Stanford Recaptures Top-Ranked Form in Win Over No. 3 Wake Forest

Stanford women's soccer looked like themselves again on Sunday, defeating No. 3 Wake Forest at home to snap a two-game losing streak. It should come as no surprise that the program returned to form as soon as they got goaltender Caroline Birkel, defender Lizzie Boamah, and midfielder Y-Lan Nguyen back from the U-20 Women's World Cup. 

The Cardinal controlled play for most of the match, generating a number of near-goal opportunities, but the game remained tied 0-0 until freshman Peyton Marinos scored the game-winner in the 77th minute with an assist from junior transfer Bella Winn. 

Stanford ended up outshooting Wake Forest 14-4, with the visitors notching just one shot on goal.

Wake Forest had a heart-stopping opportunity with under a minute to go in this one, as Stanford passed a ball back towards their own net, but there was nobody there to receive the pass, leading to a near breakaway. Birkel came out of the net, but the ball went behind her in front of the box. Boamah sprinted in and kicked the ball behind the back line to force a corner kick and protect the 1-0 lead. 

Boamah had a terrific game on defense, cleaning up any miscues that happened throughout the match and leaving Birkel to not even need her hands in net most of the match. Junior Sammy Smith was also everywhere you looked in this one, dashing to catch up to balls well in front of her. Smith's hustle kept some trickier situations from developing.

With about 30 seconds remaining, Wake Forest goalie Valentina Amaral brought the ball out as an extra attacker, but Stanford swarmed her and she had nowhere to pass the ball, leaving Charlotte Kohler to pick her pocket and drive the ball into the opposing net, cementing a 2-0 win for the Cardinal. 

Wake Forest had allowed just two goals all season coming into this match, and the Cardinal matched their total in their 90 minutes with the Demon Deacons. 

Through the first 70 minutes, this match felt like a huge step in the right direction, even if it were to end in a draw. The Cardinal were controlling possessions, putting pressure on the opposing defense, and their own defense was playing more like the group we saw earlier in the season.

A decisive 2-0 win over the No. 3 team in the country after losses to Duke (ranked No. 3 when they played) and unranked Louisville is a signal this team is back to where it needs to be entering the final seven games of the regular season.