Nov. 5, 2011
Box Score
Stanford, Calif. - The No. 23 California women's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to top-ranked and undefeated Stanford in the Bay Area Derby Saturday night under heavy rains in front of a sold-out crowd of 1,919 at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
The Golden Bears completed the regular season 12-6-2 overall and 5-4-2 in the Pac-12 Conference. They now await Monday's NCAA Championship selection show at 1:30 p.m. to find out where they will begin postseason play. The top-ranked Cardinal finished their regular season 19-0-1 overall and 11-0 in the league, securing the 2011 conference title.
Despite Saturday's setback, Cal posted 12 victories in the regular season for the first time since a 13-win regular-season campaign in 2007.
Stanford capitalized on a free kick opportunity in the 20th minute as leading scorer Lindsay Taylor sent a shot in from 30 yards out that ricocheted off the cross bar and bounced inside the goal at the 19:19 mark to give the Cardinal a 1-0 lead.
They extended their lead to a pair of goals 40 seconds later as Kristy Zurmuhlen took a feed from Camille Levin and found the back of the net from 10 yards out.
Stanford out-shot Cal, 14-4, in the first half. Cardinal goalkeeper Emily Oliver earned a pair of saves in the opening period on shots from juniors Lauren Battung and Betsy Hassett.
The Golden Bears were aggressive to open the second half and nearly cut the Cardinal lead to one score just five minutes into the period. Freshman Taylor Comeau fired a shot that bounced off the cross bar but couldn't find its way into the goal.
The Golden Bears recorded nine shots in the match, while the Cardinal finished with 17 on the night.
Senior Daniell Brunache, Hassett and Battung each had a team-high two shots, while Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick, Rachel Mercik and Comeau each recorded a shot for the Bears.
Cal sophomore goalkeeper Emily Kruger posted three saves on the night, while Oliver, the Cardinal netminder made four stops in the contest.
