Cardinal Drops National Title Match

CARY, N.C. – In the first battle of two undefeated teams in the NCAA Women’s College Cup national championship history, No. 3 Stanford (20-1-4) dropped a 5-1 decision to No. 1 Florida State (22-0-1) on Monday from WakeMed Soccer Park.
 
The Cardinal, which had not allowed more than one goal in 36 straight matches dating back to September 29, 2022, surrendered a penalty kick goal in the 29^th minute before conceding a second less than 30 seconds later.
 
Trailing 2-0 headed into the second half, Stanford got a spark from fifth-year captain Maya Doms in the 52^nd minute. Sophomore Jasmine Aikey made a penetrating run into the box before laying off a pass for Andrea Kitahata. Doms called for the ball and received a pass across the top of the box, cutting to her right and delivering her shot into the back of the net.
 
The goal was the first allowed by Florida State in the postseason and was Doms’ fourth of the 2023 NCAA tournament.
 
Refusing to surrender any momentum, the Seminoles responded with a goal in the 58^th minute and added two more down the stretch to eventually earn the 5-1 victory.
 
Following the match, Doms and freshman Shae Harvey were named to the Women’s College Cup All-Tournament team.
 
Completing its 11^th run at the College Cup, Stanford finishes as the national runner-up for the third time (2009, 2010). The 2023 season also marks the end of Stanford’s tenure in the Pac-12 as it will join Florida State in the ACC for the 2024 campaign.
 
GAME NOTES:

• The five goals allowed are the most surrendered by Stanford since dropping a 5-0 match to BYU on November 11, 2000 in the NCAA tournament second round
• The Cardinal made its 32nd NCAA Tournament appearance, including its 25th in the last 26 seasons
• Stanford reached the NCAA College Cup final for the sixth time in program history – including the first since the 2019 national championship season
• With USC dropping a match to BYU on November 16 in the second round, Stanford was the last Pac-12 school standing in the 2023 NCAA Tournament
• The Cardinal has compiled a 70-24-8 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play
• The loss also ended Stanford’s 36-match unbeaten streak (30-0-6)
• With an assist on Monday, Jasmine Aikey contributed a point in 18 of the 25 matches this season
• Maya Doms…