STANFORD, Calif. – the No.1 Stanford Cardinal women’s soccer team secured a 3-2 victory over Virginia on Thursday,advancing to the championship final. Stanford’s dominant first-half performance, punctuated by a spectacular goal from senior Jasmine Aikey with just four seconds remaining, propelled them to the win.
Stanford quickly took control, with Charlotte Kohler scoring her ninth and tenth goals of the season in the 17th and 28th minutes, respectively, to give the Cardinal a 2-0 lead. Aikey then extended the advantage to 3-0 before halftime with her team-leading 14th goal of the season - a 40-yard shot.
Virginia responded in the second half, outshooting Stanford 15-5 and narrowing the gap with goals from meredith McDermott in the 58th minute and maggie Cagle on a penalty kick in the 85th minute.
Despite the Cavaliers’ second-half push, Stanford goalkeeper Caroline birkel, the 2025 ACC Goalkeeper of the Year, delivered a career-high six saves – four in the second half – to preserve the victory.
GAME NOTES:
* Stanford has scored at least three goals in 13 of its first 18 matches this season.
* The Cardinal is averaging a national-best 23.28 shots per game, having posted at least 20 in 12 of the first 18 matches, and leads the nation in scoring offense (4.00 goals per game).
* Stanford boasts a 62-7-9 overall record over its last 78 matches and has won 10 straight contests.
* Jasmine Aikey has contributed at least a point in 14 of the first 18 matches this season, scoring in six of her last nine and in 11 of 18 contests overall. She leads the team with 35 points (14 goals and seven assists) and has five game-winners, totaling 36 career goals – ranking 10th in Stanford history.
* Andrea Kitahata has a point in 15 of the 18 matches this year, ranking second on the team in points with 33 (13 goals and seven assists).
* Charlotte Kohler has managed at least a point in 14 of the first 18 matches this season, including each of the last eight, and posted her second career multi-goal match.
