PALO ALTO, Calif. – After a defiant defensive display in their 1-0 win over UC Davis on Thursday, Saint Mary's Women's Soccer headed down to Palo Alto to face off against the #6 Stanford Cardinal.
 
It was a dream start for Saint Mary's, as the Gaels managed to take the lead through Briana Salvetti in the 18^thminute. It remained 1-0 until the 70^th minute, when Stanford was finally able break down the stubborn SMC defense. Momentum was then on their side, scoring two more for a final score of 3-1. 
 
EARLY DEFENSE
Stanford looked to set the tempo early, as they played high up the field against the Gaels, forcing two corners just 3 minutes into the match. On the second corner, Taylor Poland did well to snatch the ball out of the air and thwart any chances for an early Cardinal goal. 
 
The Cardinal nearly took the lead in the 9^th minute, as a short-ranged effort nearly caught Poland off-guard, but she did well to stand tall and catch the ball to avoid an early opener for Stanford. 
 
Poland remained busy as Stanford forced another solid save from the Gaels keeper. This time, Cardinal forward Maya Doms made a charging run toward goal and let loose a shot, forcing Poland to stretch to her left to make a nice diving save in 13^th minute. 
 
Two more Stanford corners came in the 17^th minute, but Saint Mary's remained composed defensively, as they looked to generate some offense against a stout Cardinal midfield. 
 
NEVER SAW IT COMING
After an opening 18 minutes of defending, Saint Mary's turned defense into offense to catch the Cardinal off-guard and take the lead.
 
Marissa Garcia played a perfect through ball to Savannah Schwarze who charged down the right flank before delivering a perfect low-driven pass to the feet of Briana Salvetti. Salvetti comfortably tapped in her second goal of the season to shock Stanford with a 1-0 lead in the 18^th minute.
 
Stanford nearly equalized in the 25^th minute as Andrea Kitahata connected with a header, but her shot sailed just wide of Poland's post. 
 
The Cardinal piled on the pressure following Salvetti's opener, as crosses and corners came the Gaels way. They remained composed in defense, eager to take the slender lead into halftime. 
 
Saint Mary's registered just one shot in the first half compared to Stanford's 9, but one shot was all the Gaels needed to lead the Cardinal at halftime.
DIGGING DEEP
As expected, the Cardinal came out quick in the second half, looking to quickly tie to match. 
 
Saint Mary's remained composed in the early minutes of the half, looking to calm the match down and find their rhythm.
 
The Gaels did well to force Stanford to make tough passes, allowing Saint Mary's to slow the game down and make the Cardinal uncomfortable.
 
Taylor Poland's busy night continued in the 56^th minute, as she lunged to her left to make a low save from a shot by Stanford's Maya Doms.
 
As each minute went by, defending got tougher for the Gaels as Stanford threw players forward to find the equalizer. The Stanford corners kept coming, but every time Taylor Poland and the Saint Mary's defense were able to clear the ball out of harm's way. 
 
SCRIPT FLIPPED
It took them nearly 70 minutes, but on their 10^th corner of the match, Stanford was able to tie the match as the curling corner just glanced over the outstretched fingertips of Poland. 
 
The floodgates opened after that, as Stanford smelled blood. Soon after they tied the match, a looping cross caught Poland off-guard, as the ball floated over her head and into the back side netting of the goal. All of sudden the Cardinal found themselves on top, leading 2-1 in the 72^nd minute. 
 
A third came for Stanford in the 82^nd minute, as a long ranged left footed effort flew past Poland's outstretched arm to put the Gaels chances of a comeback out of reach. 
 
Tessa Salvestrin tried to sneak a goal back for the Gaels in the 88^th minute, as a free kick opportunity forced a strong save from the Stanford keeper. Salvestrin's shot was just the second all game for the Gaels.
 
Saint Mary's held on for as long as they could, but the experience of Stanford caught up to the Gaels, as the home side was able to make the come back and claim the win.
 
NEXT UP
Saint Mary's are back at home this week as they'll host James Madison on Thursday, August 31 at 4 pm before San Jose State come to town to take on the Gaels on Sunday, September 3 at 3 pm.