STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford will take on a challenging 19-game schedule in 2016, including 10 teams that appeared in last year's NCAA Tournament.
Cardinal opponents registered a winning percentage of .590 with a combined record of 211-140-42 in 2015. Six teams finished the season ranked in the top 25 nationally.
Stanford will play eight nonconference games to open the season, including five matchups against teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament and four that advanced to at least the second round. Nonconference opponents produced a .653 winning-percentage with a combined record of 100-48-22.
The Cardinal opens its season on the road against Navy (Aug. 19) and Georgetown (Aug. 21) before returning for its home opener against Florida (Aug. 26). It will be the first meeting between Stanford and the Gators since a pair of exciting games in 2014 with a regular season match ending in overtime and an NCAA Quarterfinal contest decided by penalty kicks.
The Cardinal will play nine consecutive home games from Aug. 26-Oct. 2 and conclude nonconference play against NCAA Tournament teams Minnesota (Sept. 9), Notre Dame (Sept. 11) and Santa Clara (Sept. 16).
Stanford begins the defense of its Pac-12 title Sept. 24 against Oregon and conclude its nine-game homestand playing host to Washington State (Sept. 24) and Washington (Oct. 2).
The Cardinal plays three road games before returning for its final home games against Colorado (Oct. 20) and Utah (Oct. 23). Stanford wraps up its season with three road games, including the regular season finale on Nov. 4 at California.
Stanford made its 25th NCAA Tournament appearance and 18th consecutive in 2015. The Cardinal earned one of four No. 1 seeds and extended its postseason home unbeaten streak to 29 matches.
Stanford earned its 10th Pac-12 title and went unbeaten in conference play with a 10-0-1 record. The Cardinal led the Pac-12 in goals scored with 24 in conference play and 35 overall. Stanford tied USC for the fewest goals allowed with 11 on the season.
Junior midfielder Andi Sullivan was named a first-time Five Stanford players earned NSCAA All-Pacific Region honors, eight earned All-Pac-12 recognition and nine claimed Pac-12 All-Academic accolades. Head coach Paul Ratcliffe earned NSCAA Pacific Region Coach of the Year recognition and the sixth Pac-12 Coach of the Year award of his career.