LOS ANGELES -- Stanford and UCLA have met in plenty of high-stakes showdowns, and Thursday marks another one. Stanford is No. 3 and UCLA is No. 1. They share the Pac-12 lead, share the same records (10-0-2, 2-0-1) and they represent two of the top defenses in the country, as well as two of the only three remaining unbeaten teams. The match at UCLA’s Drake Stadium is set for 8 p.m. and will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. On Sunday, the Cardinal faces another test, playing at USC (8-2-2, 2-1-0), to complete a trip that surely will be pivotal to the conference race.
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The following is a closer look at Thursday’s match:
Who: No. 3 Stanford (10-0-2, 2-0-1) vs. UCLA (10-0-2, 2-0-1)
When: Thursday, 8 p.m.
Where: Drake Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
All-Time Series Record: Stanford leads, 12-11-3
TV: Pac-12 Networks with JB Long and Tracey Bailey.
Live Stats: Look for links on GoStanford.com
Twitter: @StanfordWSoccer
The following is a closer look at Sunday’s match:
Who: No. 3 Stanford vs. USC (8-2-2, 2-1-0)
When: Sunday, 3 p.m.
Where: McAlister Field, Los Angeles, Calif.
All-Time Series Record: Stanford leads, 15-4-3
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Live Stats: Look for links on GoStanford.com
Twitter: @StanfordWSoccer
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The Season So Far: Stanford is No. 1 in the nation in RPI and defense, having allowed a national-low two goals, to go with 10 shutouts. Stanford’s brutal nonconference schedule included five former NCAA champions and the Cardinal emerged undefeated and unscored upon, earning its first victory over North Carolina and beating No. 6 Florida. Sophomore Ryan Walker-Hartshorn has emerged as the team’s leading scorer (eight goals), and has two hat tricks, becoming the first Stanford player to do so in a single season since Kelley O’Hara in 2009. Stanford returned nine starters from the squad that went 15-6-1 last year and lost to UCLA in the third round of the NCAA tournament. Chioma Ubogagu has three winning goals, all in 1-0 results and Jane Campbell leads the NCAA in GAA (0.18).
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Thursday’s Opponent, UCLA: The Bruins won Pac-12 and NCAA titles last year and are still loaded. UCLA is No. 1 in the NSCAA and Soccer America rankings and own a 33-match unbeaten streak, the seventh-longest in NCAA history. UCLA (10-0-2, 2-0-1) is led by Sam Mewis, who has nine goals, including six winners. The most recent was Sunday, with a 64th-minute goal against Colorado in a 1-0 victory. UCLA has allowed only three goals and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland has a 0.24 goals-against average, also third-best in the nation. Rowland and Stanford’s Jane Campbell were U.S. teammates at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup this summer and produced a series of video blogs together called ‘Keeper Talk.
The Stanford-UCLA Series: Stanford leads the all-time series 12-11-3, including a 3-1 record in NCAA tournament play over four of the past five seasons. Stanford and UCLA have combined to win at least a share of the past 13 Pac-10/Pac-12 titles and 19 of 20 since the conference first sponsored women’s soccer. Stanford carried a seven-match win streak in the series until UCLA won twice last year. First, the No. 2 Bruins beat host No. 5 Stanford in double overtime, 2-1, on a goal by sub Lauren Kaskie at 105:08. Stanford’s Lo’eau LaBonta tied the score in the 89th minute to force overtime. They met again in the third round of the NCAA tournament, with UCLA winning, 2-0, at home.
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Sunday’s Opponent, USC: The Women of Troy, now under Keidane McAlpine, who coached Washington State to second in the Pac-12 last year, have had some impressive results. For one, USC has beaten the two teams that Stanford has tied, Notre Dame and Utah. If an 8-1 victory over UC Riverside wasn’t attention-getting enough, its 9-0 rout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff certainly did the trick. USC (8-2-2, 2-1) leads the Pac-12 and is No. 10 in the country in scoring, with 34 goals. Alex Quincey, a senior midfielder, who usually comes off the bench, leads the team with nine.
The Stanford-USC Series: After the USC match, Stanford will have played seven of a possible eight NCAA championship programs this year, with George Mason being the exception. Stanford leads the all-time series, 15-4-3, but USC won on the road last year, 1-0, on a far post header by Alex Quincey off a corner kick from Kayla Mills in the 59th minute. The goal stood despite 12 Stanford shots in the second half. It ended a streak of five consecutive Stanford victories in the series.
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Memorable Moments vs. UCLA: Stanford’s Chioma Ubogagu has had some of her most memorable performances against UCLA. As a freshman, Ubogagu scored two spectacular goals to put the Cardinal ahead 2-0 by the 18th minute in a 4-1 victory. In 2012, Ubogagu tied the score of their regular-season match by scoring on a 20-yard left-footed shot in the 77th minute and then gave Rachel Quon the feed for the winning goal 72 seconds later in a Pac-12 title showdown at UCLA that resulted in a 2-1 Stanford victory.
Stanford stunned the Bruins, 2-1, on a golden goal by Christen Press in a rainy, windy, and chilly 2009 College Cup semifinal in College Station, Texas. Last year, UCLA won both matchups, though its 2-1 double overtime thriller brought out the best in both teams, with Lo’eau LaBonta’s 89th minute equalizer for Stanford and Lauren Kaskie’s breakaway winner in the 106th minute.
No. 1 vs. No. 2: Stanford and UCLA have met three times in No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups -- two of those rankings were from the NSCAA and one by Soccer America:
• Oct. 19, 2007; No. 1 UCLA 2, No. 2 Stanford 0, in Stanford, Calif.: In a match that featured four players who would start in the 2011 Women’s World Cup -- UCLA’s Lauren Cheney (U.S.), and Stanford’s Rachel Buehler (U.S.), Kelley O’Hara (U.S.), and Ali Riley (New Zealand) -- the Bruins got goals from Cheney on a first-half penalty and Christina DiMartino in the second half.
• Oct. 9, 2011; No. 1 Stanford 4, No. 2 UCLA 1, in Stanford, Calif.: UCLA was No. 3 in the NSCAA poll, but let’s not quibble, according to Soccer America rankings, this was a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. Freshman Chioma Ubogagu scored twice in the first 18 minutes with slicing runs through the defense and by the 40th minute, the Cardinal had built a 4-1 lead.
• Oct. 28, 2012; No. 1 Stanford 2, No. 2 UCLA 1, in Los Angeles: UCLA took a 1-0 lead and would have increased it if not for the spectacular goalkeeping of Emily Oliver. That allowed Stanford to remain in the game long enough to rally with two goals within 72 seconds, in the 77th and 79th minutes. Chioma Ubogagu scored the first and assisted on Rachel Quon’s winner to clinch Stanford’s fourth consecutive Pac-12 championship, before a UCLA home record crowd of 4,068.
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No. 1 in the RPI: Here are the RPI rankings:
1, Stanford; 2, North Carolina; 3, UCLA; 4, Florida; 5, Texas A&M; 6, Penn State; 7, Florida State; 8, Pepperdine; 9, Virginia Tech; 10, Washington State; 11, Virginia; 12, Wisconsin; 13, South Carolina; 14, West Virginia; 15, Notre Dame; 16, Kansas; 17, Missouri; 18, Washington; 19, Texas Tech; 20, Georgia; 21, Central Florida; 22, Oklahoma; 23, Utah; 24, Rutgers; 25, Texas.
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No. 1 Defense: Stanford has allowed the fewest goals in the country: two (UCLA is tied for second with three). The Cardinal carried a shutout streak that stretched over parts of 11 matches before Utah scored Sept. 26 during a 1-1 draw in Salt Lake City. Stanford’s streak totaled a school-record 893 minutes, 58 seconds, and began on Nov. 24, 2013.
Stanford’s goals-against average is a national-leading 0.16. Goalkeeper Jane Campbell’s GAA is a national-leading 0.18. Stanford has 10 shutouts, tied with Lipscomb and Evansville for the second-highest total in the country, behind Northeastern’s 11.
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National Statistical Rankings: Stanford leads NCAA Division I in three team categories and two individual, all related to defense. Here they are:
Team,
1. Shutout Percentage (0.833)
1. Goals Against Average (0.159)
1. Save Percentage (0.939)
Individual,
1. Goals Against Average, Jane Campbell (0.176)
Notes on the shutout streak and Stanford’s defense:
• Jane Campbell’s shutout streak of 803:18, which ended Sept. 26, is the 18th-longest by a goalkeeper in NCAA Division I history.
• Stanford has never trailed this season.
• The nine consecutive shutouts set school records for consecutive shutouts and consecutive shutouts to open a season.
• Sophomore Jane Campbell has 14 shutouts in her career, placing her No. 8 on Stanford’s all-time list. At No. 7 is Erica Holland (2004-07) with 16.
• Stanford’s starting back line consists of left outside back Stephanie Amack (sophomore), center back Kendall Romine (fifth-year senior), center back Maddie Bauer (sophomore), and right outside back Laura Liedle (a junior).
Another Defensive Streak: Stanford has not allowed more than two goals in a match over its past 222 contests, not since a 4-0 loss to North Carolina on Sept. 11, 2005, in San Francisco. During that stretch, Stanford allowed two goals 19 times, which comes out to once every 11.7 matches.
Two other streaks of note: Stanford hasn’t allowed more than two goals in a match at home since Oct. 5, 1998, in a 3-2 overtime loss to BYU. Stanford hasn’t allowed more than two at home in regulation since Oct. 10, 1997, in a 3-2 loss to USC.
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Best Starts: This is the fifth time in history that Stanford has gone undefeated through the 12 matches and the fifth time in the past six years. All the others finished the regular season with no more than one loss and advanced at least to the NCAA quarterfinals. Stanford went undefeated in the regular season for three consecutive years: 2009-11, assembling a 64-match regular-season unbeaten streak from 2008-12.
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Possible Defensive Records: Stanford still has a ways to go to achieve school records in shutouts and goals allowed. With nine shutouts, the 2014 team stands in a tie for 14th for most shutouts in a season. Here are the top defenses in school history:
Total shutouts:
19 -- 2002
17 -- 1993, 2008, 2011
15 -- 2006, 2010
14 -- 1991, 2009
12 -- 1988, 2004, 2012
11 -- 1994, 2005
10 -- 1989, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2007, 2013, 2014
Best Team Goals-Against Average for a Season:
0.17, 2002 (Starting GK: Nicole Barnhart)
0.32, 2008 (Kira Maker)
0.34, 2011 (Emily Oliver)
0.43, 2004 (Nicole Barnhart)
0.45, 2010 (Emily Oliver)
Note: Stanford has a 0.16 GAA in 2014 (Jane Campbell)
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2014 Pac-12 Women’s Soccer Coaches Poll:
1. UCLA (11), 121; 2. Stanford (1), 110; 3. California, 91; 4. USC, 83; 5. Colorado, 78; 6. Washington State, 69; 7. Utah, 67; 8. Arizona State, 51; 8. Washington, 51; 10. Arizona, 33; 11. Oregon, 22; 12. Oregon State, 16
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Toughest Schedules: Given the records of its opponents, Stanford’s schedule is rated as the third-toughest in the country. Here are the top five:
1. Oregon State (past and future opponents records: 141-62-23 (.675)
2. Washington State (129-57-22, .673)
3. Stanford (138-63-24, .667)
4. Oklahoma State (131-59-25, .667)
5. UCLA and Washington (132-59-30, .665).
More Tough Schedule: Some facts about Stanford’s 2014 schedule:
• This season, Stanford plays every past NCAA Division I women’s socer champion except George Mason. That’s seven in all.
• Stanford’s opponents have combined for 30 of 31 non-Stanford NCAA titles.
• Of teams in the NSCAA preseason rankings, Stanford plays seven of the Top 25, five of the top 11, and two of the top four, including No. 1.
• Eleven opponents are coming off NCAA tournament appearances, and eight of those advanced past the first round.
• Sixteen opponents were .500 or better last season, including all nine nonconference foes.
• Six opponents won regular-season conference championships in 2013.
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Jane Campbell: Some facts about Stanford’s sophomore goalkeeper:
• “Jane Campbell is regarded as one of the top young goalkeepers in the world,” Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. “She continues the tradition of Stanford’s incredible goalkeepers.”
• At age 17 on Jan. 22, 2013, became the youngest goalkeeper ever called into a full U.S. national team camp.
• Became the first high school-aged player to be called into the full national team since forward Amy Rodriguez in 2005.
• A member of the U.S. team that played in the 2014 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, though did not start.
• Father was a Navy lieutenant and pilot for the precision air team, the Blue Angels, from 1986-88.
• Mother also was a Navy fighter pilot and later flew commercial airplanes.
• From Kennesaw, Ga., where Stanford won its only NCAA title, in 2011, over Duke, 1-0, at Kennesaw State.
• Her grandfather, great uncle, great aunt, and great-great grandfather all attended Stanford.
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U-20 World Cup: Three Stanford players -- sophomore goalkeeper Jane Campbell, sophomore defender Stephanie Amack, and freshman midfielder Andi Sullivan -- were on the U.S. team at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada. The U.S. reached the quarterfinals before losing to North Korea on penalty kicks. Amack and Sullivan started all four matches for the U.S., Amack at right outside back and Sullivan as a holding midfielder. They missed 12 days of training camp before joining the team the week of its opener and beem regular starters ever since. Senior forward Chioma Ubogagu and Amack were on the winning U.S. team in 2012.
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Possible Starting Lineup:
GK: Jane Campbell, so.; Leads nation in GAA (0.16).
D: Stephanie Amack, so.; U.S. U-20 World Cup standout.
D: Maddie Bauer, so.; 2013 NSCAA All-Pacific Region 1st team.
D: Laura Liedle, jr.; Three-year starter at outside back.
D: Kendall Romine, 5th sr.; Starter on 2011 NCAA title team.
M: Alex Doll, sr.; Team captain and three-year starter.
M: Lo’eau LaBonta, sr.; Deadly long-range shooter.
M: Andi Sullivan, fr.; U.S. co-captain at U-20 World Cup.
F: Chioma Ubogagu, sr.; Captain and four-year starter.
F: Megan Turner, so.; Has started past five games.
F: Ryan Walker-Hartshorn, so.; Two hat tricks this season.
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Multiple Hat Tricks: Sophomore Ryan Walker-Hartshorn became the fourth Stanford player and the first since 2009 to earn two hat tricks in a single season. Here is the list:
1990: Sarah Rafanelli (Two-time first-team All-America)
1993: Erin Martin (No. 6 Stanford all-time goal scorer)
2009: Kelley O’Hara (2009 Hermann Trophy winner)
2014: Ryan Walker-Hartshorn
Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week: Stanford sophomore Ryan Walker-Hartshorn was named as the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week after earning her second hat trick of the season, in Friday’s 4-1 victory over Washington. Walker-Hartshorn scored three goals within 22 minutes, bridging the first and second halves, to boost Stanford to a 3-1 lead. Her second and third goals were consecutive and put the Cardinal ahead.
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Majors: The following are declared majors for Stanford players. A note: Stanford students declare their majors as juniors, so this list includes only upperclassmen:
• Kate Bettinger: Science, technology, and society.
• Alex Doll: Economics.
• Katie Donahue: Engineering
• Hannah Farr: Science, technology, and society.
• Lo’eau LaBonta: Product design
• Laura Liedle: Human biology
• Kendall Romine: Master’s in international l relations.
• Haley Rosen: Science, technology, and society.
• Lauren Schmidt: Human biology.
• Chioma Ubogagu: Film and media studies.
• Taylor Uhl: Biomechanical engineering.
All-Academic Honors: The Stanford women’s soccer team completed the spring quarter with a team mean cumulative GPA of 3.31. Eight Cardinal received Pac-12 All-Academic team honors in 2013, including four current players:
Alex Doll, 3.51 current cumulative GPA
Hannah Farr, 3.64
Laura Liedle, 3.04
Kendall Romine, 3.48 (graduated in spring with degree in international relations, and now is working toward her master’s in the same field)
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Stanford’s Situational Records:
• When scoring first: 10-0-1
• When opponents score first: 0-0
• When leading at halftime: 6-0
• When tied at halftime: 5-0-1
• When trailing at halftime: 0-0
• When trailing at any time: 0-0
• At Home: 7-0-1
• At Opponent: 2-0-1
• At Neutral Field: 1-0
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Two-sport star: Stanford senior Hannah Farr also plays lacrosse for Stanford and was named IWLCA second-team All-America and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year in that sport in 2014.
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Program History: Some facts about Stanford’s success.
• Including this season, Stanford has a combined record of 141-12-8 since 2008.
• Stanford has reached the NCAA tournament in each of the past 16 seasons.
• Stanford won four consecutive Pac-12 titles, from 2009-12, without a loss or a draw in conference play.
• The Cardinal reached five consecutive NCAA College Cups, advancing to the final each year from 2009-11.
• Stanford had a 73-match home unbeaten streak (70-0-3) from 2008-13 for the second-longest such streak in history.
• The Cardinal won 44 consecutive conference matches during the same span for the third-longest streak ever.
• Stanford had a 162-match unbeaten streak when scoring a goal, during a stretch that lasted from 2006-13.
• Stanford had a 64-match regular-season unbeaten streak from 2008-12.
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Hall of Famer: Stanford volunteer assistant coach Nicole Barnhart ‘04, a standout goalkeeper for the Cardinal, will be inducted into the Stanford Hall of Fame on Oct. 11. Barnhart, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. national team, holds the NCAA record for shutouts in a season (18), and is No. 4 in NCAA history in career goals-against average (0.45). Barnhart was a two-time first-team All-America.