STANFORD, Calif. – In a contest featuring the top two scoring defenses in the Pac-12 and two of the top 15 in the nation something unexpected happened on Thursday: goals were scored. Unfortunately for the Sun Devil soccer team it had one fewer goal than its opponent for only the second time this season as it came up short at No. 3 Stanford, 2-1.
Florence Vaillancourt's goal in the 53rd minute tied the game at 1-1 and for much of the second half, the Sun Devils (6-2-3, 1-1 Pac-12) – given their outstanding defensive play – were in position to become just the 14th opponent since 2014 (a span of 118 contests) to leave Stanford's Cagan Stadium with a win or tie.
Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, the outstanding result was not to be as Stanford's Jasmine Aikey scored the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute to help the Cardinal (9-0-1, 2-0) remain unbeaten.
"I am extremely proud of this group of players, ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "They have been through so much together and to put in an effort like that at the end of this week is absolutely remarkable.
"If I am honest, Stanford was the better team on the night and deserved their result so congrats to them. However, this group proved to themselves that they belong and can play with anyone when they run hard. Six years ago, it really hurt when I brought the team up here to get taught a lesson while Stanford outplayed us……Tonight, we had one of the most talented and well-coached teams in the nation sending long balls to the corner to use up the clock."
For ASU (came into the game leading the Pac-12 and 4th in the nation scoring defense), it was the first time this season it allowed multiple goals in a game and for Stanford (came into the game 2nd in Pac-12/13th in the nation in scoring defense) it was just the fifth goal it allowed this season (now tied with ASU).
Pauline Nelles, who came into the game leading the Pac-12 in goals against average (.300/4th in the nation), shutouts (7/4th in the nation) and save percentage (.914/6th in the nation), made six saves against a Stanford offense that got off 22 shots.
The Sun Devils proved early and often they were up to the challenge as they held Stanford to just four shots in the first 25 min. The Cardinal, who had scored multiple goals six time in their first nine contests, broke through in the 28th minute when Erica Grilione gathered a pass inside the six and took full advantage of the opportunity to take a 1-0 lead.
Despite the limited number of opportunities it was able to create on the offensive end over the game's first 50-plus minutes, the Sun Devils did not allow the game to get away from them after Stanford took the lead.
The Cardinal started the second half looking to extend their advantage as it took six shots before the 51st minute. Nelles made four saves during that stretch to keep it a one goal game.
"The first half was very tough," said Winkworth. "Stanford did a wonderful job defensively and we failed to create any real problems for them. What we did do though was defend with wonderful organization and passion. After Pauli kept it at 1-0 after an early onslaught to begin the second half, the team started to gain confidence when in possession and we created some quality chances of our own."
The toughness and patience ASU displayed was rewarded in the 53rd minute when Vaillancourt took a pass just inside the 18 from Suzuka Yosue and beat three Stanford defenders to create the shot that tied the game at 1-1. Vaillancourt's goal broke a streak of 316 minutes in which Stanford had not allowed a goal.
Vaillancourt's goal vs. Stanford was her second as a Sun Devil. Her first was the game-winning goal in ASU's 1-0 win vs. Utah State (in Tucson, Ariz.) on Sept. 7. It was the 17th career goal for Vaillancourt, who played for Niagara and Syracuse before joining ASU in 2023.
In addition to the obvious immediate benefit of tying the game, Winkworth said from a big picture perspective the goal was representative of the team's depth and its ability to play hard and compete with one of the nation's best squads despite a recent spate of injuries.
"I was very excited by the impact players from the bench made tonight," Winkworth said. "This is a squad effort and it is not just about who starts. Su passing to Flo was the icing on the cake in that respect as we scored a lovely equalizer.
"We really have a next player up mentality. The injury bug has been hitting us hard, but I am so excited by the depth we are showing for such a young squad. At one point in the second half tonight, we did not have a single senior on the pitch. This was not by design, but I felt that the girls battled so well and this gets me very excited for both the short term and longer term future of the program."
Keri Matthews nearly gave ASU the lead after an outstanding individual effort in the 59th minute to get a shot on frame that was saved by Stanford goalkeeper Haley Craig.
The game remained tied until Stanford was able to claim the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute.
"I want to wish [Stanford head coach] Paul Ratcliffe and his team all the best for the rest of the season and I hope that we can continue this rivalry as we both move into different leagues in the future," Winkworth said of this being the final meeting between the two schools as members of the Pac-12 Conference.
The Sun Devils conclude their road trip to the Bay Area on Sunday (1 p.m.) when they play at Cal. The game can be seen on Cal's Live Stream.
Florence Vaillancourt's goal in the 53rd minute tied the game at 1-1 and for much of the second half, the Sun Devils (6-2-3, 1-1 Pac-12) – given their outstanding defensive play – were in position to become just the 14th opponent since 2014 (a span of 118 contests) to leave Stanford's Cagan Stadium with a win or tie.
Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, the outstanding result was not to be as Stanford's Jasmine Aikey scored the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute to help the Cardinal (9-0-1, 2-0) remain unbeaten.
"I am extremely proud of this group of players, ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "They have been through so much together and to put in an effort like that at the end of this week is absolutely remarkable.
"If I am honest, Stanford was the better team on the night and deserved their result so congrats to them. However, this group proved to themselves that they belong and can play with anyone when they run hard. Six years ago, it really hurt when I brought the team up here to get taught a lesson while Stanford outplayed us……Tonight, we had one of the most talented and well-coached teams in the nation sending long balls to the corner to use up the clock."
For ASU (came into the game leading the Pac-12 and 4th in the nation scoring defense), it was the first time this season it allowed multiple goals in a game and for Stanford (came into the game 2nd in Pac-12/13th in the nation in scoring defense) it was just the fifth goal it allowed this season (now tied with ASU).
Pauline Nelles, who came into the game leading the Pac-12 in goals against average (.300/4th in the nation), shutouts (7/4th in the nation) and save percentage (.914/6th in the nation), made six saves against a Stanford offense that got off 22 shots.
The Sun Devils proved early and often they were up to the challenge as they held Stanford to just four shots in the first 25 min. The Cardinal, who had scored multiple goals six time in their first nine contests, broke through in the 28th minute when Erica Grilione gathered a pass inside the six and took full advantage of the opportunity to take a 1-0 lead.
Despite the limited number of opportunities it was able to create on the offensive end over the game's first 50-plus minutes, the Sun Devils did not allow the game to get away from them after Stanford took the lead.
The Cardinal started the second half looking to extend their advantage as it took six shots before the 51st minute. Nelles made four saves during that stretch to keep it a one goal game.
"The first half was very tough," said Winkworth. "Stanford did a wonderful job defensively and we failed to create any real problems for them. What we did do though was defend with wonderful organization and passion. After Pauli kept it at 1-0 after an early onslaught to begin the second half, the team started to gain confidence when in possession and we created some quality chances of our own."
The toughness and patience ASU displayed was rewarded in the 53rd minute when Vaillancourt took a pass just inside the 18 from Suzuka Yosue and beat three Stanford defenders to create the shot that tied the game at 1-1. Vaillancourt's goal broke a streak of 316 minutes in which Stanford had not allowed a goal.
FLOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOAL @flovaillan23 with the equalizer, her second goal of the season!
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) September 29, 2023
ASU 1 | Stanford 1
?? Pac-12 Arizona#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/YKW9vRCXM2
Vaillancourt's goal vs. Stanford was her second as a Sun Devil. Her first was the game-winning goal in ASU's 1-0 win vs. Utah State (in Tucson, Ariz.) on Sept. 7. It was the 17th career goal for Vaillancourt, who played for Niagara and Syracuse before joining ASU in 2023.
In addition to the obvious immediate benefit of tying the game, Winkworth said from a big picture perspective the goal was representative of the team's depth and its ability to play hard and compete with one of the nation's best squads despite a recent spate of injuries.
"I was very excited by the impact players from the bench made tonight," Winkworth said. "This is a squad effort and it is not just about who starts. Su passing to Flo was the icing on the cake in that respect as we scored a lovely equalizer.
"We really have a next player up mentality. The injury bug has been hitting us hard, but I am so excited by the depth we are showing for such a young squad. At one point in the second half tonight, we did not have a single senior on the pitch. This was not by design, but I felt that the girls battled so well and this gets me very excited for both the short term and longer term future of the program."
Keri Matthews nearly gave ASU the lead after an outstanding individual effort in the 59th minute to get a shot on frame that was saved by Stanford goalkeeper Haley Craig.
The game remained tied until Stanford was able to claim the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute.
"I want to wish [Stanford head coach] Paul Ratcliffe and his team all the best for the rest of the season and I hope that we can continue this rivalry as we both move into different leagues in the future," Winkworth said of this being the final meeting between the two schools as members of the Pac-12 Conference.
The Sun Devils conclude their road trip to the Bay Area on Sunday (1 p.m.) when they play at Cal. The game can be seen on Cal's Live Stream.