Stanford field hockey secures first ACC win of season

Stanford field hockey (4-6, 1-3 ACC) secured its first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) victory of the season with a dramatic shootout win, ending 2-1 over No. 16 Louisville (5-4, 0-1 ACC) this past Friday night at home. The game, lasting almost three hours, remained tied 1-1 after regulation and overtime, resulting in a tense penalty shootout that ended with a Cardinal win. 

They took a 1-0 lead early on, with sophomore midfielder Jenny O’Grady’s first goal of the season, assisted by redshirt senior defensive midfielder Cara Sambeth. Louisville tied up the score before halftime, and in the second half, both teams struggled to score. The game extended into two overtime periods. Both teams attempted goals, but neither of them converted, sending the match to a shootout where the Cardinal edged out a goal.

Carrying this momentum through to their next game, the Cardinal had a strong start against No. 2 Virginia on Sunday and took a shot in the opening quarter. The Cavaliers, however, played strong defense, and the score remained tied at 0-0 for the first quarter. In the second quarter, Stanford had an opportunity to score with a penalty corner, but was unable to convert, and the score remained tied into halftime. 

Three minutes into the third quarter, the Cavaliers got a point on the board, with a rebound past sophomore goalkeeper Anya Jackson, giving them a 1-0 lead. In the final 15 minutes of the game, Stanford kept the pressure on Virginia, but Virginia ultimately earned the victory 2-0 after a two-on-one play. 

The team’s next competition will take place at home against Syracuse on Friday, Oct. 10.

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