[Hieronymus]

I didn't see Kal's possible encroachment in real time at the game, but watching a video second by second, it is not clear to me that the Kal player's foot was down in the box before the ball was kicked; if it was, it was by a few tenths of a second. But what is clear is that the ref was watching the kicker and not that line, so he clearly was not able to make that call if it was a violation. 
I too do not fault Craig for deflecting the ball back across the goal. She had dived across the goal in the right direction but the kick, which was not well aimed, went to her waist and she had to move her hands back down to block it, and was unable to grab it. I think she did well to deflect it across the goal and not back toward the kicker. The fault for the goal, IMO, was our failure to claim the high ground and get there first. Even if the player who scored the goal had instead gotten a late start, the kicker would have beaten our first defender to the ball and scored. We failed to cover.

A couple of rules/mechanics clarifications.

1. This is the NCAA rule on encroachment - it’s I believe straight FIFA language.

14.3.2.4. “If a member of the attacking team enters the penalty area….” Note that “enter” isn’t defined. Some leagues like the EPL have clarified this to mean a body part in the penalty area, but I do not believe the NCAA has ever published a clarification. So you don’t need a body part down to get called as the NCAA rules are currently defined.

2. Head official’s job is to make sure the initial line up is correct, and is then responsible for watching the PK taker and the goalie. AR’s are responsible for if the goal crosses the line and encroachment. So the mechanics were correct, and I am using “referee” imprecisely for the entire crew.

So for me, Kal was far enough in, and it was the encroaching player who scored the goal; so whether or not a foot was down for me that is no goal. I do agree it’s not clear though if a foot was down early. 

Regardless Stanford needs to cover better. I am also more bleeped off by the second goal where Boamah got knocked down, and it directly led to a Kal goal

[Hieronymus]

I didn't see Kal's possible encroachment in real time at the game, but watching a video second by second, it is not clear to me that the Kal player's foot was down in the box before the ball was kicked; if it was, it was by a few tenths of a second. But what is clear is that the ref was watching the kicker and not that line, so he clearly was not able to make that call if it was a violation. 
I too do not fault Craig for deflecting the ball back across the goal. She had dived across the goal in the right direction but the kick, which was not well aimed, went to her waist and she had to move her hands back down to block it, and was unable to grab it. I think she did well to deflect it across the goal and not back toward the kicker. The fault for the goal, IMO, was our failure to claim the high ground and get there first. Even if the player who scored the goal had instead gotten a late start, the kicker would have beaten our first defender to the ball and scored. We failed to cover.

A couple of rules/mechanics clarifications.

1. This is the NCAA rule on encroachment - it’s I believe straight FIFA language.

14.3.2.4. “If a member of the attacking team enters the penalty area….” Note that “enter” isn’t defined. Some leagues like the EPL have clarified this to mean a body part in the penalty area, but I do not believe the NCAA has ever published a clarification. So you don’t need a body part down to get called as the NCAA rules are currently defined.

2. Head official’s job is to make sure the initial line up is correct, and is then responsible for watching the PK taker and the goalie. AR’s are responsible for if the goal crosses the line and encroachment. So the mechanics were correct, and I am using “referee” imprecisely for the entire crew.

So for me, Kal was far enough in, and it was the encroaching player who scored the goal; so whether or not a foot was down for me that is no goal. I do agree it’s not clear though if a foot was down early. 

Regardless Stanford needs to cover better. I am also more bleeped off by the second goal where Boamah got knocked down, and it directly led to a Kal goal