On a chilly Halloween night, No. 14 Stanford women’s soccer (13-4-1, 5-4-1 ACC) had to skip trick-or-treating to host Cal (12-5-2, 5-4-1 ACC) for the final regular season game of the year. But what ensued Thursday seemed more like the plot of a horror movie. 

Just when the Cardinal thought they had escaped the jaws of defeat, fighting back from a two-goal deficit to tie the game, then came the final jumpscare. With just 10 seconds left on the clock, the Golden Bears were awarded a penalty after sophomore midfielder Shae Harvey’s attempt to clear a cross was called for a high kick. 

Although senior goalkeeper Haley Craig saved the initial attempt, there was nothing she could do about the follow-up. Cal won 3-2 to pull off the upset.

Losing to your cross-town rival was already a tough blow, but what made it worse for the Cardinal was that it was also Senior Night, a time to recognize the five seniors on the team and their contributions to the program. Alongside Craig, senior defender Avani Brandt, senior forward Andrea Kitahata, senior defender Nya Harrison and senior defender Kellie Pagador were all honored with their friends and families on the pitch before the match. 

“Feeling all the emotions,” Kitahata said . 

All five seniors started the match, but head coach Paul Ratcliffe had hoped for a different result to send the seniors off. 

“They’re amazing human beings,” said Ratcliffe. “To end on a win would have been a much happier moment for them, but they’ve been incredible.”

The result concludes Stanford’s first ever ACC regular season with back-to-back losses, as the Cardinal were previously trounced by No. 13 Notre Dame (11-2-4, 5-1-4 ACC) by three goals to none in South Bend nearly two weeks ago. 

If they had beaten the Fighting Irish, then any result against Cal would still have the Cardinal at sixth in the conference, enough to take the last spot in the ACC tournament. But Stanford now finds themselves at eighth, and on the outside looking in. 

The players, though, aren’t as discouraged by the recent spell of form. As Kitahata described,
“I think this group is actually on the up, despite these results. We’re playing great soccer.”

So what’s next?

Although the Cardinal will not compete for the ACC championship, they’re still in the running for the NCAA tournament. In fact, their absence from the conference tournament gives them an extra week to rest and regroup in hopes of replicating last year’s run to the national championship game. For Ratcliffe, he hopes that the recent setbacks can be what inspires another lengthy postseason. 

“Sometimes I worry more after you’ve won a game because complacency sets in and they stop doing the things that get them there,” Ratcliffe said. “But after a loss like this, I’m sure the team’s going to want to work hard and give a little extra and push in the next game. So I’m excited for the next game.” 

The Cardinal’s path to the College Cup will be determined on the NCAA Selection Show on Nov. 11.