Stanford beats Duke 1-0 to reach program’s 7th Women’s College Cup Final

KANSAS CITY, MO – Top-ranked Stanford entered Friday’s NCAA College Cup semifinal match having scored 21 goals in its previous four NCAA Tournament matches. It needed just one to get past No. 11 Duke 1-0 on Friday night from CPKC Stadium to advance to its seventh national title match.

The Cardinal (21-1-2), which outshot Duke (17-5-1) 23-11 in the victory, will advance to play No. 6 Florida State on Monday at 4 p.m. PT for the national championship.

Senior Jasmine Aikey, who was named TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year on Thursday, provided the difference in the victory for Stanford, lining up a free kick in the 10th minute and bending her shot to the near post for her 21st goal of the year.

The Cardinal had several opportunities to extend the lead, but ultimately settled for the one goal and held on victory.

Carrying the slim 1-0 lead out of halftime, sophomore Charlotte Kohler had a golden opportunity to add insurance in the 48th minute, running onto a loose ball and dribbling one-on-one with Caroline Dysart in goal for Duke. Dysart came charging off her line and made a split-second save on Kohler’s right-footed shot.

The Cardinal had another great chance in the 61st minute after winning a corner kick. The ball was sent in by freshman Y-Lan Nguyen and Stanford put a flurry of shots on frame, but could not crack the goal line as Duke’s back line continually guarded the net – ultimately finishing the match with four team saves to accompany three saves from Dysart.

The Cardinal had one final quality chance in the 74th minute when Kohler once again laced a shot on frame, but this time it rattled the woodwork and caromed out toward the sideline.

Duke managed just two shots on frame in the match, with Stanford goalkeeper Caroline Birkel recording a pair of saves – including a crucial stop in the 20th minute on a point-blank chance from Duke’s Devin Lynch. The clean sheet was Birkel’s third of the season, including her second in the postseason. The Cardinal has now posted nine shutouts this season.

Stanford and Florida State will meet in the national championship match for the second time in three years after the Seminoles defeated the Cardinal 5-1 in 2023.