Stanford University’s women’s lacrosse team lost a closely contested match against Villanova on March 28, with the final score standing at 9-8. The No. 2 ranked Cardinal battled hard throughout the game but were unable to complete a late comeback in Pennsylvania.
The result is significant as it marks the end of Stanford’s two-game road trip and highlights both the team’s resilience and areas for improvement ahead of upcoming fixtures.
Goalkeeper Ella Morton made five saves during the contest, helping keep Stanford in contention. Seven different players scored for Stanford, reflecting a balanced offensive effort. Martha Oakey and Mallory Hasselbeck led the team with two points each, while Kaleigh Sommers achieved a career-high three caused turnovers. The Cardinal also dominated draw controls by an 11-6 margin, outpacing one of the nation’s top teams in that category.
In early play, Ava Arceri broke through defensive pressure to score first for Stanford late in the opening quarter, followed by Rylee Bouvier to give Stanford a 2-0 lead after one period. The second quarter saw both teams trading goals before Villanova tied it up at halftime, with physicality increasing as eight cards were issued during the second half.
Villanova took control early in the third quarter and extended their lead to three goals before Stanford responded with three consecutive scores from Hasselbeck (assisted by Amanda Lawson), Elise Murphy (with a behind-the-back finish), and Jordyn Case from an eight-meter shot. Despite these efforts and timely defensive plays—including Morton’s point-blank save late in regulation—Stanford could not convert its final opportunities as Villanova held on for victory.
Looking ahead, Stanford will return home to host Louisville from the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday, April 4 for Senior Day at Cagan Stadium.
