Shorthanded No. 1 Stanford Soccer Serves Clean Sheet to No. 17 UCLA

The Stanford women's soccer team is currently without six top players, including sophomore goaltender Caroline Birkel and midfielder Yi-Lan Nguyen, due to the upcoming U-20 Women's World Cup. On Thursday night against No. 17 UCLA, it didn't matter. 

Junior transfer Bella Winn — who transferred from UCLA during the offseason — opened up the scoring in the 21st minute by settling a loose ball with her right knee, setting up a beautiful strike with the left foot that could be a candidate for goal of the year. 

"When the ball came in, I just tried to take a touch and hit it as hard as I could," Winn said of her goal. "Aim low and hard, just like the coaches always tell us." 

After assisting on Winn's goal, freshman Sadie Leal-Schuman set up another in the 24th minute, delivering the ball to Brooke Holden for a header to put Stanford up 2-0. 

Charlotte Kohler added her program-leading fourth goal of the season in the 82nd minute. The last Cardinal to score in four straight games was Jasmine Aikey last season from November 21 to December 5. 

Fifth-year transfer Rhiannon Stewart is the Cardinal's lone goaltender for the time being, and Stanford's defense made her job a little easier, limiting the Bruins to just five shots, including two on goal. One of those saves came on a diving stop in the 72nd minute to keep the shutout alive. 

"Her first full match, I thought she was incredible," head coach Paul Ratcliffe said. "Couldn't be more proud of the whole group." 

This has been a common theme for Stanford's opponents this season, and is part of the reason why the Cardinal have yet to allow a goal this season, defeating opponents by a combined 12-0 in four games, including two victories over ranked programs. 

The five shots Stanford allowed on Thursday are the most this season, while the two shots on goal tie the season-high mark. Cal Poly also had two shots on net in the season opener. By comparison, Cal Poly's next two games resulted in 11 shots (four on goal) against UNLV and 19 (11 on goal) against San José State. 

The same goes for every opponent Stanford has faced. The Cardinal defense makes sure that whoever is in net isn't facing too much traffic. Each of Stanford's opponents has routinely produced ten or more overall shots per game. 

Stanford trimmed Cal Poly's typical shot total by 74%, Georgetown by 71.5%, UC Irvine by 85%, and UCLA by 57%. 

While UCLA is 1-2-1 on the year, that tie came against a tough No. 3-ranked Duke program, thanks to the Bruins' own defense limiting the Blue Devils to just two first-half shots. 

Stanford will remain at home on Sunday, facing off against Cal State Fullerton at Cagan Stadium. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m.