Jenna Billingsley took a pass 6 yards out from fellow midfielder Carrie Blankenbuhler and scored the game-winner in the 86th minute as the University of Denver women’s soccer team upset Stanford, the consensus top-ranked team in the nation, 1-0 on Sunday at the Colorado Classic in Boulder.
It was Denver’s first victory against a No. 1-ranked team and its biggest upset since defeating then-No. 2 Portland in 2003.
“This was a huge momentum boost for the team,” coach Jeff Hooker said. Denver (3-2-2) won despite being outshot 14-4 by Stanford (7-1-0).
“We had nothing to lose today, so we went out to have fun and play the best we could,” Billingsley said.
Pioneers goalkeeper Mackenzie Snyder had five saves and earned her second shutout of the season.
* The Portland men’s soccer team (3-3-1) got a penalty-kick goal from Alex Elliott to fuel a 2-1 win over Denver at the Husky Fever Classic in Seattle. Joe Mathot, named the tournament’s outstanding offensive player, brought Denver (4-3-0) within 2-1 in the 83rd minute.
