Traveling out to Palo Alto, Calif., the Harvard men’s soccer team hoped to earn the same positive results as in last year’s stunning season-opener against then No. 13 Stanford. But the Crimson could not come away with the victory on the Cardinal’s home turf, falling by a one-goal margin to Stanford Friday night in front of nearly 1,800 fans at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.

The match was largely a defensive struggle until the 42nd minute, when Cardinal junior midfielder Eric Anderson sent a long cross deep into the Harvard penalty box off a free kick. The ball found Stanford junior forward Adam Jahn, who headed the ball past senior keeper Austin Harms for the score.

The Cardinal doubled the Crimson’s shots for the half, 10-5, but the Harvard offense tested Stanford sophomore keeper Jason Dodson, who made three saves throughout the period to maintain his squad’s lead. Harms’ effort kept the Crimson within one, tipping another threatening 30-yard free kick by Anderson over the bar.

In the second half, Harvard picked up the intensity, sending more players forward to look for the equalizer, but the Crimson offense could not penetrate the Cardinal defense. With less than three minutes remaining, Harvard hoped to tie up the game off a corner, but the Stanford back line cleared the service to maintain the win and its first shut-out of the season.

The Cardinal led the Crimson in shots, 14-9, and in corners, 5-3, for the match, with Harms recording four saves.

Harvard will now shift focus to Wednesday’s matchup against local rivals Boston University, in hopes of avenging its 2-1 loss to the Terriers last season.

—Staff writer Oluwatoni A. Campbell can be reached at oluwatoni.campbell@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Stephanie E. Herwatt can be reached at sherwatt@college.harvard.edu.