Stanford (17-1-1)
Houston Baptist (10-10-1) | Fri. – 7 p.m. (PT)
Laird Q. Cagan Stadium – Stanford, Calif.
Tickets – $15 reserved, $10 GA, $8 Senior/Child/Student
Live Stream | Live Statistics
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STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford begins its pursuit of a second national title Friday at 7 p.m. (PT) playing host to Houston Baptist in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Cardinal (17-1-1), the postseason's top overall seed and ranked second in the country, enters the tournament on a seven-game winning streak. Stanford qualified for its 18th consecutive NCAA tournament and 25th overall.
The Cardinal is unbeaten in its past 29 home NCAA tournament matches, has advanced past the first round the past nine seasons, and reached six NCAA College Cups in the previous seven years. Stanford's all-time NCAA tournament record is 48-20-6 (.689).
Stanford earned a convincing 4-1 victory last Friday at No. 21 California to secure the program's second consecutive Pac-12 title. The Cardinal has won six of the past eight conference championships and has 11 all-time – tied with UCLA for the most of any program in conference history.
Andi Sullivan, a MAC Hermann Trophy candidate, contributed a spectacular individual effort to score the game-winning goal at Cal to secure the victory. She leads the Cardinal with single-season career highs in points (29) and goals (11), and has produced a career-best seven assists.
Sullivan will miss Friday's game due to being called up to the senior U.S. Women's National Team for the second time in the past six weeks. She is training with the team in San Jose, California, in preparation for a pair of matchups against Romania on Thursday at Avaya Stadium in San Jose (7 p.m., ESPN2) and Nov. 13 at StubHub Center in Carson (6:30 p.m. on FS1).
Kyra Carusa continues to be a key generator of Stanford's offense and scored its third goal at Cal. She has contributed at least one point in 13-of-19 games this season.
Stanford's defense was outstanding at Cal, anchored by centerbacks Maddie Bauer and Alana Cook. Tegan McGrady was excellent at left fullback and was a key contributor to Stanford's offense. Carly Malatskey started on the right side and played well.
The Cardinal has scored two or more goals in 17-of-19 games this season, while limiting opponents to one goal or fewer in all but three matches. Stanford has not trailed in 16-of-19 games.
Friday's game will be streamed online and live statistics will be available via GoStanford.com.