Cal\u2019s best victory of the fall season . . . in any sport?<\/p>\n
The men\u2019s soccer team delivered it Friday evening at Edwards Stadium, pinning a 1-0 defeat on top-ranked rival Stanford.<\/p>\n
Sophomore midfielder Junhwan Park, a native of South Korea who transferred in this season from San Francisco, scored the game-winner in the 33rd minute. It was his third goal in as many games.<\/p>\n
Cal beat the nation\u2019s No. 1 team for the second straight year, having knocked off top-ranked Pitt 1-0 on the road last season. This one had to be even more satisfying for the Bears.<\/p>\n
“I’ve said it before, you come to Cal to play Stanford, and you come to Cal to beat Stanford,” Cal coach Leonard Griffin said.<\/p>\n
The outcome no doubt was made sweeter for Cal (6-7-2, 2-6-1 ACC) because it deprived Stanford of the ACC regular-season championship. While having their 10-game unbeaten streak and run of five straight shutouts ended, the Cardinal (12-2-2, 5-2-1 ACC) wound up second in the final standings.<\/p>\n
Sixth-ranked Virginia (10-1-4, 5-0-3 ACC) claimed the ACC crown.<\/p>\n
The Bears beat Stanford for the second year in a row, taking a 1-0 verdict on the Farm last season. And in their regular-season finale, the Bears finally won their first home game this year.<\/p>\n
“It was super intense,” Griffin said. “It’s always a dogfight against Stanford. They’re a tough team to beat when it turns into that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis result is a testament to the character of this group and their absolute belief in one another and their belief in what they can accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stanford outshot the Bears 14-3 but goalkeepers Marco Brougher and Connor Lambe combined for seven saves to secure the shutout.<\/p>\n
Cal moves on to the ACC tournament next week at Durham, NC. The 12th-seeded Bears open Wednesday at 4 p.m. against No. 5 seed Duke at 4 p.m. PT.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wednesday at 4 p.m. PT in Durham, North Carolina, where the 12th-seeded Bears will face fifth-seeded Duke (8-2-6, 4-2-2 ACC). The Bears and Blue Devils tied 1-1 on Sept. 14 in Berkeley.<\/p>\n
A victory over Duke would send the Bears into a quarterfinal matchup on Sunday, Nov. 9 against the winner of the game between No. 4 seed Clemson and No. 9 North Carolina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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