Stanford 11th in Penn Monto/NFHCA Poll

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford enters the 2016 season ranked 11th in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Preseason Top 20 Coaches Poll, as announced Tuesday by the organization.

It is the second highest preseason ranking in program history, only behind 2015 where the Cardinal started ranked 6th. The ranking marks the seventh season in a row Stanford has been recognized in the poll. The Cardinal will face five teams ranked in the preseason poll, including No. 2 Syracuse, No. 3 Connecticut, No. 8 Boston College, No. 10 Michigan and No. 16 Northwestern.

Last season, the Cardinal punched its sixth ticket to the NCAA Tournament in Tara Danielson's six years at the helm, while recording a 13-7 record. Stanford claimed a co-championship of the America East West Division with a 4-2 regular season conference record in its inaugural year in the America East.

The Cardinal will open its season at home Friday against No. 3 Connecticut, followed by No. 10 Michigan a week later. Game time against UConn is set for 4 p.m. at Varsity Turf Field.