Watch: post-game presser with Coach Soto
SAN FRANCISCO – A capacity crowd was on hand to witness the Dons' 2-1 upset over No. 12 Stanford on Friday night at Negoesco Stadium as 1,900 spectators packed every nook and cranny of the facility until even standing room only became exclusive real estate. Jorge Ruiz netted his first career goal in the 37th minute followed by David Garrett's score in the 56th that proved the difference.
 
The victory was USF's first over Stanford since 2007, snapping an eight-match winless streak against the defending national champions. It was also the Dons' first win over a ranked opponent since topping then-No. 24 Florida Gulf Coast and then-No. 21 Wisconsin in 2014.
 
"I think we know that we're a good team," said head coach Eddie Soto, whose team continued its trend of outshooting opponents by holding a 14-8 margin on the night. "Tonight there was a lot of grit, a lot of heart and a lot of belief. We finished our chances and that's been a problem for us this year; we've been creating a lot of chances and not getting anything out of it, but tonight was a different story."  
Ruiz got USF (3-5-0) on the board when he followed up Davi Ramos' shot that was batted away by Stanford keeper Andrew Epstein, providing an open look at an empty net for Ruiz.
 
Just prior to that, Ramos narrowly missed on a chance when Leon Schwarzer give him a backward flip that Ramos struck right at Epstein.
 
The first half was dominated by USF as the Dons outshot Stanford 11-2 in the first frame and went into the intermission holding onto a 1-0 lead.
 
The second half proved to be more evenly contested, but it was USF who jumped out to a 2-0 advantage with Garrett's team-leading fourth goal of the year. Garrett handled a pass from Aaron Lombardi on the left edge of the 6-yard box that put him in in perfect position to rip a laser into the net from eight yards out.
 
"I wasn't even thinking, I was just trying to hit the ball as hard as I could," said Garrett, who came into the week tied for the West Coast Conference lead in goals. "You've got to give credit to your teammates on a play like that. Aaron has been giving me assists all the time and that's the type of player you like to have on your team."
 
From that point, the Dons' defense became preoccupied with stemming the mounting Stanford tide.
 
Stanford (3-2-3) finally managed to get on the board with what turned out to be a USF own goal in the 86th minute. Foster Langdorf fired off a shot from the left wing that deflected off a couple USF defenders and dribbled past keeper Andre Glasnovic, cutting the lead to 2-1.
 
But the Dons were able to hold off the Cardinal pressure over the final ticks to register the win and break out of a four-match skid in style.
 
"I think this gives our group a lot of belief that we CAN compete and we can compete with anyone," added Soto. "I tell them all the time that on any given day we can win, and if this doesn't give them the confidence they can win, I don't know what will."
 
The last sellout at Negoesco Stadium came during a 1-0 loss to Cal on Aug. 26, 2011. The Dons' last sellout victory was over Santa Clara (1-0) on Oct. 29, 2004.
 
"It was crazy," said Garrett on the raucous environment. "It added so much. The crowd was going crazy and when you're tired you just push that extra percent."   
 
Stanford came into the contest ranked in the top-25 in all three major polls: College Soccer News (No. 12), Top Drawer Soccer (No. 17) and NSCAA (No. 23).

UP NEXT: USF will wrap up nonconference play by hosting UC Riverside at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. USF's broadcast team of Charles Wollin (play-by-play) and Joe Dugan (analyst) will bring the action live on TheW.tv for Sunday's match.