Category: Weekly Wraps

(Photo Credit: Stanford Athletics)

Beattie Goad has become the first Australian to win two College Cup titles as Stanford followed up their 2017 success over UCLA with a penalty shootout victory over North Carolina in the 2019 final. The Cardinal were held goalless for just the second time this season, but the undoubted top team all year held their nerve in the shootout to grab their third title in program history.

2019 NCAA Division I College Cup Final

Stanford (Beattie Goad) 0-0 North Carolina (Stanford won 5-4 on penalties)

Stanford v North Carolina. The country’s pre-eminent program of the last few seasons against one of the most storied programs in the history of college sports. The teams have already faced off once in a national championship game, with Jessica McDonald’s third minute goal delivering North Carolina the 2009 title. However, that game is ancient history with regards to this contest, as Stanford came in as heavy favourites.

With both teams possessing elite talent both in attack and defence, this match could have gone any number of ways. The first half failed to produce a goal, but it was by no means a cagey affair as Stanford piled on the pressure throughout the first 45 minutes. This was evidenced as much as anything by the fact that Stanford finished the first half with 7 corners to UNC’s zero, but it meant little as the scoreboard read 0-0 at halftime.

The early stages of the second half saw UNC come out firing, dominating the early stages and going the closest of either team to a goal in regulation time as Alessia Russo just failed to meet Isabel Cox’s ball across the box with the goal wide open. Stanford had chances of their own, with Beattie Goad finding Catarina Macario in the area, but the Brazilian-born superstar was unable to fashion an opening. Macario would test North Carolina goalkeeper Claudia Dickey on a number of occasions later in the piece, but the Tar Heels custodian remained up to the task. A frenetic final few minutes of regulation failed to result in a goal, and with 90 minutes unable to split the teams, golden goal overtime followed.

The end of regulation spelled the end of Goad’s time on the pitch as a Stanford player as the senior was subbed out for the final time at the start of overtime. With players noticeably tiring, opportunities opened up, but although North Carolina managed three shots to Stanford’s zero, a second overtime would be required.

Both teams forced saves out of the opposition goalkeepers, before Sophia Smith, who would later be named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, crashed a shot against the crossbar with Dickey soundly beaten. It was the closest either team had been to scoring all day in a game, and it almost ended the game just 95 seconds before the final whistle.

But to penalties we would go. Stanford goalkeeper Katie Meyer saved Taylor Otto’s penalty to kick things off, but Dickey would return the favour on Carly Malatskey’s shot to knot things up at 3-3 through four shots. Both teams slotted their next penalty, before Meyer came up with her second save of the shootout to leave Kiki Pickett with the opportunity to win it all. The junior calmly buried her penalty past Dickey, sending both the Stanford team and a crowd heavily populated with Cardinal faithful into raptures as they celebrated the team’s third national title and second in three years.

Beattie Goad finished her college career playing 39 minutes in an impact role off the bench, a role in which she had excelled most of the season after starting earlier in the year when injuries had taken their toll on the Stanford team. Goad’s second title is also the third for an Australian in four years, following Lulu Pullar’s success with USC in the 2016 College Cup.

2019 NCAA Division I College Cup Semi-Finals

Washington State (Aly Hay) 1-2 North Carolina

History dictated that North Carolina should roll to victory in this fixture, but history doesn’t play the game, and Morgan Weaver demonstrated that early in the piece. With Washington State piling on the pressure early in the piece courtesy of their high press, it didn’t take long for the Cougars to create something. A long ball from goalkeeper Ella Dederick was nodded on twice by Washington State players, and with North Carolina unable to adequately deal with the situation, Weaver buried a low shot from the edge of the box across Tar Heels goalkeeper Claudia Dickey for an early 1-0 advantage.

However, Washington State’s advantage lasted just 17 minutes before North Carolina star Alessia Russo tallied the equaliser, latching onto a neat chip from Taylor Otto just in front of the oncoming Dederick, nudging the ball home to tie the game at 1-1.

North Carolina would complete the turnaround in the 39^th minute. Legendary coach Anson Dorrance is renowned for his mass substitutions heading into the back end of the first half, and his second unit, nicknamed the ‘Gamechangers’, did exactly that. Against a far less fresh Washington State starting lineup, Ru Mucherera got to the byline before whipping in a cross that was met at the back post by the head of Alexis Strickland, who buried the header for a 2-1 advantage.

However, Washington State certainly had their chances in the second half. The Cougars tested Dickey on a number of occasions and went close on several others, eventually outshooting the Tar Heels 10-8, with both teams finishing with four shots on target. On the balance of play, nobody would have been surprised if Washington State advanced to the final, but it would be North Carolina who moved on as they chase a 22^nd national championship.

Backup goalkeeper Aly Hay may not have featured on-field for the Cougars, but was spotted front and centre of the Washington State bench’s goal celebrations following their early opener.

Stanford (Beattie Goad) 4-1 UCLA (Rachel Lowe, Teagan Micah)

For the sixth time in four seasons, Teagan Micah and Beattie Goad faced off, with Goad and Stanford looking to maintain a perfect record in games between the two sides in that timespan. It took just six minutes for the first goal to transpire, but it wouldn’t be Stanford taking the lead. Instead, it was UCLA’s Chloe Castaneda launching a shot from distance that Stanford goalkeeper should have done better on that saw the Bruins open the scoring.

However, just two minutes later, Stanford star Sophia Smith equalised, nutmegging Micah with a powerful low shot that skidded through on the slick surface. Suddenly, Stanford seemed to click into action, and a prolonged period of dominance followed for the Cardinal. A second goal for Stanford seemed inevitable, and it came in the 21^st minute as Carly Malatskey finished powerfully to hand her side the lead.

This quickly looked as though it was to be Smith’s day, though. Running at the UCLA defence menacingly, the sophomore took every inch that the Bruins gave her, extending the lead to 3-1 after cutting inside and finishing past Micah on her left foot.

However, late in the first half, UCLA were gifted a chance as Kennedy Wesley bundled over Bruins freshman Mia Fishel in the box, resulting in a penalty. Fishel stepped up to take the spot kick, but Meyer atoned for her earlier error with the save to keep the score at 3-1 as the teams headed into halftime.

Smith then made UCLA pay for that missed penalty, sealing her hat-trick with a finish across Micah for Stanford’s fourth and final goal in the 52^nd minute. Although Micah would make a season-high ten saves for the Bruins, the senior remained powerless to prevent Stanford from rolling into the final as it was Goad’s college career that would extend until Sunday.

Goad would finish the game with 2 shots off the bench, whilst UCLA freshman Rachel Lowe saw her first College Cup action, playing 11 minutes off the bench for the Bruins.

(Photo: Stanford Athletics)

We’ve had Aussies in the national championship game. We’ve had Aussies face off against each other in the national championship game. What we’ve never had is three teams with Aussies on the roster in the College Cup semi-finals.

UNTIL NOW.

UCLA and Stanford rolled to dominant victories on Saturday, whilst Washington State eked out another upset in overtime against South Carolina to see Rachel Lowe, Teagan Micah, Beattie Goad, and Aly Hay all book their tickets to San Jose for the College Cup.

UCLA (Rachel Lowe, Teagan Micah)

Elite Eight: defeated Florida State 4-0

Mike Tyson once said ‘Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth,’ and UCLA certainly punched first in their Elite Eight match against Florida State in Tallahassee. Three goals in just over half an hour to open the game turned what was meant to be a tight contest into a blowout even before halftime.

Chloe Castaneda was the early hero for the Bruins, opening the scoring in the eighth minute with a close-range volley to set the visitors on their way. The redshirt senior followed up just 12 minutes later, turning her defender inside out before finishing across the goalkeeper with a pinpoint finish.

Freshman sensation Mia Fishel all but wrapped the game up with still 13 minutes remaining in the first half. Latching onto an Ashley Sanchez ball, Fishel slotted home, beating the onrushing goalkeeper put the Bruins up 3-0 as Florida State found themselves without an answer for the Bruins’ dominance.

Fishel then added a fourth for the Bruins after halftime as the visitors cruised to victory. Teagan Micah was forced into just two saves as UCLA thoroughly shut down the Seminoles, whilst Rachel Lowe saw 28 minutes of action off the bench as the Bruins rolled into a College Cup semi-final against either Stanford or BYU, who would face off just two hours after the Bruins’ game wrapped up.

Stanford (Beattie Goad)

Elite Eight: defeated BYU 5-1

Stanford had been utterly ruthless in reaching the Elite Eight, but one would be forgiven for thinking that a game against #2 seed BYU would be slightly closer. It wasn’t to be, though. Stanford rode roughshod over the Cougars in the first half, opening up a 4-0 lead to secure their place in the College Cup semi-finals with still 45 minutes to play.

Catarina Macario continued her absurdly dominant season with two goals inside the opening 30 minutes to send Stanford on their way. Even at that point, the game was all but a foregone conclusion as BYU attempted to score at least two goals against a side averaging less than half a goal conceded per game.

Kiki Pickett chalked up a 3^rd to extend the lead in the 41^st minute, and when Beattie Goad whipped in a killer corner which was nodded on for Sam Tran to finish just two minutes later, a 4-0 halftime lead had Stanford fans checking the Caltrain timetable for the short trip to San Jose.

However, Stanford weren’t done there. Sophomore star Sophia Smith forced an own goal in the early minutes of the second half, and although BYU managed a consolation 27 minutes from time, Stanford were hardly troubled in rolling into a College Cup semi-final against UCLA.

Beattie Goad saw 32 minutes of action off the bench, with her most valuable contribution coming in her first half cameo with the assist on the Cardinal’s fourth goal.

Washington State (Aly Hay)

Elite Eight: defeated South Carolina 1-0 (OT)

UCLA and Stanford may have done it easy, but unseeded Washington State were never likely to be gifted such a comfortable path on the road at #2 seed South Carolina. In a back-and-forth game, both teams had their chances, but taking advantage of those chances proved to be a different story entirely.

Both teams finished the game with 15 shots, but despite those opportunities, the goalkeepers were largely untested. Washington State stalwart Ella Dederick was forced into just two saves, whilst South Carolina custodian Mikayla Krzeczowski faced only four shots on target.

However, that fourth shot on target for the Cougars proved to be the game-winner. Having ridden out a period of dominance from South Carolina at the back end of the second half, Washington State came up with a 96^th minute goal as Mykiaa Minniss buried a corner into the roof of the net, sending the Cougars into delirium.

The win continued a dream run for Washington State, who have now knocked off a top seed in Virginia as well as a #2 seed in South Carolina on the way to their first College Cup appearance in program history.

As expected, freshman backup goalkeeper Aly Hay did not feature for the Cougars.

(Photo: Rand Bleimeister/UCLA)

Stanford (Beattie Goad)

Sweet Sixteen: defeated Penn State 2-0

Penn State had already run Stanford close once this season, and looking at the scoreline, a 2-0 Stanford victory suggests that Penn State were in the contest for much of the 90 minutes. However, in actual fact, Stanford dominated for the entire match. The Cardinal outshot their opponents 35-1, with only a 12-save performance from Penn State goalkeeper Amanda Dennis preventing Stanford from piling up the goals. A 30^th minute goal from Catarina Macario handed Stanford the lead, and although the second goal didn’t arrive until the 65^th minute through Maya Doms, the Cardinal were hardly troubled. Penn State rarely looked like challenging goalkeeper Katie Meyer, who was not required to make a single save as Stanford marched into the Elite Eight and a matchup against BYU.

Beattie Goad once again came off the bench for Stanford, playing 24 minutes in the win.

UCLA (Rachel Lowe, Teagan Micah)

Sweet Sixteen: defeated Wisconsin 2-0

UCLA weren’t quite as dominant in attack as Stanford in securing their own 2-0 win over a Big Ten opponent in the form of Wisconsin, but their defence was on point throughout the 90 minutes. Teagan Micah was forced into just one save in a complete game performance, with Wisconsin managing just three shots all game. At the other end, UCLA blazed away with 17 shots as the Bruins peppered Badgers goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer, who made seven saves. A team with UCLA’s attacking class rarely wastes such a dominant performance, and when Mia Fishel slotted home in the 49^th minute, UCLA had one foot in the door. A wicked free kick into the top corner from Viviana Villacorta followed just four minutes later, and with Wisconsin showing few signs of pulling back one goal, let alone two, the Bruins rolled into the Elite Eight to face defending champions Florida State in Tallahassee. UCLA have already beaten Florida State once this season, winning 2-1 in Los Angeles.

Alongside Teagan Micah’s 90-minute effort, freshman Rachel Lowe played 13 minutes off the bench, tallying a shot on target in the process.

Washington State (Aly Hay)

Sweet Sixteen: defeated West Virginia 3-0

The only Sweet Sixteen game between two unseeded teams, this clash between Washington State and West Virginia appeared wide open coming into the game. It would be Washington State who got off to a flyer, with Makamae Gomera-Stevens scoring the opener in the 15^th minute to set the Cougars on their way. West Virginia had their chances throughout the contest, finishing with five shots on target, but star goalkeeper Ella Dederick was up to the task on each occasion. Meanwhile, at the other end, Washington State’s attack was lethal in the second half. Goals in the 64^th and 71^st minutes to Morgan Weaver secured the 3-0 win as the Cougars peppered West Virginia goalkeeper Rylee Foster with ten shots on target as they set up an Elite Eight meeting with #2 seed South Carolina.

Ella Dederick continued to stand tall between the posts, leaving Aly Hay and her fellow backup goalkeepers to watch and learn from a Cougars legend once again.