By Ryan Vermont (@Your_Pal_Ryan ):
Stanford University showed why it’s the NCAA‘s two-time defending champions with a convincing 4-0 win over San Jose State.
The physically-superior Cardinal scored three goals in the first 45 minutes followed by another one less than 10 minutes into the second half to win their season opener in the Spartan Soccer Complex. Each goal came from a cross into the 18-yard box.
“Each year, they are always good on their physical stuff, in the air, on the ground; they just come hard on us,” said sophomore Jeff Dukes.
Dukes, one of three Spartans to play the entire match, emphasized that it was the size and determination that makes their neighboring university so elite.
The Spartans allowed goals in the 12th, 27th and 32nd minutes of the first half yet were only outshot 6-3. San Jose State also had the edge in corner kicks in the half 2-1.
“There were some good things, maybe they took their foot off the pedal,” said SJSU head coach Simon Tobin. “It’s a learning experience and you usually learn a little bit more when you lose then when you win.”
The home side’s best chance of the match came after a determined drive up the right wing by sophomore Suliman Khorami towards the middle of the first half. He picked out Finlay Wood atop the 18- yard box, who took a touch and fired the ball over the goal, skimming the cross bar.
The second half was similar to the first with the majority of action the in SJSU defensive third, however only one more goal was scored on sophomore goalkeeper Kris Donaldson.
“We didn’t make any real tactical change,” Tobin said. “I thought we did play okay in the second half.”
The Spartans fourth year head coach mentioned that he was bothered by giving up the fourth goal so early on in the second half, believing that was the goal that truly put the nail in the coffin.
On paper, the Spartans had the most difficult season-opener in the country and the match proved to be just that. The Cardinal outshot the Spartans 11-4 and had 14 fouls to SJSU’s 10 en route to the clean sheet.
SJSU will now have a full week to make some corrections and to prepare for its next game against UC Davis, another home match.
The match is scheduled for next Friday at 5 p.m.