Syracuse (4-7-2, 1-5-0) pushed No. 8 Stanford (8-2-2, 2-2-1) to the limit before the visiting Cardinal emerged with a 2-0 triumph at the SU Soccer Stadium on Thursday evening.

HOW THE MATCH WAS DECIDED:

Stanford’s first-half goal by Eleanor Klinger, her second of the season, proved to be the game-winner. Bella Winn attacked centrally and passed right to Charlotte Kohler, who advanced toward the Syracuse net. Kohler fed a crossing pass to a driving Klinger in front, and the junior midfielder directed the ball into the net at 22:44 of the first half.

NAIMOLI HELPED SYRACUSE STAY WITHIN REACH

Junior goalkeeper Maya Naimoli and the Orange defenders were able to keep the game close. Naimoli, who made five saves overall, had two spectacular stops in the first half. She was tested early. Stanford’s Mia Bhuta had a clean look at the Syracuse net 5:46 into the contest, but Naimoli thwarted the effort, diving left and knocking the attempt away by extending her left arm. With 56 seconds remaining in the first half, the Cardinal had another golden opportunity. Y-Lan Nguyen drove a hard shot at the high part of the goal, but Naimoli jumped and punched the ball with her right hand up and over the crossbar.

GOAL-MOUTH SCRAMBLE EXTENDS STANFORD MARGIN

One of Stanford’s 16 corner kicks added a goal to the Cardinal advantage. The corner dropped the ball into a crowded area in the box. Klinger managed a light shot that Naimoli stopped, but Peyton Marinos pounced on the rebound and scored her third tally of the campaign. The score, at 64:18, provided Stanford with a two-goal margin.

SYRACUSE HAS CHANCES OF ITS OWN

Trailing 2-0 in the second half, Syracuse turned its offensive effort up a notch and generated two quality chances. The first came from junior Gabby Wisbeck at 69:30. Sophomore Ali Howard secured control in the final third, in front of the goal, and dropped the ball back to Wisbeck. Wisbeck’s left-footed attempt spun just wide of the far post.

Senior Leda Naihin had an opportunity as well. A beautiful crossing pass from senior Chloe Joseph set up Naihin right in front of the goal. She let fly with a right-footed shot, but Stanford goalie Caroline Birkel challenged Naihin and came up with the point-blank stop.

NOTABLE NUMBERS


Stanford had a 30-5 advantage in shots and a 7-2 edge in shots on goal.
Naimoli played her 11th complete game of the season.
The Orange also received 90-minute performances from senior Chloe Joseph, juniors Anna Croyle, Jasmine Nixon, Farrah Stephens-Martin and Gabby Wisbeck, and sophomores Bree Bridges and Natalie Magnotta.
Sophomore Liv Bozzo made her first career start for the Orange and finished with a career-high 85 minutes.
Naihin provided 35 minutes off the bench for Syracuse.
The start of the game was delayed 50 minutes by lightning in the area.

NEXT MATCH:

Syracuse plays at NC State on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.