STANFORD, Calif. – No. 2 Stanford is well-represented in TopDrawerSoccer's Preseason Best XI teams with three players earning recognition, as announced Monday by the organization.
Senior midfielder Andi Sullivan was named to the first team, sophomore midfielder Tierna Davidson claimed a place on the second team and freshman forward Catarina Macario was named to the freshman team.
3?? Cardinal made the @TopDrawerSoccer preseason XI teams: @sunshine_sully, @tierna_davidson & @catarinamacario ???? #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/SCTjBtdsHS
— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) August 14, 2017
Sullivan and Davidson earned a place on the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list last week, which recognized 30 women's soccer players in line for college soccer's most prestigious individual honor. It was the third consecutive season in which Stanford has had multiple members of the watch list.
Sullivan, a senior from Lorton, Virginia, was a Hermann Trophy finalist in 2016 after being a semifinalist in 2015. In 2016, Sullivan set career marks in goals (11), assists (7) and points (29) en route to Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. She is a three-time United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region selection with two first-team All-America honors to her name. Sullivan is also a two-time TopDrawerSoccer Postseason Best XI first-teamer, and was the organization's National Freshman of the Year in 2014.
Davidson, who hails from nearby Menlo Park, California, was one of five players to start all 21 matches in 2016, primarily featuring at the base of Stanford's midfield. The sophomore earned a place on the All-Pac-12 second team, Pac-12 All-Freshman team and TopDrawerSoccer's Freshman Best XI first team. She notched two goals and two assists while playing the most minutes (1,908) of any non-defender, and was one of six underclassmen to make this year's Hermann Trophy watch list.
Macario, who hails from San Diego, was a highly sought-after recruit throughout high school. The all-time ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) top scorer with 165 career goals, Macario was a three-time United Coaches All-American (2014-16). Macario unofficially opened her account at Stanford with a first-half strike in the Cardinal's 2-1 exhibition win at UC Davis last week.
Don't miss a thing this season at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium!!
— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) August 11, 2017
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The trio expects to play a major role in Stanford's season, which kicks off on Friday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, against Marquette. The Cardinal then faces Wisconsin on Sunday before travelling to Gainesville, Florida, on Aug. 25 to face No. 7 Florida.
Stanford opens its home schedule, which includes 10 matches, on Sept. 1 when it hosts No. 4 Georgetown. Pac-12 play begins Sept. 21 when Stanford travels to Pullman, Washington, to face Washington State. The Cardinal will feature in 11 Pac-12 Networks broadcasts in 2017.
Stanford earned a No. 2 ranking in the preseason United Coaches poll after winning its 11th Pac-12 Championship in 2016. The Cardinal finished the season with an 18-2-1 record, while head coach Paul Ratcliffe claimed his seventh Pac-12 Coach of the Year honor – no other Pac-12 coach has won the award more than twice in the history of the conference.