STANFORD, Calif. — A career night between the posts for Anya Jackson and a third-quarter stunner from Summer Knight-Thompson helped propel Stanford to a near-program-defining upset, but a trio of late-game goals proved too much as the Cardinal fell to No. 1 Northwestern on Thursday night, 3-1.
“I love that we scored first and I loved our work rate throughout the entire game,” said Susan Ewing York Director of Women’s Field Hockey Roz Ellis. “On attack, in transition, on defense, we pumped it and we realized a lot of our potential.”
Stanford (6-1, 0-0) , which up to the third quarter had kept pace with the visiting Wildcats, punched through for the game-opening goal just 57 seconds into the second half with Summer Knight-Thompson securing her third goal of the season on the rebound to put Stanford ahead, 1-0.
“Everybody pulls their weight on this team and we are a high-threat up front,” said Ellis. “Anyone on this team can score and tonight - and every game so far - we have proven that.”
The Cardinal, however, had pushed for the game-opening goal entering into the halftime break. After a stellar performance from Jackson in cage - recording six saves in the opening 30 minutes - Stanford had entered the break in a scoreless tie by virtue of four successful penalty corner defenses and the superb goalkeeping.
“Anya was facing some real tough shots and she was a brick wall back there,” Ellis said. “She is so dynamic and I am super proud of the way she fought through this game and kept us in it.”
Mustering five of its six shots in the second quarter to grow into the game,Stanford’s quarter-opening blitz found success with Knight-Thompson’s opening minute tally coming off the remnants of a Jenny O’Grady chance to push the Cardinal ahead.
A stunner from Summer had them 'cats on their heels. #GoStanford x #MYM pic.twitter.com/8QGokrvcj1
— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) September 18, 2026
The lead, however, was short-lived as Northwestern (7-0, 0-0 Big Ten) broke through for its opening goal just over a minute later on the counterattack. The Wildcats then took the lead just past the midway mark of the quarter as the game.
Stanford, though, continued to press for the equalizing tally well into the night, pestering Northwestern with multiple chances and a pair of late-game penalty corners. However, Northwestern broke through for the final time in the waning moments of the match, sliding through on a penalty corner as Stanford’s comeback bid was cut short in a 3-1 loss.
Stanford is back in action for a pair of bouts to close the month of September, hosting UC Davis on Tuesday, September 22 before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play against North Carolina on Friday, September 25. First strike from Varsity Turf against the Aggies on Tuesday is slated for 6 p.m. PT.