meyer free kick was headed onto the bar, while Sekine nearly doubled his tally for Cal in a one-on-one with Epstein.

The first period of extra time was more memorable for a typical Big Derby flash point, as Meyer confronted a host of Cal players after Baird was kicked near midfield. Cal captain Seth Casiple was shown the yellow card for the offense.

On 98 minutes, Edwards went close on a spectacular volley from 25 yards for Stanford, but the shot bent wide.

It only took three minutes of the second period of extra time to send the Cardinal players into rapture. Baird made a darting run inside from the left flank and cut back a pass to Meyer, who was waiting on the penalty spot. The senior took one touch and slotted the ball past the keeper. It was a deserving winner, as Stanford had looked the better team for most of the match.

The three points were enough to give Stanford its first Pac-12 league championship since 2001, and extend the Card’s unbeaten run to nine matches.

The match was a perfect ending to conference play. With both sides poised to make the NCAAs, this was the last chance to impress the selection committee, and to be fair, both sides gave a great performance. In the end, however, the Cardinal played like true champions and created a winner through an opportunistic finish.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Top-seeded women’s soccer kicks off NCAA tourney at home https://stanforddaily.com/2014/11/14/top-seeded-womens-soccer-kicks-off-ncaa-tourney-at-home/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/11/14/top-seeded-womens-soccer-kicks-off-ncaa-tourney-at-home/#respond Fri, 14 Nov 2014 08:18:59 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1092036 The stakes are raised tonight for the No. 3 Stanford women’s soccer team, as head coach Paul Ratcliffe’s squad hosts a first-round match in the NCAA tournament. A cracking run of form during the regular season saw the Cardinal (17-1-2) finish second in the Pac-12 table to top-ranked UCLA, yet still impress the selection committee […]

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The stakes are raised tonight for the No. 3 Stanford women’s soccer team, as head coach Paul Ratcliffe’s squad hosts a first-round match in the NCAA tournament. A cracking run of form during the regular season saw the Cardinal (17-1-2) finish second in the Pac-12 table to top-ranked UCLA, yet still impress the selection committee enough to earn the number one overall seed in the tournament. And along with the top ranking comes home field advantage in round one.

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Senior midfielder Lo’eau Labonta (center) led Stanford with 11 goals in the regular season, five of which were game-winning goals. (ROGER CHEN/The Stanford Daily)

SPO.111414.wsSPO.111414.ws“We should be more comfortable at home, playing in front of our fans,” Ratcliffe said.

A surging Cal State Fullerton (10-7-4) side will serve as opponents in the opening Round of 64. Unbeaten since September 28th, the Titans most recently captured the Big West Tournament trophy in a close match over Long Beach State.

CSU Fullerton head coach Demian Brown will be looking to junior striker Rebecca Wilson to provide the goods for his squad. Wilson leads all Titans with 10 goals on the year, but can also serve as a playmaker. The Placentia, California product supplied the assist on both goals in the Big West Final.

Stanford enters the match on a similar run of form having won seven on the trot, with its last loss being a 2-1 nail biter in Westwood against UCLA.

The Card’s last outing was another tricky road fixture across the Bay in Berkeley, with Stanford able to tame the then-No. 22 Golden Bears. Senior midfielder Alex Doll, senior forward Taylor Uhl and senior midfielder Lo’eau Labonta scored three unanswered goals for the Cardinal, serving to negate an early defensive blunder that put Cal up one-nil early.

This match is a direct reprise of last year’s NCAA tournament, where Stanford also drew the Titans at home in the first round. In that contest, a 14th minute goal from Uhl proved to be the only difference between the two teams, as the Card advanced with a 1-0 score line.

The home side may well be looking for a more convincing performance than that of a year ago, however. As a number one seed with the nation’s eyes fixed upon them, a convincing win could do wonders for the squad’s confidence.

In a pre-match interview, Ratcliffe was hesitant to underestimate the Titans, and expects a tough battle.

“Fullerton is going to be a strong opponent,” he said. “They won their tournament to get in [the NCAA tournament], and will be playing like it is their last game of the year.”

Come the first whistle, Ratcliffe hopes his side can “match [the Titan’s] intensity,” so as not to start the match on the back foot. Knockout competition is such that an early mistake can prove costly, as teams are then content to sit back in defense and protect their lead.

“I know from the past in the playoffs, every game is tight, and you just have to win and get by,” Ratcliffe said.

For this match and throughout the early rounds, Stanford will certainly be the superior outfit on paper. Labonta has been firing on all cylinders during the second half of the season and leads the Cardinal with 11 goals. Along with senior forward Chioma Ubogagu and sophomore forward Ryan Walker-Hartshorn, she forms one of the most deadly attacking threats in the nation, which may simply prove too much for the visiting southern California club.

Added to this is the impervious Cardinal defense, which started the season on a nine-match shutout run. Marshaled by U.S. national team keeper Jane Campbell, the Cardinal back four should keep CSU Fullerton’s chances at a premium.

Ratcliffe was coy as to his tactics for the match, but let slip that he will not change much.

“Our tactics remain pretty similar to what we’ve done through the year,” he said. “I just think that the intensity is higher in every game now because it is your last game if you don’t advance.”

The Cardinal looks to be favorites to advance barring a gross misstep or a Herculean effort from the Titans. The winner will then go on to face the victor from tonight’s Oklahoma/Arkansas match on Nov. 21.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Women’s soccer wins in overtime thriller https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/30/womens-soccer-wins-in-overtime-thriller/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/30/womens-soccer-wins-in-overtime-thriller/#respond Fri, 31 Oct 2014 05:49:50 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1091106 The No. 4 Stanford women’s soccer team was back in action Thursday night at Cagan Stadium, looking to extend their home unbeaten run to 11 matches. Coach Paul Ratcliffe’s outfit would be facing a sputtering Oregon Ducks side that had lost four on the trot. A tight, and at times dare I say dreary match […]

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The No. 4 Stanford women’s soccer team was back in action Thursday night at Cagan Stadium, looking to extend their home unbeaten run to 11 matches. Coach Paul Ratcliffe’s outfit would be facing a sputtering Oregon Ducks side that had lost four on the trot. A tight, and at times dare I say dreary match saw both teams unable to score in regular time. However, Cardinal senior Lo’eau LaBonta played hero in the 95th minute, sealing the three points for her team.

With the Ducks supremely outmatched for skill at nearly every position, it quickly became evident that the Eugene club was content to sit in and allow Stanford possession. At times, Oregon could be seen employing a bank of five defenders along the back line. This tactic was noticed early by Ratcliffe, who welcomed the situation as preparation for the NCAA tournament.

(ROGER CHEN/The Stanford Daily)
Senior Lo’eau LaBonta netted the game-winning goal in overtime, as No. 4 Stanford women’s soccer escaped with a 1-0 victory against a reeling Oregon team that had dropped four straight. (ROGER CHEN/The Stanford Daily)

“When we get to the playoffs, this is the type of game you will get,” said Ratcliffe.

Oregon’s bunkering defensive tactics put a premium on clear-cut chances for Stanford, although 26 official shots were tallied in favor of the Card.

The first half saw two glittering chances go begging, with countless more half-chances and attacking patterns of play from the Cardinal.

The sixth minute saw stand-in right back Hannah Farr, who was active the entire night, deliver a ball into the box that eventually fell to LaBonta, who shot high from only eight yards.

It was not until the stroke of halftime that the Cardinal again produced a potentially lethal attempt. Left back Laura Lidle popped up on the right and whipped in a cross from near 30 yards out to the head of Taylor Uhl, who was unable to produce the requisite power and headed over.

The second half was much of the same from the Cardinal outfit, as they continued to create chances but struggled to produce enough quality to merit a goal.

Winger Chi Ubogagu had a handful of opportunities to convert, most notably an eye-catching half-volley effort that was dipping but went over the bar.

Soon after, LaBonta produced the outright best chance of the half with a scorcher from 25 yards, but Oregon keeper Abby Steele smartly tipped the ball over for a corner.

As the match wore on, it looked more and more like it was not to be for the Card, as chance after chance went awry. A fluffed Ubogagu first time effort off a cross about summed up the match, although she was unlucky minutes prior not to score on a solo effort on the top of the box, again sending a shot over the frame.

The final whistle blew with neither team displaying enough assertiveness to warrant the points, and should NCAA soccer be played akin  to the professional game, a draw would have been a fair result.

Alas, twenty extra minutes would be supplied in an effort to find a winner. LaBonta assured only five of those minutes would be necessary, though, as she scored a true opportunist’s goal on a rebound from a Taylor Uhl shot.

A pass was played to the feet of the Minnesota transfer on the edge of the area, and a couple of crafty turns created the half yard of space needed for her to fire a shot. Keeper Steele was only able to parry, but straight into the path of a charging LaBonta, who beat the center backs to the ball and stuffed it calmly in the back of the net. The Rancho Cucamonga playmaker hailed her team’s patience after the match, and was undoubtedly pleased with securing the win for her team.

“We just kept playing our game,” she said. “We tried to keep with the one and two-touch [passing]… and hopefully tire down the other team.”

Ratcliffe also pointed to a tactical switch that helped tip the scales in favor of the home side.

“We wanted to change things a little bit,” he said. “We wanted to start going inside instead of outside, and then try to find the central striker on a diagonal run. That’s how we ended up scoring, and we were fortunate that it worked out in our favor.”

As this game showed, there are no easy points in the Pac-12, and the Cardinal will be thrilled to notch a win in such a drudgy contest. The win moves Stanford level with UCLA on points, but the Bruins have a game in hand.

The Cardinal return to Cagan Sunday from 3pm, playing cellar-dwellars Oregon State, who have yet to earn a point in the Pac-12, and are still winless in this campaign.

 Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu. 

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Men’s soccer takes Derby performance to the Peninsula, downs USF 3-0 https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/26/mens-soccer-takes-derby-performance-to-the-peninsula-downs-usf-3-0/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/26/mens-soccer-takes-derby-performance-to-the-peninsula-downs-usf-3-0/#respond Mon, 27 Oct 2014 05:15:57 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1090634 A weeklong break from Pac-12 play afforded the No. 11 Stanford men’s soccer team an opportunity to rekindle the Derby on the Peninsula against the University of San Francisco Dons. It was to be the 41st meeting between the two Bay Area sides, with USF leading the all-time series 19 wins to 12 and the six remaining […]

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A weeklong break from Pac-12 play afforded the No. 11 Stanford men’s soccer team an opportunity to rekindle the Derby on the Peninsula against the University of San Francisco Dons. It was to be the 41st meeting between the two Bay Area sides, with USF leading the all-time series 19 wins to 12 and the six remaining matches ending in a draw. Friday night’s contest was no such stalemate, as the Cardinal cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory.

The first five or 10 minutes of the match could only be characterized as cagey, as both outfits sought to get spells of possession and assess the opposition. The Dons avoided attacking in favor of a more defensive formation, with one striker and three central midfielders, while head coach Jeremy Gunn made no changes from his starting 11 that drew Cal on October 20th, a sign that the Card’s manager was taking no risks against the local opponents.

USF was still enterprising in its attack, however, and created the first real chance of the match in the 28th minute, as senior playmaker Miguel Aguilar curled a shot just wide of the top corner.

Senior defender Jimmy Callinan (left)
Senior defender Jimmy Callinan (left), a San Francisco and St. Ignatius Prep product, recorded the first goal of his collegiate career on Friday in Stanford’s rout of USF. (SEAN CHRISTOFFERSON/The Stanford Daily)

The 31st minute saw the USF keeper Chase Hauser play a seemingly routine goal kick to his center back, who was caught unawares and pick-pocketed by Stanford senior striker Zach Batteer. With only the keeper the beat, the Card seemed assured of a goal, but Hauser made himself big and was able to get a hand on the first shot. The rebound fell kindly to Batteer, who skipped around the keeper and fired on goal again. USF’s German import Joshua Smith had made a brilliant recovery run and attempted to block the second Batteer effort, but the ball struck his arm. Referee Juan Guzman was given no choice but to show the red card and award the penalty, leaving the Dons to play the last hour with 10 men.

Skipper and team-leading scorer, junior Brandon Vincent calmly slotted the ensuing penalty shot away from 12 yards, sending the keeper the wrong way. It was the left back’s sixth goal on the year.

The Card kept the pressure on for the rest of the first half, with a pair of Foster Langsdorf efforts going begging.

A man down, the home side Dons were clearly overmatched, and Stanford looked to have the game comfortably in the bag.

Stanford doubled their advantage in the 54th, with Langsdorf crossing a ball from the top of the box to the back post for senior forward Eric Verso, who took the ball out of the air first time and put it on a platter for a marauding senior defender Jimmy Callinan, who found the back of the net from five yards out.

Sophomore striker Jordan Morris sealed the win in the 70th minute off an assist from Batteer. Morris’ strike partner delivered a superbly-lofted ball over the Dons’ backline, and Morris was able to take his first touch out of the air and around the keeper, leaving him a simple pass into the net to make it 3-0.

The Cardinal men were unlucky not to add to their tally in the 78th minute, where a cross and header combination was mysteriously negated on a questionable offsides call.

The nature of the second half allowed Stanford’s Gunn to give some younger players some experience, as he fielded a total of 21 players in the match. Most notably, reserve keeper Nico Corti replaced sophomore Andrew Epstein for the final 10 minutes.

In other pertinent team news, freshman midfielder Foster Langsdorf went off injured just past the hour mark, and could face a race against time to be fit enough for the next match.

All in all, it was a comfortable win for the Cardinal. While the match was perhaps altered by the early red card, the Dons never really posed much of a sustained threat.

Stanford will return to Pac-12 play on Thursday night in Westwood against the league leaders UCLA.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Big Derby ends in stalemate as both sides fail to convert chances https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/20/big-derby-ends-in-stalemate-as-both-sides-fail-to-convert-chances/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/20/big-derby-ends-in-stalemate-as-both-sides-fail-to-convert-chances/#respond Tue, 21 Oct 2014 06:38:35 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1090236 The No. 13 Stanford (8-2-2, 2-1-2 Pac-12) men’s soccer team squared off against the No. 18 California Bears (8-3-1, 2-2-1) Monday night at Cagan Stadium. As the first Big Derby fixture of the season, both sides were itching to notch a victory over the adversary, as the Bay Area clubs aimed to keep pace with Pac-12 leaders Washington and UCLA.

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The No. 13 Stanford men’s soccer team (8-2-2, 2-1-2 Pac-12) squared off against the No. 18 California Bears (8-3-1, 2-2-1) Monday night at Cagan Stadium. As the first Big Derby fixture of the season, both sides were itching to notch a victory over the adversary, as the Bay Area teams aimed to keep pace with Pac-12 leaders Washington and UCLA. A true end-to-end contest saw neither side able to create a lasting advantage, with the match finishing 1-1 after extra time.

From the start, the Golden Bears looked the better team, and opened their account just six minutes in. Cal striker Connor Hallisey created space for himself on the left wing, and was able to deliver a curling ball to the far post. The ball was met by the head of Max Oldham, who directed his effort square across the goalmouth. Cal’s Jose Carrera-Garcia was the first to react, pulling off of his marker to send a half volley into the far post.

The Golden Bears kept the pressure on for the large part of the second half, with both sides unlucky to not add to the score sheet. The eighth minute saw Stanford freshman midfielder Corey Baird make a skillful run down the left wing and put a cross on the head of senior Bobby Edwards, whose effort went straight into the hands of keeper Justin Taillole.

The Cal number 1 was called into action again in the 28th minute to collect another headed effort, this time from senior striker Zach Batteer.

Stanford sophomore keeper Andrew Epstein was also tested in the first half, parrying a Nick Lima driven shot from 25 yards. In the 37th minute, Cal again found themselves on the attack through Hallisey, who ran straight at the heart of the Cardinal defense before playing in substitute Paul Salcedo, who cracked a left-footed effort off the near post. Epstein was slightly late in reacting, but was bailed out by his goal frame.

The last action of the first half belonged to Stanford, as Batteer continued to ask questions of Taillole. The Bears keeper had to use every inch of his 6 foot 2 inch frame to keep out Batteer’s shot to the upper left corner of the net.

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Zach Batteer score the equalizing goal as Stanford took home a share of the points. (DAVID BERNAL/isiphotos.com)

The Card came out the second half in a much more positive manner, and wasted no time in testing the Cal defense. An errant back pass led to an effort by sophomore forward Jordan Morris that glazed the side netting wide. Deflected, the shot resulted in a corner. A bending service from senior Austin Meyer fell just inside the six-yard box for Morris to pounce. A combination of the Cal keeper and host of defenders cleared the ball off the line, seemingly cheating death.

Stanford’s equalizer came on a similar play, as a corner again was allowed to bounce in the box. This time, Zach Batteer left nothing to chance and assertively stuffed the ball away.

The final 15 minutes of regular time were relatively cagey, with no real clear-cut chances. Both sides made substitutions in the 83rd minute in hopes of igniting their attacks, but their attempts were futile.

In the first period of extra time, the best chance was a brilliant solo effort by Cardinal senior Bobby Edwards, who cut inside from the right flank and rifled a left-footed strike that Taillole could only tip onto the bar.

As the whistle blew to change ends, it felt as if Stanford had a winner in them. The home supporters were buzzing, and Edwards’ effort combined with stable defending had instilled a sense of belief into Jeremy Gunn’s charges.

The final 10 minutes of extra time gave both sides a real chance to win, but neither was able to capitalize. Sophomore defender Brian Nana-Sinkam fouled a Cal striker on edge of the penalty area and was shown the yellow card, but more pressingly, had conceded a dangerous free kick. Bears captain Seth Casiple curled his effort over the wall, but perhaps put too much whip on the shot as it curled wide.

The 107th minute brought the Big Derby to its dramatic climax, as a cross from Stanford skipper and left back Brandon Vincent was headed down to an unmarked Jordan Morris. Eight yards out and with only the keeper to beat, Stanford seemed convinced their team had found a winner. But, in an uncharacteristic display, Morris struck a powerful shot well over the goal. A true sitter, the Cardinal would stand to rue that chance as the final whistle blew.

Stanford head coach Jeremy Gunn gave an honest and holistic view of the game, citing chances from both sides that could have tipped the scales in either direction.

“I think that 5-3 (in favor of Stanford) would have been a fair result today,” Gunn said. “In the second half, we were the better team, and had them on their heels.”

In regards to Cal’s only goal, Gunn was complimentary, but also critical of his defense. He said, “We gave away a great goal, but there was also poor defending. We were able to dodge a couple of bullets, and [Cal] was able to dodge more.”

In a true “bend but don’t break” display, neither team was clinical enough to deserve the win. Chances on both ends should have been converted, and another night may have seen a drastically different outcome.

The Stanford men move to eight points in the Pac-12, 2 adrift of the leaders. The Cardinal will next be in action on Friday, with a non-conference match-up against the USF Dons.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu. 

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Batteer nets the equalizer as Stanford ties UCLA 1-1 in 2OT https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/12/batteer-nets-the-equalizer-as-stanford-ties-ucla-1-1-in-2ot/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/12/batteer-nets-the-equalizer-as-stanford-ties-ucla-1-1-in-2ot/#respond Mon, 13 Oct 2014 05:50:08 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1089596 The No. 15 Stanford men’s soccer team played host to the No. 2 UCLA Bruins Sunday night on the Farm. Laird Q. Cagan Stadium has been a proverbial fortress for the Card so far this year, as they had yet to drop points on their home turf. The Bruins, meanwhile, were looking to rebound from […]

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The No. 15 Stanford men’s soccer team played host to the No. 2 UCLA Bruins Sunday night on the Farm. Laird Q. Cagan Stadium has been a proverbial fortress for the Card so far this year, as they had yet to drop points on their home turf. The Bruins, meanwhile, were looking to rebound from their shock extra time defeat at Cal on Friday. A close match saw the game into overtime, where neither team could break the deadlock. The match finished 1-1.

Stanford head coach Jeremy Gunn was once again without the services of striker Jordan Morris, so freshman Foster Langsdorf found himself in the starting eleven come kickoff. Otherwise, the home side fielded a full-strength lineup in a traditional 4-4-2.

The match began conservatively, with the ball staying largely in the middle third. It was not until the 14th minute that the first real chance was created, as Stanford freshman Corey Baird found enough space to curl a right-footed shot that forced Bruins keeper Earl Edwards, Jr. to push the ball over the bar. Baird again found himself in possession two minutes later, and embarked on a mazy run down the left that resulted in a tame effort straight at Edwards, Jr.

Senior forward Zach Batteer (above)
Senior forward Zach Batteer (above) was particularly active versus UCLA on Sunday evening, pulling the Cardinal even with the Bruins on a 58th-minute strike. (SEAN CHRISTOFFERSON/The Stanford Daily)

On the whole, the first half belonged largely to Stanford, as the Bruins only registered one shot. The away side was lucky to go to the locker room with a clean sheet, as a Langsdorf toe poke from a Zach Batteer pass struck the side netting, while defender Brian Nana-Sinkham’s headed effort forced Edwards, Jr. into action yet again. Skipper Brandon Vincent also came close, steering a rising half volley wide on the stroke of halftime.

UCLA came out the second half seemingly awoken from its first-half slumber, and immediately had the Stanford defense on the back foot. In the 49th minute, Bruins midfielder Brian Iloski curled a cross in from the left side to the boot of Aaron Simmons, who stuffed the ball back across goal with a confident first-time shot.

Jeremy Gunn’s side was up to the task, however, and equalized on 58 minutes. Baird again found himself on the ball, and had the quality to dribble right at the heart of the defense. Showing his Bruins counterparts a clean pair of heels, the Vista Grande High School product laid the ball off for Zach Batteer, who crisply slotted the ball home to the far post.

The Cardinal had a legitimate penalty shot on 64 minutes, as the ball appeared to come in contact with the arm of a sliding UCLA defender. The referee’s assistant had a clear view, and waved off appeals from a host of Stanford players.

UCLA found itself on the offensive soon after, as striker Iloski was able to turn his defender and play the ball square to an unmarked Larry Ndjock. Since keeper Andrew Epstein had already committed to the threat of Iloski, the goal was left gaping open for the striker, who fluffed his lines and shot high from 10 yards out. It was an absolute sitter, and drew a collective groan from the travelling support.

As regulation time began to wind down, Stanford looked the side more likely to escape with the winner. The 87th minute saw a bouncing ball sit up nicely for Ty Thompson, who shot wide.

Stanford keeper Andrew Epstein drew the most plaudits in the first period of extra time, scurrying back to his line to catch a half shot, half cross from UCLA left back Jordan Vale. Epstein again came to his side’s rescue in the 97th minute, pouncing on a Seyi Adekoya half-turn effort that nearly snuck in the near post.

The second period of extra time was all Bruins, as the UCLA attack produced a cross to an unmarked Gage Zerboni, who should have done better as his headed effort went straight into the hands of Epstein.

Both sides registered half chances in the dying minutes, but in the end neither team was able to strike the killer blow.

Stanford head coach Jeremy Gunn was pleased with his team’s performance, and hinted that he thinks his side may have deserved the three points.

“If it was a boxing match, I think we were ahead on rounds at the end of the game,” Gunn said.

The Stanford head coach was unwilling to put too much stock in the result, however, saying, “It is just another step along the way.”

“We showed incredible drive and resilience,” Gunn continued.

When asked what may have been lacking from his team in the match, Gunn said he would have liked “a little more movement behind the back line.” While Stanford was able to outpossess the Bruins on the night, they lacked the precise penetration necessary to create goals.

Stanford’s result tonight puts it on seven points in the Pac-12, which keeps it as a joint table-toppers with No. 1 Washington, who drew 1-1 with Oregon State Sunday afternoon.

The Stanford men will return to action Monday week, as they host Cal in the first Big Derby fixture of the season.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s soccer notches another home victory https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/10/mens-soccer-notches-another-home-victory/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/10/mens-soccer-notches-another-home-victory/#respond Fri, 10 Oct 2014 07:44:39 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1089453 The No. 15 Stanford men’s soccer team (8-2-0, 2-1-0) played host to the San Diego State Aztecs (6-4-0, 0-2-0) Thursday night at Cagan Stadium. Stanford was able to continue its immaculate run of form at home, prevailing 2-0 to notch its sixth victory on the Farm in this campaign. The Cardinal were without talisman sophomore […]

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The No. 15 Stanford men’s soccer team (8-2-0, 2-1-0) played host to the San Diego State Aztecs (6-4-0, 0-2-0) Thursday night at Cagan Stadium. Stanford was able to continue its immaculate run of form at home, prevailing 2-0 to notch its sixth victory on the Farm in this campaign.

(ERIN ASHBY/The Stanford Daily)
Senior striker Zach Bateer (right) scored his first goal of the season in the 22nd minute of the Cardinal’s 2-0 victory over conference foe SDSU. (ERIN ASHBY/The Stanford Daily)

The Cardinal were without talisman sophomore Jordan Morris, who travelled to Brazil earlier this week to take part in a special U-23 National Team camp. Head coach Jeremy Gunn’s artillery nary missed a beat, however, as the home side amassed a stunning 21 shots in an eye-catching performance.

It was all Stanford from the opening kick-off, but a lack of finishing quality kept both sides scoreless. The deadlock was finally broken in the 22nd minute, as right back Jimmy Callinan was able to get to the byline and whip an inviting ball into the area. Senior striker Zach Bateer beat his defender for pace, and barreled the ball into the net with delightful diving header.

The Aztecs were lucky not to concede more before the break, as a Stanford center back Tomas Hillard-Arce effort struck the post in the 40th minute.

The Card continued their offensive barrage in the second half, and doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute. Callinan again played the role of set-up man, this time playing a square ball to Brandon Vincent. The left back took one touch, and then sent an absolute laser into the far corner from 25 yards out. It was the junior captain’s fifth goal of the year, and confirms his place as Stanford’s top goal scorer so far this season.

Gunn was able to utilize his side’s utter control of the match to employ some squad rotation, as he fielded 17 different players throughout the course of the match. Fifth-year senior Matt Taylor made his season debut, while freshman Drew Skundrich entered the fray for the last 20 minutes, gaining some valuable experience in a Pac-12 contest.

Stanford was unlucky not to extend its advantage towards the end of the match, as substitute Mark Verso forced a save out of SDSU keeper Adam Allmaras in the 89th minute.

The three points from this match send the Cardinal to top of the Pac-12 table, as they are now even with No. 1 Washington with six points, though the Huskies have a game in hand.

Stanford’s attacking form should set it up nicely for their next outing against No. 2 UCLA. The Cardinal and the Bruins will square off at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Cagan Stadium.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willidri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Cardinal suffer tough loss to No. 5 Huskies https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/05/cardinal-suffer-tough-loss-to-no-5-huskies/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/05/cardinal-suffer-tough-loss-to-no-5-huskies/#respond Mon, 06 Oct 2014 06:33:50 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1089026 The No. 18 Stanford men’s soccer team played the second match of their two-game road trip on Sunday night, taking on the No. 5 Washington Huskies at Husky Soccer Stadium. Going into the match, the Card possessed the longest active winning streak in the NCAA at seven games, while the Dawgs themselves had won six on the trot. In addition to three points for the win, the victor in this contest would sit alone atop the Pac-12 table with a perfect six points from two conference matches.

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The No. 18 Stanford men’s soccer team (7-2, 1-1) played the second match of their two-game road trip on Sunday night, taking on the No. 5 Washington Huskies at Husky Soccer Stadium. Going into the match, the Card possessed the longest active winning streak in the NCAA at seven games, while the Dawgs themselves had won six on the trot. In addition to three points for the win, the victor in this contest would sit alone atop the Pac-12 table with a perfect six points from two conference matches. The Cardinal ultimately lost 3-1 to the Huskies.

(JIM SHORIN/stanfordphoto.com)
Sophomore forward Jordan Morris (above) did all he could to take matters in his own hands in the second half against Washington with Stanford down late, but his efforts fell short, as did the Cardinal. (JIM SHORIN/stanfordphoto.com)

Stanford came out the gate pressing high up the pitch, creating its first shot within a minute of kickoff. The dogged determination of the Cardinal midfield, led by junior Ty Thompson, resulted in plenty of possession time for the Cardinal early. In attack, head coach Jeremy Gunn’s men sought to exploit the wicked pace of sophomore Jordan Morris, as intricate linking passes were shirked for long balls over the top.

Morris, a native of Seattle suburb Mercer Island, enjoyed a proverbial homecoming marked by an ovation from the UW support before kickoff.

Stanford continued to create chances early, as Zach Batteer and Corey Baird registered attempts on goal within the first 10 minutes.

By the 15th minute, it seemed as if the air had been truly taken out of the ball as both sides began to retreat into defense and feel each other out. Neither side was enterprising in attack, as each preferred to shadow box to see if the opponent might tip its hand.

On 20 minutes, Thompson continued his stellar run of form, marauding into the opposition box off of a one-two from Batteer. Sandwiched by two Husky defenders, Thompson went down and raised his hands, shouting for a penalty. The referee appeared uninterested and the game continued on. While the defenders made no contact with ball, Thompson may have gone down a little easily — it could have gone either way.

From there, Washington began to flex its offensive muscles through senior striker Darwin Jones. The physical Seattle Sounders Academy product kept the Cardinal defense busy the entire night, using his physicality and pace to create chances.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 35th minute when Husky junior midfielder James Moberg played a short corner from the left side to a slashing Steven Wright. The sophomore took the pass the first time, curling a scintillating left-footed strike into the far corner.

This goal seemed to further ignite the Husky attack, as the advantage was doubled two minutes later. Moberg again delivered quality service from a set piece, this time finding the head of an unmarked Mason Robertson.

Jones came close to killing off the game before on 41 minutes, driving a low free kick from 25 yards out off the left post.

The Cardinal were handed a lifeline on the stroke of halftime, as substitute Marshall Glover forced a Husky defender into handling the ball in the box. Junior captain Brandon Vincent calmly slotted the penalty to the right of the keeper to halve the deficit.

Gunn’s squad came out a changed squad in the second half, quickly taking the initiative. Morris really began to get involved in the match, dropping slightly deeper to pick up the ball. His efforts, while enterprising, lacked the incisiveness necessary to break down the stout Husky defense.

In the 61st minute, Washington senior Andy Thoma found himself with acres of space, and set off on a careening run down the left wing. He was swiftly stood up and dispossessed by the Cardinal back line, only to see the ball fall for Jones. The ball sat up well for the Mt. Rainier High School man, who inflicted the knockout blow on the Cardinal. Slightly deflected, the shot still maintained enough power to loop over an outstretched Andrew Epstein, who had an otherwise above-average outing between the sticks.

The last quarter of the game was marked by two or three slaloming runs from Morris, who sought to take matters into his own hands. His ability on the ball showed all in attendance why he has been identified as one for the future with Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. National Team. The 82nd minute saw the sophomore beat three defenders and laser a left-footed strike onto the bar, inducing visible frustration from the sophomore so desperate to perform in his hometown.

Morris’ efforts were to be all for naught, as the Cardinal lacked the ultimate quality to find the back of the net. Washington was the better side for the majority of the match, aside from a few moments of brilliance from Morris.

The Cardinal stay on three points in the Pac-12, while the Huskies will begin the week as table-toppers.

Gunn’s men will next be in action on Thursday, as they begin a three-match home stand with a 6 p.m. kickoff against San Diego State.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s soccer to open Pac-12 slate against Oregon State https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/01/mens-soccer-to-open-pac-12-slate-against-oregon-state/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/10/01/mens-soccer-to-open-pac-12-slate-against-oregon-state/#respond Thu, 02 Oct 2014 05:29:54 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1088635 On Thursday night, the Stanford men’s soccer team travels to Corvallis to take on the Oregon State Beavers at Patrick Wayne Valley Stadium. This match is the Pac-12 opener for the newly minted No. 18 Card, as they finished out non-conference play with a 6-1-0 record. The Beavers enter the match with a 7-2-0 non-conference […]

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On Thursday night, the Stanford men’s soccer team travels to Corvallis to take on the Oregon State Beavers at Patrick Wayne Valley Stadium. This match is the Pac-12 opener for the newly minted No. 18 Card, as they finished out non-conference play with a 6-1-0 record.

The Beavers enter the match with a 7-2-0 non-conference record, and have impressed the NCAA soccer nation enough to merit five votes in the Sept. 30 coaches’ poll (earning them a T-35th ranking). With the added pressure and importance of conference play, this promises to be a tasty affair.

Stanford head coach Jeremy Gunn’s squad recently closed the book on a five-match, five-win home stand in which they outscored their opponents 13-3. This run of games included a banner win over then-No. 11 Delaware, and cemented the Cardinal’s lofty position in the rankings. All told, the Stanford men have won six matches in a row, and they will put that streak on trial come Thursday.

Gunn owes much of his team’s recent success to junior Ty Thompson. While the Sacramento native’s contribution may not always be evident on the score sheet, his combination of skill and grit is invaluable on both sides of the ball. Even as a deep-lying, holding midfielder, Thompson’s style of play takes him from box to box. But, the junior knows his primary assignment lies in preventing goals.

“My big job is to be one of the hard-working guys on the team who digs out balls,” Thompson said, referring to his defensive responsibilities.

Junior midfielder Ty Thompson (above)
Junior midfielder Ty Thompson (above) may not stuff the state sheet, but his knack for flipping the field and turning defense into offense has been critical to Stanford’s success thus far. (JIM SHORIN/isiphotos.com)

The junior’s ability to quell attacks eases the pressure on the back four, but also can turn into quick counter-attack opportunities. Earlier this season, Thompson memorably pick-pocketed a Delaware defender and had the initiative to run with the ball straight at the goal. He was brought down just outside the box, drawing a foul and a red card, creating a scoring opportunity for his team.

“I’m always trying to score goals or create opportunities,” Thompson added.

Thompson and co. will have their hands full in Corvallis, as the Beavers have yet to concede points on their home turf. Oregon State head coach Steve Simmons has guided his team to six wins in six matches at Patrick Wayne, and will rely on a formidable combination of attack and defense to tame the Cardinal.

The Beavers’ traditional number 9, freshman Timmy Mueller, leads all Beavers scorers with six goals so far this year. The 6-3, 196-pound striker will look to put himself about the Cardinal defense in an attempt to find the net. Mueller will not be alone in his attacking exploits however, as eight different Beavers have found the net this year. While much of this can be attributed to their recent 11-1 humiliation of NCAA minnow Northwest Christian, the Cardinal should not underestimate the Beavers’ artillery.

Oregon State will also look to senior Khiry Shelton, an attacking midfielder and playmaker who, along with notching four goals for himself, has dished out nine assists year-to-date. The Shelton-Mueller combination looks deadly on paper, but will have a tough time against an in-form Cardinal defense that kept a shutout against WCC outfit Gonzaga their last time out.

Collegiate men’s soccer is physical by nature, and this match appears to be no exception. The prospect of an in-conference win will raise the stakes for both squads, and both the Beavers and the Card will look to take at least a shared place atop the Pac-12 table come the final whistle.

A cursory view at the recent performances of both teams says that a flurry of goals could be on offer in Corvallis, but soccer is never that easy. Both teams might be willing to lay off the ball early and allow the game to settle before injecting some more attacking play. And once the guard is let down, the game will be on.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu

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Cardinal men’s soccer clips Blue Hens, wins 2-1 https://stanforddaily.com/2014/09/21/cardinal-mens-soccer-clips-blue-hens-wins-2-1/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/09/21/cardinal-mens-soccer-clips-blue-hens-wins-2-1/#respond Mon, 22 Sep 2014 05:21:46 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1088054 Coach Jeremy Gunn’s men’s soccer team played host to the No. 11 Delaware Blue Hens on a breezy Sunday afternoon at Cagan Stadium. The No. 24 Stanford Cardinal looked to continue their home winning streak, while Delaware was keen to avenge their first defeat of the season that came across the Bay at the hands […]

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Coach Jeremy Gunn’s men’s soccer team played host to the No. 11 Delaware Blue Hens on a breezy Sunday afternoon at Cagan Stadium. The No. 24 Stanford Cardinal looked to continue their home winning streak, while Delaware was keen to avenge their first defeat of the season that came across the Bay at the hands of Cal 4-2 on Friday. On paper, the match assured spectacle and grit, as two high-flying attacks set out to do battle. In the end, though, it was Stanford (5-1) who topped Delaware (6-2) by a narrow margin of 2-1.

Both teams came out of the gate at full tilt, with Stanford applying enough immediate pressure to win two corners. Neither resulted in a clear-cut chance, but served as a statement of intent from the home side. Stanford seemed unwilling to concede an inch, pressing high up the pitch and forcing a handful of rushed passes from the Delaware defense.

In scoring the game-winning goal, freshman midfielder Corey Baird (above) recorded his first-ever goal in a Stanford uniform. (JIM SHORIN/stanfordphoto.com)
In scoring the game-winning goal, freshman midfielder Corey Baird (above) recorded his first-ever goal in a Stanford uniform. (JIM SHORIN/stanfordphoto.com)

The Blue Hens were able to respond, however, as striker Joe Dipre was able to create a half-yard of space and fire off a shot, forcing sophomore keeper Andrew Epstein into action. Epstein parried the ball to his right easily, but the effort was enough to yield a collective gasp from the supporters.

A rash challenge at midfield provided the first flash point of the match as Cardinal captain and left-back Brandon Vincent brought down Jaime Martinez. Jeers rang out as the referee reached for his pocket and brandished the yellow card.

The 26th minute brought the best chance of the match up to that point as striker Jordan Morris found himself on the receiving end of a through pass. Delaware keeper Borja Barbero held strong, getting all of his angles right as he rejected Morris and swallowed the follow-up shot.

Gunn made the first tactical switch of the afternoon a minute later, replacing sophomore Marshall Glover, senior Eric Verso and junior Slater Meehan with freshman Corey Baird, senior Zach Batteer and fifth-year senior Austin Meyer, respectively. Gunn kept his traditional 4-4-2 formation, but sought to keep his lineup fresh with the three substitutions.

Cardinal left midfielder Corey Baird was enterprising offensively and gave defender Ignacio Martin fits the entire day. The right back was well overmatched for pace and two tackles on Baird in three minutes had him seeing yellow before half.

The first 10 minutes of the second half were true end-to-end stuff, with both sides tallying chances. A one-two back-heel combination between Morris and Verso should have opened the scoring, but Morris shot wide.

Not six minutes later saw junior Ty Thompson again on the attack, as he pounced on a weak pass from the keeper to the center back. Free on goal, the central midfielder was brought down on the edge of the box. On an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, the referee was left no option but to show the red card to the offender, Thibault Philippe.

The Card were quick to capitalize on their one-man advantage, as Vincent bombed down the left wing and crossed a ball to the foot of Verso, who tucked the ball away in the 54th minute.

Delaware was not going down without a fight, though, as a momentary lapse in concentration allowed Martinez to thread a free kick on the foot of winger Ben Asante, who equalized with ease in a one-on-one with Epstein.

The Card regained their composure quickly, constantly turning the screw on the fatiguing Blue Hens. In the 64th minute, Baird got the better of his defender on a bouncing ball near the top of the box, and had the quality to chip the ball deftly over the keeper and into the net.

From there on, Stanford looked destined to win the match, as it enjoyed more and more possession. Thompson began to really pull the strings in midfield, marshaling his troops and directing the flow of play.

Baird continued to be dangerous, taking on the Delaware defense near every time he picked up the ball.

The 82nd minute saw Vincent beat his marker again and serve a cross to Batteer. The Pittsburgh native hit a first-time volley straight into the body of the outstretched Barbero. Inches to the right or left, and the game would have been rightly killed off.

The final whistle marked the Card’s first victory over a ranked opponent this season.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Women’s soccer at full throttle heading into match with Santa Clara https://stanforddaily.com/2014/09/19/womens-soccer-at-full-throttle-heading-into-match-with-santa-clara/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/09/19/womens-soccer-at-full-throttle-heading-into-match-with-santa-clara/#respond Fri, 19 Sep 2014 22:35:52 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1088022 The Stanford women’s soccer team has enjoyed a meteoric start to its 2014 campaign, taking 6 wins in 7 matches. Four of those victories have come against ranked opponents. More impressively, the Cardinal women have yet to concede a goal, and are the only squad left in the nation with a zero in the “goals […]

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The Stanford women’s soccer team has enjoyed a meteoric start to its 2014 campaign, taking 6 wins in 7 matches. Four of those victories have come against ranked opponents. More impressively, the Cardinal women have yet to concede a goal, and are the only squad left in the nation with a zero in the “goals against” column.

Paul Ratcliffe’s players will put their perfect defensive record on trial this Friday against Bay Area rivals Santa Clara at Cagan Stadium. The Cardinal enter the match fresh off of an 8-0 thrashing of Dayton, but should expect a much tougher test against the Broncos.

Senior forward Chioma Ubogagu (left) is second on the team with three goals and is tied for the team lead with two assists. (ALLISON SHORIN/stanfordphoto.com)
Senior forward Chioma Ubogagu (left) is second on the team with three goals and is tied for the team lead with two assists. (ALLISON SHORIN/stanfordphoto.com)

Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith will lead his squad into Friday’s contest boasting a No. 24 national ranking. The Broncos have begun the season 4-3, with all 3 losses coming against ranked opponents; most recently, the West Coast Conference squad fell 1-0 to No. 11 Cal away.

The early season has seen senior Sofia Huerta emerge as the Broncos most prolific scoring, netting 6 goals in the opening 7 matches. If Santa Clara is going to have a shot at overcoming the Card, Huerta will have to be at her best. If she scores, however, it will not be her first time unlocking Ratcliffe’s defense.

Last year’s fixture saw Santa Clara host Stanford in a nationally televised match. The Broncos looked the part for much of the match, and entered the last 10 minutes of the game tied 1-1. That was until the 83rd minute, when Huerta found herself with the ball and crafted a goal off of a brilliant individual effort. The home crowd was buzzing, but time could not expire quickly enough for the south Bay Area squad. Less than one minute from full time, Courtney Verloo equalized to send the match to overtime. Huerta was unable to replicate her heroics from earlier in the game, and Stanford was able to hold off the Santa Clara attack. Instead, lightning struck twice as Verloo struck the winning blow in the 107th minute.

This performance showed massive improvement for Smith’s team, who opened its 2012 season with a deflating 6-1 loss at the hands of the Cardinal. The Broncos will be keen to better the past two years’ results: A win, or at least a tie, would be a fair goal.

Getting any sort of result out of the Card, though, will be extremely tough. Laird Q. Cagan Stadium has historically been a fortress for Coach Ratcliffe’s side — goals are difficult to come by for visiting teams, and this year looks to be no exception.

The Stanford women are currently four games through a six game homestand, with a combined score of 11-0 in those matches. Two of those games have been against ranked opponents. No. 25 Notre Dame gave the Cardinal their most difficult test of the season thus far, going the distance in a double overtime thriller that ended in a 0-0 stalemate. 5 days later, the Card played host to the No. 6 Florida Gators, and were again unable to break the deadlock in 90 minutes. Quick work was made of extra time, however, as an aggressive Stephanie Amack was brought down on the edge of the penalty area in the 93rd minute. The referee was left no choice but to point to the spot, and gave Lo’eau LaBonta the chance to put the game to bed. Cool as you like, she slotted the ball to the keeper’s right, securing victory for her squad.

The Cardinal will be eager to keep this run of form up as PAC-12 play is just around the corner.

“[I want] the team to keep getting better, keep improving,” Ratcliffe told GoStanford.com. “We’ve got to hit our stride before we hit conference.”

After a rather soft contest against Dayton, the Santa Clara County derby is exactly the type of match the Cardinal women need. The No. 4 vs. No. 24 match-up means that the quality of play figures to be good, and the geographical battle will make the stakes just that little bit higher. Santa Clara, who for the past years has played underdog in this fixture, will be looking intently for a result. However, if the Stanford defense plays as well as it has all year, the Broncos will be fortunate to find the net.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Men’s soccer continues homestand, faces Southern Illinois-Edwardsville https://stanforddaily.com/2014/09/19/mens-soccer-continues-homestand-faces-southern-illinois-edwardsville/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/09/19/mens-soccer-continues-homestand-faces-southern-illinois-edwardsville/#respond Fri, 19 Sep 2014 22:26:54 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1088019 The Stanford men’s soccer team takes the field for its first match in 10 days this Friday at Cagan Stadium. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville will serve as the opponents, and the Cardinal look to continue a stellar run of form. Jeremy Gunn’s side rebounded off of an opening loss at Creighton to win three matches on the […]

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The Stanford men’s soccer team takes the field for its first match in 10 days this Friday at Cagan Stadium. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville will serve as the opponents, and the Cardinal look to continue a stellar run of form. Jeremy Gunn’s side rebounded off of an opening loss at Creighton to win three matches on the bounce, the most recent being a 4-1 drubbing of UC-Santa Barbara.

This match is the third of five consecutive home matches for the Card, and the first of three matches in a week as they careen towards the beginning of Pac-12 conference play. Stanford’s league play is slated to begin at Oregon State on October 2nd.

Junior defender and captain Brandon Vincent (3) holds together a Cardinal backline that will be challenged by Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Friday night. (SHIRLEY PEFLEY/Stanford Photo)
Junior defender and captain Brandon Vincent (3) holds together a Cardinal backline that will be challenged by Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Friday night. (SHIRLEY PEFLEY/Stanford Photo)

The SIU Cougars are relative rookies to the Division I NCAA scene, having only been promoted from Division II in 2008. The men’s soccer program, unlike the rest of the athletic department, competes in the Missouri Valley Conference. Last season saw the Cougars compile a 3-3 conference record, with a banner road win in extra time against MVC runners-up Missouri State. SIU finished the season 8-9-2.

Their 2014 campaign has begun rather unimpressively, as the Cougar attack has failed to get out of first gear. SIU has netted only 5 goals in its opening 6 games, yielding a 0-4-2 record. The Cardinal defense will be primarily occupied with SIU’s number 10, Christian Volesky. The all-conference striker has been the only shining light in an otherwise bleak SIU offense, accounting for 4 of the 5 SIU goals thus far.

The Cougars’ other all-conference player, midfielder Matt Polster, is also capable of putting defenders on the back foot. The 6-foot senior out of Nevada led his squad in assists last year (4), and will look to provide link play between Volesky and the rest of the attack.

Stanford, meanwhile, will be looking for a business-as-usual performance. The heavy favorites entering the match, the Card certainly want to keep their standard of play high, and leave nothing to chance.

The offense has been firing on all cylinders as of late, with goals coming from all over the roster. The first four matches for Stanford have produced 6 different goal scorers, with strikers Bobby Edwards and Eric Verso leading the squad with two apiece. The two California natives will look to add to their tallies on Friday, as a suspect SIU defense should result in plenty of chances for the home side.

Among those looking to get his name on the score sheet will be sophomore striker Jordan Morris, who was recently called into the US Men’s National Team for its friendly against the Czech Republic. While Morris did not enter the match, the experience he gained from training with the top talent in the nation figures to do wonders for his confidence. Morris took three shots in his first game back from international duty against UCSB, but will be looking to turn those attempts in goals for his team come Friday.

The concept of home-field advantage will be taken to a new level for Stanford so far this year as well, as this Friday’s match-up will mark the first home game where the majority of students will be on campus. With the NCAA soccer season starting with training camp in mid-August, the Cardinal played a handful of matches before most students even began to pack their bags for The Farm. Thus, with NSO recently completed and upperclassmen beginning to descend on campus, Laird Q. Cagan Stadium should have a much more student-based and partisan feel come kick-off.

The 2014 season is still young for Jeremy Gunn’s squad, but matches like this one can only build confidence for a side that reached the third round of the NCAA tournament last year. The men will be looking to build on last year’s tournament run, and taking care of business early in the season is a stepping stone to that goal.

While this match may not have the marquee feel of a Pac-12 fixture, this is a good early-season examination to test the team’s patience and resolve. Expect SIU to put 9 or 10 men behind the ball and play to get to extra time. The Cardinal should enjoy plenty of possession as they try and break down the SIU defense, and while the Cougars will try to bar the gate, Stanford’s quality should see them to victory in the end.

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Morris earns national team call-up https://stanforddaily.com/2014/08/31/morris-earns-national-team-call-up/ https://stanforddaily.com/2014/08/31/morris-earns-national-team-call-up/#respond Sun, 31 Aug 2014 13:48:45 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1087772 When the US men’s national soccer team takes the field against the Czech Republic on Sept. 3, Stanford supporters will have an extra incentive to tune in. On Aug. 28, national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann named his 22-man roster to report to Prague ahead of the midweek friendly, with Stanford sophomore striker Jordan Morris included […]

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When the US men’s national soccer team takes the field against the Czech Republic on Sept. 3, Stanford supporters will have an extra incentive to tune in. On Aug. 28, national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann named his 22-man roster to report to Prague ahead of the midweek friendly, with Stanford sophomore striker Jordan Morris included in the group.

Sophomore forward Jordan Morris is the first active college player to earn a call-up to the men's national team under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. (David Bernal/isiphotos.com)
Sophomore forward Jordan Morris is the first active college player to earn a call-up to the men’s national team under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. (David Bernal/isiphotos.com)

Morris has represented his country before at the U-23 level, but this will serve as his first foray with the senior team. With the World Cup recently completed, these seemingly cumbersome exhibition matches provide a national team manager with a chance to survey the younger side of his talent pool. With the 2018 World Cup four years away, Klinsmann must give youngsters like Morris experience in international competition before the march to Russia begins in 2015.

Morris will train with the squad in Prague, and should be fairly certain of some involvement in the match due the relaxed, unlimited substitution policy of these friendlies. The No. 20 Cardinal (0-1) will be without Morris for their matchup today against Nebraska Omaha.

“We have watched Jordan through our Youth National Teams and in the Development Academy for the last couple of years, and he is a very promising player,” Klinsmann said. “We saw him during our two weeks at Stanford for the World Cup preparation camp, and also from his play with U-23 team in the Bahamas, and we felt like this was a good opportunity to introduce him to the Senior Team.”

The precocious Cardinal goal scorer, who netted six goals for Stanford in the 2013 collegiate season, will also have the opportunity to draw on the experience of 10 national team players who took part in the United States’ meteoric World Cup run in Brazil this past summer who will be rejoining the squad in Prague. Among them are striker Jozy Altidore and German-American Julian Green, who became a household name after netting a volley against Belgium in the Round of 16.

Regardless of the result of Tuesday’s match, this will be an invaluable experience for Morris. With the MLS in the throes of their season, Klinsmann chose a largely European-based squad: Morris was one of only three North American-based (MLS or Mexican league) players selected. Furthermore, Morris is the only collegiate player to ever earn a senior team call-up during Klinsmann’s three-year tenure.

The post-World Cup period has ushered in a new era of national team footballers, and this selection confirms Morris as one of the best prospects.

“It is an unbelievable honor to be recognized by the National Team coach and to be invited into camp for one of their international friendlies,” Stanford head coach Jeremy Gunn to GoStanford.com. “It is quite an achievement for Jordan and one I’m sure he will cherish.”

Contact Will Drinkwater at willydri ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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