Two quick strikes by Stanford Friday night has set up the first final between two undefeated teams in the history of the NCAA women’s soccer championship.
Third-ranked Stanford (20-0-4) scored twice in the first four minutes to beat BYU 2-0, while top-ranked Florida State (21-0-1) beat Clemson by the same score in the first semifinal.
The future ACC rivals will meet Monday at 3 p.m. in Cary, N.C. with a title on the line.
“In order to be the best you have to beat the best, and that’s our goal,” said fifth-year defender Kennedy Wesley, who appeared in a program-record 103rd career match Friday.
The Cardinal and Seminoles have each won two titles in the last six years, with Stanford winning in 2019 and 2017 and Florida State winning in 2021 and 2018.
“We’re excited about the challenge,” Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. “It’s why you go to Stanford — you want to be at the highest level. It’s a dream come true to be in the final. So we’re excited for the opportunity and we’re gonna go for it.”
The Cardinal avenged last year’s second-round elimination in penalty kicks against the Cougars with two long-range strikes by sophomore Allie Montoyo and fifth-year midfielder Maya Doms.
“We always talk about the ‘Big Five,’ the first five minutes the game is key,” Ratcliffe said. “We’ve been talking about it all year. We haven’t done it that much. So I’m happy we did it on the biggest stage.”
Stanford hadn’t scored before the eighth minute entering Friday. But Montoyo, a Mountain View High graduate, scored just 1:19 into the game, chipping a shot into the far post just inside the box.
It was just the second goal of the season for the forward, who tore her ACL last October.
“It’s been amazing seeing her come back from her ACL injury and she’s showing that she hasn’t skipped a beat,” Doms said. “The past few games, I think she’s been frustrated to miss a couple opportunities. And I was like, ‘You’re saving it for the College Cup, aren’t you?’ She was like, ‘Yeah, I am.’ ”
Doms added to the lead at the 3:59 mark when her shot from 25 yards out went into the top corner. It was the fifth goal in seven games for Doms, who scored the winner in overtime in the quarterfinal against Nebraska.
“I’m trying to remember my pregame talk. I need to say the same things again,” Ratcliffe said. “I was surprised and not surprised, because we have phenomenal players at Stanford, and there were two exceptional goals. And I know that the team was really excited for this game.”
That was more than enough offense for the Cardinal, who hadn’t allowed two goals in a game all season. The Cougars (20-3-3) overcame a 3-0 halftime deficit in the quarterfinals against UNC to win 4-3, but couldn’t get a shot past Ryan Campbell, who made three saves for her 11th shutout.
BYU did have a goal called back for offsides on a disputed call just before halftime, and hit the top of the crossbar midway through the second half. The Cougars outshot the Cardinal 20-3 but both teams had three shots on goal.
NOTES: The last meeting between Florida State and Stanford was a 2-0 FSU win in the 2018 semifinals. … The winner will earn its fourth title, which will be the second-most in women’s soccer behind North Carolina (21). … The women’s soccer championships started in 1982.
