STANFORD, Calif. – Andrea Kitahata scored a pair of goals, and Maya Doms added her third career postseason tally, as No. 3 Stanford (17-0-4) shut out No. 16 South Carolina (12-3-6) 3-0 in the NCAA second round on Friday night from a rain-soaked Cagan Stadium.
Kitahata, who also scored in the first round victory over Pepperdine, has now tallied three goals in a pair of tournament matches this year. Friday’s showing proved to be a career-effort for the native of Hillsborough, Calif. as she also contributed an assist for a career-best five points.
The brace was Kitahata’s second career multi-goal game after previously scoring twice against San Diego State on August 29, 2021.
While the goals were the story on Friday night, Stanford’s defense proved stingy, surrendering just three total shots from the Gamecocks while allowing none on frame toward Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year Ryan Campbell.
Campbell played all 90 minutes in goal for the second-seeded Cardinal, registering her ninth shutout of the year.
After settling into the rainy pace of play, Stanford broke through in the 18th minute as Jasmine Aikey sent a cross through the box toward the back post where Kitahata one-timed her shot into the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winner – Kitahata’s fifth deciding goal of the season.
Stanford, which finished the match with a 23-3…
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