STANFORD, Calif. -- The Stanford women's soccer team takes its No. 1 RPI ranking and status as the nation’s top defensive team into its Pac-12 home-opening weekend. Stanford (8-0-2 overall, 0-0-1 Pac-12) plays host to Washington on Friday (8 p.m.) and Washington State (1 p.m.) on Sunday in matches televised on the Pac-12 Networks. Stanford is ranked No. 3 in the NSCAA and Soccer America rankings. Neither Washington (7-3, 0-1) or Washington State (6-0-2, 1-0) is ranked, but the Cougars are among four remaining conference teams with an undefeated overall record.
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The following is a closer look at Friday’s match:
Who: No. 3 Stanford (8-0-2, 0-0-1) vs. Washington (7-3-0, 0-1-0)
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: Laird Q. Cagan Stadium, Stanford, Calif.
All-Time Series Record: Stanford leads, 21-2-2
TV: Pac-12 Networks with JB Long and Krista Blunk
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. Washington State (6-0-2, 1-0-0)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Where: Laird Q. Cagan Stadium, Stanford, Calif.
All-Time Series Record: Stanford leads, 19-3-1
TV: Pac-12 Networks with Rich Cellini and Krista Blunk
Live Stats: Look for links on GoStanford.com
Twitter: @StanfordWSoccer
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No. 1 in RPI: Stanford believed it played the toughest nonconference schedule in the country and the latest RPI seemed to prove it. Stanford is ranked No. 1 in the RPI, having gone undefeated in its first 10 matches while emerging from a nonconference gantlet that included six ranked teams, including five programs that have won NCAA championships. The Cardinal also didn’t allow a goal during the nine-match nonconference campaign.
RPI Top 25 Rankings:
1, Stanford; 2, North Carolina; 3, UCLA; 4, Texas A&M; 5, Florida State; 6, Florida; 7, Penn State; 8, Pepperdine; 9, Texas Tech; 10, Virginia Tech; 11, Notre Dame; 12, Wisconsin; 13, South Carolina; 14, California; 15, Kansas; 16, Central Florida; 17, Georgia; 18, Virginia; 19, Clemson; 20, West Virginia; 21, Utah; 22, DePaul; 23, Rutgers; 24, Oklahoma; 25, Washington State.
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No. 1 Defense: Stanford has allowed the fewest goals in the country: 1. The Cardinal carried a shutout streak that included 11 matches before Utah scored on Friday 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 0.09. Goalkeeper Jane Campbell’s GAA is a national-leading 0.10. Stanford is the only school that has allowed as few as one goal this season. Washington State and Holy Cross are next with only two goals allowed apiece.
Notes on Stanford’s defense:
• Jane Campbell’s shutout streak of 803:18, which ended Friday, is the 18th-longest by a goalkeeper in NCAA Division I history.
• Stanford has not allowed a goal at home since Nov. 6, 2013, against Cal, and has not allowed a goal in regulation at home since Oct. 13, 2013, against USC.
• Stanford’s home shutout streak stands at 652:47, and its home shutout streak in regulation is 841:10.
• Stanford has allowed only one goal in the last 956:52, dating back to last season. The Cardinal is drawing closer to the school record of 1,436:52 elapsed while allowing only one goal, from 2002-03.
• 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 13 shutouts in her career, tying her with Erin Bryla (1995-96) for 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 220 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 11.6 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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Season in Review: Stanford has allowed only one goal, the fewest among any team in the country, and shut out its first nine opponents to set a school record for consecutive shutouts. Stanford is 4-0-1 against ranked teams, including 1-0 overtime victories over current No. 6 Florida and current No. 8 North Carolina, the latter in a season-opener that gave the Cardinal its first victory over the Tar Heels in 12 all-time meetings. Chioma Ubogagu has scored two winners, including the one that beat UNC, then No. 4, in Chapel Hill. She also scored a first-half goal to win at Portland. Stanford’s success against what may be the most difficult schedule in the nation has vaulted the Cardinal to No. 1 in the RPI.
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Friday’s Opponent, Washington: The Huskies (7-3, 0-1) already have matched their victory total of last season when they finished 7-9-4 and 3-4-4 in the Pac-12, good for eighth. Washington coach Lesle Gallimore is in her 21st season, making her the longest-tenured women’s soccer coach in the Pac-12. Washington is led in scoring by senior forward Jaclyn Softli, who has a career-best six goals. The Huskies opened their conference season with a 1-0 loss at Oregon on Sunday.
The Stanford-Washington Series: Stanford leads the all-time series, 21-2-2 and has won the past nine meetings, including 1-0 last year on a goal by Lo’eau LaBonta, whose 12-yard strike in the 44th minute in Seattle was set up by a steal of a pass in the defensive end by Taylor Uhl. Washington’s most recent victory in the series was 1-0 in double overtime in Seattle in 2004. Stanford never has lost at home to the Huskies.
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Sunday’s Opponent, Washington State: The Cougars are coming off their highest-ever place in Pac-12 play, a runner-up finish to eventual national champion UCLA. Washington State went 14-3-4 overall, including 7-3-1 in conference. The Cougars, led by Pac-12 Player of the Year Micaela Castain, advanced to the NCAA tournament, only to be eliminated on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw against visiting Illinois. The Cougars, under the guidance of first-year coach Steve Nugent, opened Pac-12 play with a 1-0 victory over Oregon State, thanks to an 89th minute goal by Kourtney Guetlein. The Cougars are one of four remaining unbeaten teams in the Pac-12 and share the early conference lead with California, USC, and Oregon at 1-0.
The Stanford-Washington State Series: Stanford leads the all-time series, 19-3-1. Last year in Pullman, the Cougars broke Stanford’s 26-match conference road winning streak and eight-match series winning streak, with a 1-0 victory on a 58th minute goal by Jocelyn Jeffers. The result also officially eliminated Stanford from Pac-12 title contention, ending a string of four consecutive championships. Four of their past five matchups have been decided by one goal. WSU’s last victory at Stanford was 2003, 1-0.
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Conference Home Openers: Stanford has not lost a conference home opener since 2004, when the Cardinal fell 1-0 in double overtime to Arizona. Since then, the Cardinal has won nine consecutive home conference openers by a total of 32-5. Stanford hasn’t lost a home conference opener in regulation since 1998.
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Best Starts: This is the eighth time in history that Stanford has gone undefeated through the 10 matches and the fifth time in the past six years. Except for last year’s team, which finished 15-6-1, all the others finished the regular season with no more than one loss and advanced at least to the NCAA quarterfinals. Stanford has gone 10-0 four times, in 1991, 1992, 1994, and 2009.
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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 (0.900)
1. Goals Against Average (0.09)
1. Save Percentage (0.962)
Individual,
1. Goals Against Average, Jane Campbell (0.10)
1. Save Percentage, Jane Campbell (0.957)
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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 is in a tie for the 20th 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
9 -- 1990, 1998, 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 0.09 GAA in 2014 (Jane Campbell)
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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, Mike, was a Navy lieutenant and pilot for the precision air team, the Blue Angels, from 1986-88.
• Mother, Chrystal, 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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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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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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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 Frequent Starting Lineup:
GK: Jane Campbell, so.; Leads nation in GAA (0.10).
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.; Kicked winning OT penalty vs. Florida.
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.; Scored goals in past two matches.
F: Ryan Walker-Hartshorn, so.; Team leader with five goals.
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Senior CLASS Award Candidates: Alex Doll and Taylor Uhl are among 30 players named as candidates for the Senior CLASS Award, which honors those who excel in athletics, academics, and community service. Doll is co-president of the Cardinal Council, which represents the 800 student-athletes on campus. Doll serves as a mentor for Partners for Academic Excellence, helping student-athletes use their time wisely and take advantage of campus resources. She also was Community Service Chair of the Cardinal Council, and was the nomination committee class representative for her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma.
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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.
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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: 8-0-1
• When opponents score first: 0-0
• When leading at halftime: 5-0
• When tied at halftime: 4-0-1
• When trailing at halftime: 0-0
• When trailing at any time: 0-0
• At Home: 5-0-1
• At Opponent: 2-0-1
• At Neutral Field: 1-0
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Two-Sport Star: Stanford senior Hannah Farr, who plays outside back and midfield in soccer also plays lacrosse for Stanford and was named IWLCA second-team All-America in that sport in 2014. Farr was named Player of the Year in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and to the IWLCA All-West Region first team. Farr scored 31 goals and had 13 assists in 2014 for a Cardinal lacrosse team that advanced to the NCAA tournament. Farr is searching for her first collegiate soccer goal.
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Program History: Some facts about Stanford’s success.
• Including this season, Stanford has a combined record of 139-12-8 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.