No. 9 Notre Dame Halts No. 13 Stanford Soccer in 2-1 Defeat
Stanford Falls to Notre Dame Following Early Deficit
A pair of goals in the opening nine minutes proved decisive as No. 13 Stanford dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 9 Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon at Cagan Stadium, gostanford.com reported. The loss brings the Cardinal record to 10-4-2 overall and 4-4-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while concluding the team’s regular-season home schedule with a 7-2-1 mark.
The Match Summary:
- Opening Pressure: Notre Dame scored twice in the first nine minutes, beginning with Izzy Engle’s goal just 45 seconds into the match.
- Second-Half Response: Stanford generated an 8-5 advantage in shots after the break, highlighted by Mia Bhuta heading home a 56th-minute cross from Charlotte Kohler.
- Final Standings Context: The defeat moves Stanford to an 8-9-4 all-time record against the Fighting Irish, marking the program’s first home loss to Notre Dame in history.
Early Goals Secure Victory for Notre Dame
The visiting Fighting Irish applied immediate pressure on the Stanford defense. Just 45 seconds after kickoff, Morgan Roy played a ball into the box that Izzy Engle settled at the penalty spot before bouncing a shot past Stanford goalkeeper Caroline Birkel. The strike marked Engle’s ninth goal of the season. Notre Dame expanded its lead in the ninth minute when a midfield breakdown allowed a quick counterattack, culminating in Lily Joseph cutting to her left and driving a rocket into the back of the net.
The early flurry defined the opening half. Notre Dame controlled the pace and secured a 7-3 advantage in shots over the first 45 minutes, keeping the Stanford attack largely contained.
Second-Half Adjustments Spark Cardinal Push
Stanford regrouped during the intermission and shifted the momentum after the break. The hosts outshot Notre Dame 8-5 in the second stanza, translating territorial possession into scoring opportunities. In the 56th minute, senior Mia Bhuta connected on a header off a cross from Charlotte Kohler, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and netting her second goal of the season.
Despite sustained pressure down the stretch, Notre Dame fended off the comeback bid to preserve the win. Birkel finished the match with three saves for Stanford, while Kohler recorded her team-leading seventh assist of the year, bringing her career total to 53 goal contributions across 25 goals and 28 assists.
Upcoming Match at Boston College
Stanford will wrap up its regular-season slate next week with a trip to face Boston College on Thursday, November 5, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. PT. Meanwhile, broader soccer schedules and results continue across collegiate and professional circuits, with secondary updates noted by various sources covering various regional fixtures and league standings as November begins.
