STANFORD, Calif. – Andi Sullivan and Averie Collins had second-half goals to lead No. 1 Stanford to a 2-1 victory over Washington State Thursday night in front of 1,799 fans at Cagan Stadium.
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With the win the Cardinal improves to 9-0-1, 2-0-0 in Pac-12 Conference play while the Cougars fall to 5-4-1, 0-2-0.
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Following a scoreless first half, the Cougars looked ready to break through in the 59th minute when
Maegan O'Neill's header appeared to beat Stanford goalkeeper Stanford to the near post. However a Cardinal defender was in the right place to clear the ball off the line and keep the game tied at 0-0.
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Stanford broke through in the 63rd minute as Andi Sullivan gathered the ball in the midfield, dribbled to just outside the right side of the box before firing a shot inside the left post for the game's first goal. It marked Sullivan's fourth goal of the season.
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Less than a minute later, Cougar senior
Kaitlyn Johnson looked for the equalizer but her shot from distance straight on hit the crossbar and went over the end line.
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The Cardinal added an insurance goal in the 77th minute on a nice combination play as Tegan McGrady crossed the ball into the box where Kyra Carusa flicked it on to a streaking Averie Collins who put it past
Ella Dederick for the 2-0 lead.
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The Cougars added some late drama as
Morgan Weaver cut the lead in half in the 89th minute. The freshman collected the ball on the left side off a through ball from
Maddy Haro, dribbled 15 yards inside the left side of the box, and then drove home a low shot inside the near post. It was Weaver's team-leading seventh goal of the season.
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Following the ensuing kick, the Cougars had another look when
Kaitlyn Johnson's shot in the 90th minute sailed above the crossbar, ending WSU's hopes.
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For the game the Cougars outshot the Cardinal 14-10, and held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
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The Cougars are next in action Sunday when they face No. 17 California in Berkeley at 11 a.m. The match will be televised by Pac-12 Network.
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