Postgame quotes | NCAA Tournament Central
Nov. 9, 2012
STANFORD, Calif. - An early goal by Alex Doll sparked No. 1 Stanford to three first-half goals on the way to a 3-0 victory over Idaho State in the first round of the NCAA women's soccer tournament on Friday night.
Defending champion Stanford (18-1-1), which also got goals from Courtney Verloo and Sydney Payne, awaits the winner of Saturday's match between Santa Clara and Long Beach State.
Stanford will play host to the second and third rounds, on Friday and Sunday. The Friday schedule involves a doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m., with Stanford playing in the nightcap at 7 p.m. The winners play each other on Sunday at 1 p.m. All matches will be at Stanford's Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
"We're excited to keep moving forward," Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. "It was a great night and a great way for our program to start the playoffs."
Tickets for both rounds are on sale on gostanford.com. Tickets will be available by phone at 1-800-STANFORD, and at the Stanford Stadium ticket office beginning Monday at 9 a.m.
Stanford extended some streaks against Idaho State (11-6-3), the Big Sky Conference champion:
• Stanford's home unbeaten streak is now 64, the second-longest in NCAA Division I history.
• Stanford also won its 17th consecutive home NCAA tournament match.
• The Cardinal's 10 seniors remain undefeated at home in their careers (49-0-1).
• The victory was Stanford's sixth consecutive in the first round.
Doll opened the scoring when the ball was chested into her path by Nina Watkins from a cross from the left by Chioma Ubogagu. Doll buried the point-blank shot at 6:59.
"We didn't know much about Idaho State, but with this being the NCAA tournament, every game from tonight on is do-or-die," Doll said. "No matter the opponent, we have to take every game seriously."
Verloo added her team-high eighth goal of the season in the 21st minute when Ubogagu provided a through ball that Verloo settled and then struck inside the left post.
Finally, Sydney Payne scored on powerful half volley in the 41st minute off a long pass into the box from central defender Madeleine Thompson. It was a spectacular goal for Payne and her first since Sept. 16.
"I always like to bring a spark to the team and I think I did that tonight," Payne said. "I took the ball with my chest, turned on the defender, looked up and hit it with my left foot. It was one of the best goals I've had in a while. It was a fun one."
Stanford outshot the Bengals 31-7 and goalkeepers Emily Oliver and Aly Gleason combined on the team's 10th shutout of the season.
"Playing against Stanford made the pace of the game faster, and that was hard for us to adjust to in the beginning," Idaho State goalkeeper Sheridan Hapsic said. "At times, we got caught watching their pretty style of play. I don't know that we played our best soccer, but I think we gave them a good fight."
With home field advantage through three rounds -- and possibly four if Stanford continues to advance -- the Cardinal could play the entire tournament without leaving California. After traveling to Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia the past four years, this year the College Cup is in San Diego on Nov. 30 and Dec. 2.
-- David Kiefer, Stanford Athletics