Arizona soccer recap: Wildcats battle, but fall to No. 2 Stanford 1-0 in Palo Alto

It took 24 shots to break through, but Jordan DiBiasi finally got the Stanford Cardinal on the board in the 67th minute, notching the game-winning goal to lift the home team to a 1-0 win over the Arizona Wildcats on Thursday night in Palo Alto, Calif.

DiBiasi tapped in her own rebound for the tally, after UA goalkeeper Lainey Burdett had made save after save to keep the match scoreless.

Burdett logged a career-high 11 saves, including six in the first half to keep the Wildcats in the game.

The second-ranked Cardinal possessed nearly the entire match, outshooting Arizona 32-4 with a 12-2 edge in shots on-goal and a 9-2 edge in corner kicks.

Burdett was tested immediately, knocking a shot over the crossbar in the second minute of the match.

The junior then made diving saves in the 10th and 16th minutes.

Just before halftime, Burdett denied Civana Kuhlmann on a breakaway to keep the game even.

Overall, it was a solid showing by Burdett and Arizona’s defense to keep a Stanford offense — which led the nation in six categories entering Thursday’s game — to just one goal.

Arizona’s offense couldn’t crack a stingy Stanford defense, though, mustering only one shot in the first half.

In the 35th minute, a through ball by Maddie Bennett found the foot of Cali Crisler, whose shot from inside the 18-yard box sailed just over the top left corner of the frame.

A close call, but Arizona’s best opportunity was in the 49th minute when a volley by Crisler found Charlotte Brascia in front of the net. But Brascia was well-defended and her shot was easily saved by Stanford goalkeeper Lauren Rood.

The freshman had two saves in her fourth shutout of the season.

Arizona falls to 4-3-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Pac-12. Stanford improves to 9-1 and 2-0, respectively.

The Wildcats are back in action Sunday when they face No. 11 Cal across the bay in Berkeley. The Golden Bears surprisingly drew against ASU, 1-1, on Thursday.

Arizona head coach Tony Amato said his team needs to finish the season over .500 to reach the NCAA Tournament, so avoiding a loss Sunday would be massive for the Wildcats.

Arizona beat Cal 2-1 in double overtime last year on senior day in Tucson. Crisler scored the game-winner.

Other notes

• Sophomore defender Leah Carillo made her first career start Thursday, playing 33 minutes.
• UA midfielder Gabi Stoian only played 12 minutes, subbing in late in the second half. The senior, who is six goals and five assists from breaking UA’s all-time records, had missed the last two games with a quad injury.
• Arizona is now 0-22-2 all-time vs. Stanford

Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at @RKelapire