SANTA CLARA — Lizzie Boamah is rarely going to say no to scoring a objective.
The Stanford freshman usually plies her commerce as a defender, however on Sunday in opposition to No. 11 Santa Clara, she obtained a short alternative to play as a ahead. Boamah took full benefit of her success, scoring the No. 1 Cardinal’s lone objective in a 1-0 shutout win over the Broncos in entrance of about 2,000 followers at Stevens Stadium.
“I mean, I’m never going to say I don’t like playing forward, just because I get to use my speed very close to the goal,” Boamah stated afterward. “I think I’ll always be an outside back, but I love playing forward.”
Boamah received a 50-50 ball despatched into the field by teammate Charlotte Kohler, then poked the ball previous Santa Clara keeper Marlee Nicolos within the fifty fifth minute. The win improved Stanford to 8-0 this season — an ideal nonconference mark because the top-ranked Cardinal prepare to start out Atlantic Coast Convention play later this week.
Stanford’s Lizzie Boamah (7) scores a objective in opposition to Santa Clara within the second half at Stevens Stadium at Santa Clara College in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
“Impressive start to the season for the team,” stated Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe. “Happy to see all their hard work’s paying off. We’re excited for the challenge and the opportunity, so we’re preparing as much as we can. But obviously, it will be demanding on us, physically and mentally. But I think the team’s up to it, so we’re excited for it.”
Boamah famous that as a result of Stanford will possible enter convention play as the highest workforce within the nation, their new convention mates on the Atlantic coast — together with No. 2 Virginia and No. 3 Florida State — are motivated to provide the Cardinal a impolite welcome to the rigorous competitors the ACC affords.
“I’m super excited,” Boamah stated. “I think it puts a big target on our backs, but we’re all up for it. We’re up to the challenge. So I’m glad that we’re undefeated, but yeah, more work to do.”
Santa Clara fell to 6-2 to shut out its nonconference slate forward of West Coast Convention motion. Although Stanford managed many of the sport, the Broncos completed even with the Cardinal in pictures (8-8) and pictures on objective (3-3), maybe a optimistic signal for his or her probabilities transferring ahead.
Santa Clara’s Ava Weiland (17) fights for the ball in opposition to Stanford’s Charlotte Kohler (10) within the second half at Stevens Stadium at Santa Clara College in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
“Hats off to Stanford. They got us today,” stated Santa Clara coach Jerry Smith. “But the game was really even. All the stats were even, the game felt even. Dangerous chances felt pretty even. We made a couple of mistakes at the back of our team on the goal that they did score. But good teams take advantage of mistakes that you make, and they’re a real good team.”
Each squads really feel assured forward of the beginning of their respective convention slates. Stanford faces a significant adjustment, because the Cardinal must journey throughout the nation for nearly each street sport, beginning with a visit to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to play Wake Forest on Sept. 19.
Video games in opposition to Cal are the lone exception.
“I want to make sure we get tested,” Ratcliffe stated of his nonconference objectives. “You want to build up the team and make sure they’re tested. And I think today was a good test. Playing at Santa Clara, there’s a good crowd. So that’s important, that we get used to that more in ACC games. Ultimately, we’re just trying to prepare the team for what’s next. And that’s hard games, challenging matches.”
A ball goes over Stanford goalkeeper Haley Craig (30) in opposition to Santa Clara within the second half at Stevens Stadium at Santa Clara College in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Santa Clara received’t must journey the nation for its league slate this 12 months. The Broncos are scheduled to face acquainted foes like Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine and Portland, with new additions Washington State and Oregon State within the combine as properly.
Smith appreciated the chance for the Broncos to shut out nonleague play by testing themselves in opposition to the most effective. After every week off, Santa Clara begins its league marketing campaign at San Francisco on Sept. 28.
“We love the rivalry with Stanford. They do too,” he stated. “There’s usually some friction, and that’s a good thing. Rivalries have to have certain ingredients. There has to be some friction. It has to go back and forth. Over our history, it’s not 50-50, but it’s pretty close to 50-50. Good crowd today for not having students. Santa Clara and Stanford don’t start for over a week, and so our students aren’t in town yet, but still, there was a good crowd.
“I’m proud of our effort. I thought our tactics were spot on today, but full credit to Stanford.”
Brandi Chastain indicators autographs following Stanford’s 1-0 win over Santa Clara at Stevens Stadium at Santa Clara College in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Initially Revealed: September 15, 2024 at 4:36 p.m.
