STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford is ranked first in TopDrawerSoccer's preseason rankings, as announced Monday by the organization.
The Cardinal was ranked ahead of No 2. Florida State and (in order of ranking) Duke, Penn State and West Virginia to round out the top five.
Stanford is one of four Pac-12 schools selected in the top-25 poll, including No. 8 USC, No. 15 California and No. 18 Arizona.
Stanford is ranked No. 5 in the NSCAA Preseason Coaches Poll and was selected to finish first in the Pac-12 by a vote of conference coaches.
Stanford posted a 19-2-2 record in 2015 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals for the seventh time in eight years, completing the season with a No. 6 national ranking.
The Cardinal earned a convincing 3-0 exhibition game victory this past week against UC Davis with goals by Megan Turner, Ryan Walker-Hartshorn and Andi Sullivan.
Stanford opens its regular season Friday at Navy (Aug. 19, 4 p.m. PT) and makes its home debut Aug. 26 against top-10 opponent, Florida, at 8 p.m.
Stanford has won 10 conference championships since 1993, including four during consecutive perfect Pac-10/12 seasons from 2009-12. Stanford's 44-match conference winning streak from 2008-13 is the third-longest in NCAA Division I history.
The Cardinal holds a 97-19-11 conference record since 2003 – head coach Paul Ratcliffe's first season on The Farm.
Stanford will be featured in 11 Pac-12 Networks broadcasts this season.
Season tickets, mini plans and single-game seats are available by visiting gostanford.com/tickets or calling 800-STANFORD.