Box Score (PDF)
Post-game Quotes (PDF)
STANFORD, Calif. – Third-ranked Stanford used five second-half goals to erase a two-goal deficit behind a hat trick by Chioma Ubogagu and another pair of goals by Taylor Uhl to give the Cardinal a 5-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
Fullerton ends its campaign with a 10-8-4 overall record, to go along with its third consecutive conference title after becoming both the Big West's regular season champion, while garnering its second consecutive conference tournament title. The Cardinal, who improved to 18-1-2 overall, will meet Arkansas in the second round after the Razorbacks defeated Oklahoma in overtime, 3-2 in Norman, Okla.
With the Titans up 2-0 at halftime, the Cardinal began their second half flurry with a goal by Ubogagu off a free kick just outside of the box in the 61st minute. Just five minutes later, Ubogagu fired in the equalizer at the 66th minute mark, displaying exceptional footwork in the box to sneak it into the far post past Titans' goalkeeper, Jennifer Stuart.
Stanford pulled ahead in the 74th minute following Uhl's eighth goal of the season off a back pass from Alex Doll following a volley from the top of the box by Lo'eau LaBonta. The Cardinal tacked on another pair of goals by Uhl's header in the 82nd minute while Ubogagu completed her first career hat trick on a sharp strike at the near post off LaBonta's second assist of the match.
The Cardinal controlled the second half, out shooting the Titans 20-0, while holding an overall edge of 33-5 for the contest. Stanford also attempted the only corner kicks of the NCAA first round matchup, recording a 10-0 advantage.
Although being outshot 13-5 in the first-half, Fullerton opened the scoring in the ninth minute off of senior Brianna Chapman's penalty kick following a foul in the box by Cardinal defender, Doll. In the 28th minute, the Titans extended their lead to 2-0 following junior Christina Burkenroad's interception off a pass just outside of the box, working past a Cardinal defender and collecting her sixth score of the season in the upper right corner of the goal past Stanford keeper Jane Campbell.
Stuart was under pressure all evening, making save after save in the first half to preserve the 2-0 lead heading into half, but the 20 Cardinal shots in the final 45 minutes would result in five second half goals to seal the Titans' fate and eliminate Fullerton at the hands of Stanford for the second consecutive season.
Notes: Cal State Fullerton's season ends with a record of 10-8-4, the Titans fourth-straight winning campaign…the Titans 10-match unbeaten streak and seven-match winning streak was snapped in the loss to Stanford…the Titans lost their first game of the year after scoring the first goal of the game (9-1-0)…Fullerton is 3-6 all-time at the NCAA Tournament including a 2-4 record in the first round and an 0-6 mark on the road…Stanford leads the all-time series against Cal State Fullerton 3-0-0…Cal State Fullerton has not allowed five goals in a game since a 5-4 loss to Long Beach State on Oct. 17, 2010…Stanford's five goals were the most the Titans have ever allowed in nine NCAA Tournament games…the Titans scored multiple goals in an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since a 3-0 shutout of Loyola Marymount in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Drake Stadium on Nov. 10, 2006…Cal State Fullerton last allowed five goals in a half on Sept. 19, 1997 in a 6-0 loss to USC…the Titans finished the season 0-2-1 against top-25 opponents…Fullerton lost by multiple goals for the first time since a 3-1 defeat at sixth-ranked BYU, 3-1, Aug. 23, 2013…the Titans lost despite scoring multiple goals for the first time since a 4-2 loss to UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 19, 2012…Christina Burkenroad finished the season recording at least a point in five consecutive games totaling 11 points on five goals and one assist. She is the ninth player in program history record a streak of at least five consecutive games with a point.
