University of Washington
5-2-4, 1-1-1
Stanford
8-1-1, 1-0-1
Herman Big In Goal As Dawgs Tie Stanford, 0-0
October 10, 2015 | Men's Soccer
STANFORD, Calif. – No. 17 Washington earned a big road point, drawing with No. 3 Stanford 0-0 on Friday night at the Cardinal's Cagan Stadium. The Dawgs got a sensational performance in goal from Ryan Herman, making 11 saves to earn his seventh shutout of the season.
The Cardinal came in to the game having won eight-in-a-row, but the Huskies ended that streak with another big defensive performance. It was the eighth shutout of the season for the Washington defense, overcoming 28 shots by Stanford.
Playing without Quentin Pearson, who served a red-card suspension due to the questionable hand ball at the end of the UCLA game, the Dawgs were able to find a back four up to the task. Justin Schmidt anchored the group with Garret Jackson joining him centrally, while Justin Fiddes and Luke Hauswirth played wide.
The key to the defense was Herman, however, making one save after another. In a year when his defense has kept his opportunities to a minimum, Herman responded in a big way when he needed to make some big saves. The biggest came in the 86th minute when a Stanford shot was deflected in front of goal and another Cardinal player shot from 12 yards out. Herman appeared beaten, but made an incredible reaction save to get low and bat the ball away.
The shutout was the 15th of Herman's career as the senior is now halfway to the single-season Husky record for shutouts of 14 by Mark Schuur back in 1982.
Offensively, the Dawgs had their chances, but were unable to capitalize. Danny Gavin opened things up with the best chance of the first half, a header on goal in the eighth minute, but the save was made.
After the break, Josh Heard nearly got behind the defense on an early counter, but could only settle to win a corner. Later, Jackson put a header on frame off a set piece, but the Cardinal keeper made the save.
That led the big save by Herman as he was excellent in the closing minutes as Stanford finished with a fury.
The draw gets Washington to four points in conference play after three games. It also continues head coach Jamie Clark's success against his alma mater as he is now 8-1-1 as the Husky head coach against Stanford.
The wide open Pac-12 race will continue for the Dawgs on Sunday when they travel to Berkeley to face Cal at 3 p.m. The Golden Bears are coming off a draw with No. 16 Oregon State, making Sunday's tilt on the Pac-12 Networks crucial in the conference standings.
