SANTA CLARA, Calif. –The UNCG women's soccer team dropped their final non-conference game to No. 3 Stanford 4-0 Sunday at the Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Stanford improved to 6-1-1 on the season while UNCG falls to 3-5 heading into SoCon action next weekend. 

The Cardinal scored three second half goals to pull away from the Spartans. Courtney Verloo added her second goal of the season in the 55th minute. 

Two minutes later, Haley Rosen scored on a nice setup from Natalie Griffen to give Stanford a 3-0 lead. Sydney Payne ended the scoring with her fourth goal of the year in the 63rd minute. 

UNCG had a couple of opportunities but the defending national champs used a strong second half to defeat the Spartans. 

Freshman goalkeeper Jamie Simmons (Houston, Texas/Clear Brook HS) finished with five saves. 

The Spartans battled in the first half as Stanford scored the lone goal in the 22^nd minute when Alex Doll fired a shot that beat the diving attempt from Simmons. Simmons finished the first half with three saves.

The Blue and Gold pressured the defending national champs with a strong defensive effort in the first 45 minutes, holding the Cardinal to just four shots on frame.

UNCG begins conference play next weekend heading to Boone, N.C. to face Appalachian State Friday at 7 p.m.

Be sure to follow all updates about the 2012 UNCG women's soccer team on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports.

- UNCG -