Storming BackStorming Back
Karen Ambrose Hickey/isiphotos
Women's Lacrosse

Storming Back

STANFORD, Calif. - No. 18 Stanford took down UAlbany on Sunday afternoon in Cagan Stadium by a score of 21-20. The Cardinal erased a seven goal deficit, claiming its first lead of the game with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter and holding it until the final whistle.

Stanford improves to 3-3 on the year while the Great Danes fall to 3-4.

The visitors jumped out to a quick advantage, scoring the first three goals of the game. Stanford answered though, as Annabel Frist, Ashley Humphrey, and Katy Gilbert found the back of the net in quick succession to knot the game at 3 in the first quarter.

At the end of the first period, UAlbany held a 6-4 advantage, but added to it in the next 15 minutes. The visitors scored eight goals to Stanford's four in the second quarter, building up a 14-8 advantage at halftime, having led by as much as seven during the second quarter.

Not to be outdone at home, Stanford fired back in the third quarter to the tune of eight goals as well, jumping right back into the game. The teams went back and forth in the final period, but it was Stanford who came out on top after scoring five more across the last 15 minutes.

Annabel Frist set a new career-high mark for goals in a game with eight, tying the Stanford program record. She was perfect on the day, scoring on each of her eight shots. The sophomore also added an assist, a caused turnover, a ground ball, and 13 draw controls.

Ashley Humphrey and Sarah Jaques each record seven points, tying for second on the team. Humphrey dished five assists to lead the team while chipping in a pair of goals as well.

Jaques scored five goals, setting a new career-high and added two assists.

Stanford captain Liana McDonnell saw her first game action of the season, scoring a goal as well. McDonnell was one of seven scorers in Stanford's highest scoring game of the season.

The two teams were even across the board in multiple statistical categories. UAlbany held a slim advantage in shots (35-34) and shots on goal (29-28). Stanford had more saves than the visitors (9-7) and also had less turnovers than the Great Danes (7-10).

The teams were even on free position shots (8), but Stanford jumped in front on the draw control (26-19) behind Frist's 13 controls, the fourth-most ever in a Stanford game. Ailish Kelly added five and Gilbert had four of her own for the second and third most on the team.

Defensively, Emma Capanna forced two turnovers to lead the team as Stanford forced five on the day. Gilbert led all Cardinal with three ground balls as six players recorded multiple GBs in the game.

Stanford returns to action for the first Pac-12 road trip of the season. The Cardinal will face Colorado on Friday, March 17 at 2 p.m. before heading to Oregon on Sunday.