STANFORD, Calif. – Capitalizing on its lone shot on goal in the fourth minute on Thursday night, Louisville stunned No. 6 Stanford by a score of 1-0 to hand the Cardinal its first loss at home since October 31, 2024 – a string of 21 consecutive matches.
With the win, Louisville moves to 8-1-0 overall and 2-0-0 in the ACC. Having dropped consecutive matches, Stanford is now 6-2-1 overall and 0-2-0 in the conference.
A Cardinal mistake keyed the opportunity in the fourth minute for Louisville as Stanford gave the ball away near midfield and it was delivered to the foot of Karina Peat. Peat took two dribbles and unleashed a left-footed shot that skipped past Stanford goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart.
Despite posting a 19-8 advantage in shots, including 5-1 in shots on goal, Stanford could not find the back of the net in the loss.
Cardinals’ goalkeeper Brielle Baker was credited with five saves, while Stanford pinged the woodwork twice late in the match while trying to find the equalizer.
Sophomore Brooke Holden headed a ball off the crossbar in the 75th minute before freshman Ella Kral one-timed a cross off the post in the 80th.
Stanford is still without five players due to the U-20 World Cup in Poland, but all five are expected to return to action in Stanford’s next match. Goalkeeper Caroline Birkel, defender Lizzie Boamah and midfielder Y-Lan Nguyen will return from the U.S., while goalkeeper Kaiya Jota and forward Eleanor Klinger will return after representing England.
The Cardinal will look to get back on track on Sunday when it hosts No. 3 Wake Forest at 1 p.m.
MATCH NOTES:
- Stanford has dropped back-to-back matches for the first time since falling 3-0 at No. 12 Notre Dame and 3-2 to California in the final two matches of the 2024 regular season
- The Cardinal has been shut out in consecutive matches for the first time since a 2-0 loss at No. 16 Arizona State and a scoreless match against No. 21 USC on April 4 and April 9, 2021 … was shut out at home for the first time since that scoreless match against the Trojans
- Stanford is now 138-8-11 at Cagan Stadium since the start of the 2014 season
- The Cardinal is winless to start conference play for the first time since starting 0-1-1 in 2006 ... has dropped its first two conference matches for the first time since 1997, and has never started conference play with three straight losses