Stanford women's soccer reaches College Cup final

Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe won't be taking any chances after his top-ranked Cardinal advanced to its third consecutive NCAA championship with a convincing

3-0 victory Friday over Florida State in Kennesaw, Ga.

After losing in the past two College Cup finals by identical 1-0 scores, Ratcliffe plans to keep tighter reigns on the Cardinal players Saturday.

"In the past maybe I've been too nice and let them socialize," he said Friday. "It's a hard one because I want them to see their parents but we have to realize we have a job to do. We have to be disciplined and be smart about it."

Ratcliffe has reason to be concerned. Stanford has gone through three unbeaten seasons until losing in the College Cup. In 2008, it lost in the semifinals to Notre Dame. In 2009, Stanford fell 1-0 to North Carolina and it lost again by a 1-0 score to Notre Dame in last year's finale.

The Cardinal (24-0-1) will face Duke, which routed Atlantic Coast Conference rival Wake Forest 4-1 in the other semifinal match at KSU Soccer Stadium.

Stanford displayed its versatility Friday when leading goal scorer Lindsay Taylor (20 goals) was held without a shot. The Cardinal didn't collapse because its star was shutout.

After the Seminoles (18-7-1) made a strong run in the first 10 minutes Cardinal freshman Chioma Ubogagu took over.

The London-born striker got a lead pass from Mariah Nogueria off a Florida State corner kick in the 22nd minute. With too many Seminoless, eventually

passed to the right where midfielder Teresa Noyola quickly gave it right back. Ubogagu did the rest by beating two defenders and Seminoles goalkeeper Kelsey Wys for a 1-0 lead.

"We talked about in the scouting report how they sent a little too many players on corners," Ubogagu said. "We just countered."

But it wasn't that simple. Florida State recovered by the time the Texas freshman collected the ball in the box.

"Chi's so talented on the ball I don't think it matters how many people are around her," Stanford defender Cami Levin said.

Ubogagu set up the Cardinal's second goal two minutes later when taking the ball down the left off a Taylor pass She served a nice ball in front of the net where senior Kristy Zurmuhlen popped it into the net to stun Florida State, the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament champion.

Stanford finished off the Seminoles in the 64th minute when Madeleine Thompson lobbed a long serve toward the far post. Alina Garciamendez, a Mexican international center back, beat Florida State's Toni Pressley to head the ball past Wys.

"That whole play was really perfect, playing the ball to the back post," Taylor said.

Florida State outshot Stanford 12-9 but the Cardinal converted on all three shots on goal. The three goals were the most for Stanford in seven College Cup matches all-time.

But Stafnord might have faltered in the early going if not for sophomore goalkeeper Emily Oliver, who was credited with six saves. The national leader in goals-against average (0.24) got her 11th shutout of the season while Stanford earned its 17th as a team.

Once Ubogagu got going, the Seminoles had no answers. She got her 10 goal and 10th assist of the team. Both are ranked second on the team.

"There's not doubt I've been blessed to have some great freshmen," Ratcliffe said. "Chioma is way up there, she's a special player. It seems in the big games she steps up."

Source: http://www.thereporter.com/ci_19462708?source=rss_viewed

hilary duff pregnant hilary duff pregnant psat psat brenda song mountain west mountain west