BERKELEY – The Cal men's soccer team sliced No. 18 Stanford's lead to one goal on two separate occasions in the second half on Sunday, but the Bears could never find the equalizer in a 4-2 loss at Edwards Stadium.

After the Cardinal took a 2-0 lead at halftime, Cal (5-4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) cut the deficit to 2-1 on an own goal by Stanford in the 54^th minute. Junior Simon Lekressner, returning from a two-match absence due to injury, lofted a cross high to the box which Stanford's Adam Mosharrafa attempted to clear. But he ended up kicking the ball into the Cardinal goal to make it 2-1.

The Cardinal extended the advantage to 3-1 in the 68^th minute on Tanner Beason's second goal of the match, but the Bears had another answer when senior Sam Ebstein scored in the 76^th minute to make it 3-2. Sophomore Tommy Williamson had the initial shot which was stopped by Stanford goalie Andrew Thomas. But the rebound went right to Ebstein, who punched it in to the back of the net to once again narrow the deficit.

The Cardinal sealed the game on a goal by Zach Ryan in the 83^rd minute.

"The second half was much better," Cal head coach Kevin Grimes said. "Every time we cut it to one, we couldn't get the tying goal and ultimately they got the edge on the final goal. But we chipped away tremendously."

The Bears had a couple of strong chances early on that could have altered the shape of the game had they converted. Lekressner took an advance and laid it out in front of him for a run up the right side, but he ended up providing too much power and couldn't catch up to the ball for a goal kick. He later had a strong look on frame but belted the ball too high over the crossbar.

Stanford outshot Cal 17-8 but the Bears actually had more looks on frame (7-6).

The two goals were the most the Cardinal has allowed in a match this season. Stanford entered the day leading the nation in goals-against average (0.207).

Ebstein's goal was his fourth of the season, which ranks second on the team. Senior Shinya Kadono, the Pac-12 leader in goals, points and shots, had his five-match goal-scoring streak snapped. He led Cal with two shots.

"Anytime you score two goals in a half, you have to like your prospects for the rest of the season. That's never easy to do. That's what we are building on, that our attack is still lethal. We just have to clean a few things up in training and get ready to go for the stretch run."

The Bears take their first Pac-12 road trip of the season next week, visiting Washington on Thursday and Oregon State on Sunday. Both matches will air on the Pac-12 Networks.