[81alum]

I'm completely unqualified to do a write up of this game, but I've checked in several times and found nothing posted, so at least I can get the ball rolling.  Penn State was ranked higher than Stanford and we convincingly put them down.  Both goals were scored by Allie Montoya--a freshman from Los Altos.  We out shot Penn State 20:9.  The game was televised on Pac12 Bay Area.

From what my inexperienced eye could see, this team looks like it has a bright future, with several excellent freshmen playing well.  Now, I hope a few of you who really know soccer will comment.

[81alum]

I'm completely unqualified to do a write up of this game, but I've checked in several times and found nothing posted, so at least I can get the ball rolling.  Penn State was ranked higher than Stanford and we convincingly put them down.  Both goals were scored by Allie Montoya--a freshman from Los Altos.  We out shot Penn State 20:9.  The game was televised on Pac12 Bay Area.

From what my inexperienced eye could see, this team looks like it has a bright future, with several excellent freshmen playing well.  Now, I hope a few of you who really know soccer will comment.

[Branner77]

I was at Maloney/Cagan, first time in a while. I don't know the roster very well but the team looked quite good overall. This is Stanford after all, the unofficial "G league" team for the USWNT! Everyone knows when to run and where to run. Coach substituted liberally throughout and there were barely any interruptions in flow or possession.

At least two LSJU shots hit the crossbar in the first half, and the Penn St goalie tipped at least two other rocket shots over the goal. Time of possession felt like ~ 65-35 for LSJU in the first half. Montoya subbed in part way through the first half and immediately showed great quickness and acceleration. 12 and 33 were also creating their own shots and creating chances for teammates. The defense was unchallenged in the first half, and did well in the second half when Penn St. mounted some attacks. If Penn St. is truly 8th in the country then LSJU should be no lower than 7th!

[Branner77]

I was at Maloney/Cagan, first time in a while. I don't know the roster very well but the team looked quite good overall. This is Stanford after all, the unofficial "G league" team for the USWNT! Everyone knows when to run and where to run. Coach substituted liberally throughout and there were barely any interruptions in flow or possession.

At least two LSJU shots hit the crossbar in the first half, and the Penn St goalie tipped at least two other rocket shots over the goal. Time of possession felt like ~ 65-35 for LSJU in the first half. Montoya subbed in part way through the first half and immediately showed great quickness and acceleration. 12 and 33 were also creating their own shots and creating chances for teammates. The defense was unchallenged in the first half, and did well in the second half when Penn St. mounted some attacks. If Penn St. is truly 8th in the country then LSJU should be no lower than 7th!

[cardfan77]

I agree, Stanford substituted liberally and there was no drop off in talent nor production. I actually thought that the second waves of forward we more productive and had better flow. Ryan Campbell had some fantastic saves. The depth of this team is a luxury and great asset.

Lumi Kostmayer almost had another goal from distance, it hit the crossbar.

[cardfan77]

I agree, Stanford substituted liberally and there was no drop off in talent nor production. I actually thought that the second waves of forward we more productive and had better flow. Ryan Campbell had some fantastic saves. The depth of this team is a luxury and great asset.

Lumi Kostmayer almost had another goal from distance, it hit the crossbar.

[oldalum]

Lumi Kostmayer almost had another goal from distance, it hit the crossbar.

Opposing teams' scouting reports will probably start telling their keeper to stay home more when she's on the field.

Penn St had periods of good possession, especially at the beginning of the game, sending or dribbling the ball into the box many times, but lacked finishing, often foiled by good last-line defense and excellent GK play (first time I've seen Ryan Campbell challenged and she definitely rose to the occasion). I think they got worn down by our depth, which I hope will be a common theme this season. Our two goals and two of the three assists were by players who did not start the game. Overall a strong win; we also had some good shots saved. My only nit about our play is that Penn St won a majority of the 50/50 balls and as a result often regained possession quickly when we were able to disrupt them, especially the first half of the first half.

But for insightful analysis we really need Viking Guy: where oh where have you gone??

[oldalum]

Lumi Kostmayer almost had another goal from distance, it hit the crossbar.

Opposing teams' scouting reports will probably start telling their keeper to stay home more when she's on the field.

Penn St had periods of good possession, especially at the beginning of the game, sending or dribbling the ball into the box many times, but lacked finishing, often foiled by good last-line defense and excellent GK play (first time I've seen Ryan Campbell challenged and she definitely rose to the occasion). I think they got worn down by our depth, which I hope will be a common theme this season. Our two goals and two of the three assists were by players who did not start the game. Overall a strong win; we also had some good shots saved. My only nit about our play is that Penn St won a majority of the 50/50 balls and as a result often regained possession quickly when we were able to disrupt them, especially the first half of the first half.

But for insightful analysis we really need Viking Guy: where oh where have you gone??

[OCcardinal]

A great match for this squad, and not just because Penn State happened to be ranked in the Top 10.  This was slated to be one of the toughest challenges for Stanford's defense this season.  Penn State's roster includes a Big Ten Forward of the Year (Ally Schlegel), a Pac 12 Forward of the Year (USC transfer Penelope Hocking) and the #1-ranked forward in the Class of 2022 (Amelia White).  Ryan Campbell had to make a couple athletic saves to preserve the shutout, but it was a shutout nonetheless.  I'll be very surprised if more than one other team is able to shut out Penn State the rest of the regular season. 

Penn State also has a terrific defense (they shut out #21 West Virginia last week), so it is worth noting that this match also saw a 4th Stanford player in a row earn a brace. And it must have been especially satisfying for freshman Allie Montoya to have been the one to earn it (in just 32 minutes), as she had been the #2 ranked forward behind White. :)

Glad to see both Evans and Kostmayer are healthy. Kostmayer continues to be disruptive in a way that we don't often see from Stanford forwards.  And her continued threat from distance is going to open up the field for her teammates.  Stanford has yet to give up a goal with Elise Evans on the field, which bodes very well.

This was also a great game for #6-ranked freshman midfielder Jasmine Aikey, who surprisingly played more minutes (43) than Amy Sayer (42). Her assist to Montoya on the first goal was a thing of beauty and reminded me more of a Macario-Smith connection than something I would expect from two frosh at the beginning of their college careers.  Aikey definitely earned her minutes.

Despite the frequent substitutions, Ratcliffe played a relatively short bench, which included 3 of the frosh mentioned above (Kostmayer, Montoya and Aikey,) and super sophomore Andrea Kitahata (who played 50 minutes overall and had an assist). The 5th player who made it off the bench was midfielder Aki Yuasa, who made some good plays in her 9 minutes. Sierra Enge played a full 90 minutes at midfield, which is surprising given how many midfielders Ratcliffe didn't play. But she's certainly got the talent and experience to justify it. Don't know what's going on with Wheeler, but since we hadn't seen her play at all this season, I didn't expect to see her in this game. Hope she's okay.

[OCcardinal]

A great match for this squad, and not just because Penn State happened to be ranked in the Top 10.  This was slated to be one of the toughest challenges for Stanford's defense this season.  Penn State's roster includes a Big Ten Forward of the Year (Ally Schlegel), a Pac 12 Forward of the Year (USC transfer Penelope Hocking) and the #1-ranked forward in the Class of 2022 (Amelia White).  Ryan Campbell had to make a couple athletic saves to preserve the shutout, but it was a shutout nonetheless.  I'll be very surprised if more than one other team is able to shut out Penn State the rest of the regular season. 

Penn State also has a terrific defense (they shut out #21 West Virginia last week), so it is worth noting that this match also saw a 4th Stanford player in a row earn a brace. And it must have been especially satisfying for freshman Allie Montoya to have been the one to earn it (in just 32 minutes), as she had been the #2 ranked forward behind White. :)

Glad to see both Evans and Kostmayer are healthy. Kostmayer continues to be disruptive in a way that we don't often see from Stanford forwards.  And her continued threat from distance is going to open up the field for her teammates.  Stanford has yet to give up a goal with Elise Evans on the field, which bodes very well.

This was also a great game for #6-ranked freshman midfielder Jasmine Aikey, who surprisingly played more minutes (43) than Amy Sayer (42). Her assist to Montoya on the first goal was a thing of beauty and reminded me more of a Macario-Smith connection than something I would expect from two frosh at the beginning of their college careers.  Aikey definitely earned her minutes.

Despite the frequent substitutions, Ratcliffe played a relatively short bench, which included 3 of the frosh mentioned above (Kostmayer, Montoya and Aikey,) and super sophomore Andrea Kitahata (who played 50 minutes overall and had an assist). The 5th player who made it off the bench was midfielder Aki Yuasa, who made some good plays in her 9 minutes. Sierra Enge played a full 90 minutes at midfield, which is surprising given how many midfielders Ratcliffe didn't play. But she's certainly got the talent and experience to justify it. Don't know what's going on with Wheeler, but since we hadn't seen her play at all this season, I didn't expect to see her in this game. Hope she's okay.

[Mick]

Juggernaut alert: 4-0 Stanford has a 15-1 goals advantage over its opponents (not including the 1-0 win over the Chinese national team).

The match against SCU should be a laugher.  SCU is 0-3-1, lost on an own-goal to Davis 1-0 and their 4-game goal differential is 1-9.  I'd say it's smooth sailing vs. the Broncos on 9/18, who have to play Penn State, Oregon and Cal before they play Stanford.

[Mick]

Juggernaut alert: 4-0 Stanford has a 15-1 goals advantage over its opponents (not including the 1-0 win over the Chinese national team).

The match against SCU should be a laugher.  SCU is 0-3-1, lost on an own-goal to Davis 1-0 and their 4-game goal differential is 1-9.  I'd say it's smooth sailing vs. the Broncos on 9/18, who have to play Penn State, Oregon and Cal before they play Stanford.