SEATTLE – Washington waited until the 84th minute to record its first and only goal of the game, but it would be all it needed to clinch its first appearance in the national semifinal.
Senior Michael Harris used his trademark flip-throw to put sophomore Ian Lange in position to knock in the game-winning goal, as the Huskies defeated Stanford 1-0 on Sunday night at Husky Soccer Stadium before a crowd of 2,690.
The victory sends the Huskies to their first appearance in the round of eight since the program’s inception in 1963.
The Huskies and Cardinal were knotted at 0-0 at halftime, as neither team recorded a shot on goal that needed a save. The Huskies’ two shots on goal and the Cardinal three shots on goal were all wide of the net.
Mason Robertson gave the Huskies one of their best opportunities at a goal in the 62nd minute, as Robertson won possession on a throw-in and took a shot that just missed high and right of the net.
The Huskies got an outstanding save from keeper Ryan Herman in the 69th minute. Stanford’s Bobby Edwards dribbled up the right side and took a shot across the net, but Herman dove and corralled the ball with a fully extended dive to his right.
The Huskies will host seventh-seeded New Mexico at 8 p.m. Saturday at Husky Soccer Stadium.
The Huskies coaching staff has a history with New Mexico. Head coach Jamie Clark was previously an assistant for four season with the Lobos from 2002-05. Washington assistant coach Jeff Rowland is one of the most decorated players in New Mexico history, ranking second in career goals with 45 and third in career points with 104.
The Huskies last faced New Mexico on Sept. 21, 2008, when the Huskies defeated the Lobos 3-2 in overtime.
