STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford was ranked 6th in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Preseason Top 20 Coaches Poll, as announced Tuesday by the organization.
It is the highest preseason ranking in program history and marks the sixth season in a row Stanford has been recognized in the poll. The Cardinal will face seven teams ranked in the preseason poll, including No. 1 Connecticut, No. 4 Syracuse, No. 5 Duke, No. 10 Northwestern, No. 14 Michigan, No. 17 Iowa and No. 18 Massachusetts.
Last season Stanford set program records in wins (19), winning-streak (12) and national ranking (No. 3, Oct. 14-Nov. 12), while also winning its first ever NCAA Tournament game against Louisville. The Cardinal, which has been included in the national rankings for all but one week over the past five years, concluded last season ranked eighth.
Stanford will open its season at home Friday against No. 4 Syracuse followed by a matchup with No. 5 Duke on Sunday.