Prime-Ranked Cardinal Advances to Championship Final – Stanford Cardinal

CARY, N.C. – Playing in an ACC Championship Semifinal match on Thursday night time from WakeMed Soccer Park, No. 1 Stanford (16-1-1) scored three first-half targets, together with a brace from sophomore Charlotte Kohler, and held on to defeat No. 7 Virginia (12-3-4) 3-2 to advance to the Championship Final.

The Cardinal, which gained the ACC regular-season title, advances to play No. 2 Notre Dame within the Championship Final after the Irish defeated Duke within the different semifinal on Thursday.

Stanford peppered the Virginia aim within the first half, placing 15 of its 20 photographs on the night time up within the first 45 minutes. Kohler broke the scoreless match within the ninth minute as she stole a cross within the Virginia defensive finish and slotted her shot previous the keeper for her eighth aim of the 12 months.

Kohler doubled the Cardinal lead within the thirty first minute when she as soon as once more gained a ball within the Virginia field, dribbled on aim and deposited her shot into the again of the web to file her second multi-goal of the season.

Putting the ending touches on a spectacular first half of play, senior Jasmine Aikey launched a left-footed shot from 40 yards out that beat the keeper with 4 seconds remaining on the clock. The aim was Aikey’s team-best 14th of the season.

Despite surrendering the three targets, Victoria Safradin made six first-half saves to maintain the Cavaliers within the match as the 2 groups went into the break.

Virginia managed to flip the script a bit within the second half, outshooting the Cardinal 15-5 to go away the ultimate tally even at 20-20.

The Cavaliers bought one aim again within the 58th minute as Meredith McDermott obtained a ball on the best wing, dribbled previous the Cardinal defender and powered her shot off the gloves of Caroline Birkel and into the web.

With the time winding down within the match, Virginia struck once more – this time benefitting from a penalty kick to chop the deficit to 1 at 3-2 within the eighty fifth minute. After a pair of tackles on the high of the field, the Cavaliers managed to play a ball excessive into the field the place a Cardinal defender dedicated a foul to arrange a transformed PK from Maggie Cagle.

The Cardinal survived the ultimate 5 minutes to safe the victory, together with defending a last-ditch nook kick within the closing minute of play.

Birkel, the 2025 ACC Goalkeeper of the Year, was credited with a career-high six saves – together with 4 within the second half.

GAME NOTES:

• The Cardinal has scored a minimum of three targets in 13 of the primary 18 matches of the 12 months
• Stanford is averaging a national-best 23.28 photographs per sport, having posted a minimum of 20 in 12 of the primary 18 matches, and leads the nation in scoring offense (4.00 targets per sport)
• The Cardinal is 62-7-9 general file over its final 78 matches and has gained 10 straight contests
• Jasmine Aikey has contributed a minimum of some extent in 14 of the primary 18 matches this season, has scored in six of her final 9, and has a aim in 11 of the 18 contests this season … leads the workforce in complete factors with 35 (team-high 14 targets and 7 assists) and has contributed 5 game-winners … has contributed 36 profession targets to rank tenth in Stanford historical past
• Andrea Kitahata contributed a minimum of one level in every of the primary six matches this season and has some extent in 15 of the 18 matches this 12 months … had a string of 4 consecutive matches with a aim halted, however has contributed a minimum of some extent in 5 straight matches … ranks second on the workforce in factors with 33 (13 targets and 7 assists)
• Charlotte Kohler has managed a minimum of some extent in 14 of the primary 18 matches this season, together with every of the final eight … posted her second profession multi-goal match on Thursday – matching her two towards Arizona on August 28 of this season