ASU Soccer: No. 14 Stanford shuts out the Sun Devils

Arizona State (8-6-2, 0-5-2 Pac-12) struggled to find any consistent attack Thursday night. The No. 14 Stanford (11-3-1, 5-1-1) defense stopped anything that came its way in the Cardinal’s 2-0 win.

The Sun Devils, not even the nation’s top goal scorer Nicole Douglas, produced in the first half at Stanford. Douglas and Cori Sullivan produced the team’s lone shots on goal, but even those didn’t put much pressure on Stanford keeper Katie Meyer.

The Cardinal scored its first goal on a corner kick that has been the Sun Devils’ main problem this season. Arizona State goalkeeper Birta Gudlaugs attack the header on initial contact, but the ball didn’t get cleared from anyone. Samantha Williams cashed in the easy chance to put her team early on the rebound.

Andrea Kitahata’s 63rd-minute score was just good soccer. Amy Sayer flung in a perfect cross that Kitahata dove to reach and successfully put it past Gudlaugs.

Arizona State tries to earn its first conference win on Sunday when it visits Cal.