Hitting the RoadHitting the Road
Women's Soccer

Hitting the Road

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STANFORD, Calif. - No. 2 Stanford kicks off its 2017 regular season this week with a trip to Milwaukee to face off with Marquette on Friday and Wisconsin on Sunday.

After nearly three weeks of preseason preparations, the Cardinal starts the season with three matches on the road against tough opposition. Below is a preview of Stanford's 2017 season.

The Road Ahead

Stanford begins with a difficult stretch of road matches, starting on Friday with Marquette. Stanford holds a 2-0-0 all-time record against the Golden Eagles, who appeared in last season's NCAA Tournament. Most recently, the Cardinal hosted Marquette during last season's nonconference run, prevailing 3-0 thanks to goals from Jordan DiBiasi, Michelle Xiao and Megan Turner.

The Cardinal stays in Milwaukee on Sunday to play Wisconsin. Stanford hosted the Badgers last season, winning 2-1 at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. Stanford owns a 3-2-0 all-time record against Wisconsin, which fell to Florida in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.

Stanford travels to Gainesville, Florida, the following week to play No. 7 Florida on Aug. 25 before hosting No. 5 Georgetown on Sept. 1. The Cardinal opens Pac-12 play on Sept. 21 at Washington State.

Stanford's schedule includes 10 opponents who appeared in the 2016 NCAA tournament, including four teams who earned a top-four seed: Florida (1), Georgetown (2), USC (2) and UCLA (4). Seven opponents finished last season ranked in the United Soccer Coaches top-25 poll: USC (1), Georgetown (3), Florida (10), UCLA (13), Utah (16), Santa Clara (17) and Colorado (23).

Last week, Stanford played its lone exhibition at UC Davis. The Cardinal won, 2-1, thanks to first-half goals from freshman Catarina Macario and junior Averie Collins.

Meet the Freshmen

#4 • Belle Briede • 5-5 • Forward • Alpharetta, Ga. (Milton)
#8 • Sophia Serafin • 5-10 • Defender/Forward • Glendora, Calif. (Bishop Amat Memorial)
#14 • Civana Kuhlmann • 5-6 • Forward • Centennial, Colo. (Chatfield Senior)
#20 • Catarina Macario • 5-5 • Forward • San Diego, Calif. (Torrey Pines)
#21 • Jojo Harber • 5-5 • Defender/Forward • Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue)
#23 • Kiki Pickett • 5-0 • Defender/Midfielder • Santa Barbara, Calif. (Dos Pueblos)
#25 • Brooke Redington • 5-7 • Defender/Midfielder • Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Marymount)
#26 • Madison Haley • 5-7 • Forward • Dallas, Texas (Ursuline Academy)

Hiatt Joins Back Line

In addition to eight freshmen, Stanford welcomes sophomore transfer Sam Hiatt, who started all 19 games for Boston College in 2016 while playing the most minutes on the team as a freshman. She adds depth to the back line, which will be without graduated All-America center back Maddie Bauer for the first time since 2012.

Firepower Returns

Stanford returns 12 of its top 15 leaders in minutes played, including seven who featured in all 21 matches – Kyra Carusa, Michelle Xiao, Tierna Davidson, Tegan McGrady, Alana Cook, Beattie Goad and Averie Collins.

Andi Sullivan, the Pac-12 leader in points (29) and points per game (1.61), is set to return from a knee injury sustained in the NCAA tournament. She led the team in goals (11) despite making four appearances with the United States National team, the first caps of her career.

Redshirt junior forward Kyra Carusa also returns after leading the Pac-12 in assists (10) – her 0.48 assist/game ratio was tops in the league with no other player owning a ratio of 0.39 or higher. As a team, Stanford led the Pac-12 in goals (51), points (141) and goals (28) during league play.

Two Named to Watch List

Central midfielders Sullivan and Davidson were named to the watch list for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, the highest honor in collegiate soccer. Sullivan, a three-time All-Pacific Region selection and the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year, makes the list for the third consecutive season. Davidson, who was named to TopDrawerSoccer's Freshman Best XI, the All-Pac-12 second team and Pac-12 All-Freshman team, was one of five to start all 21 matches in 2016.

Three Tabbed for Preseason Best XI

Three Cardinal – Sullivan, Davidson and Macario – were picked for TopDrawerSoccer's Preseason Best XI teams. Sullivan, a two-time First-Team All-American, was part of the first team. Davidson earned a place on the second team, with Macario on the all-freshman team.

Cardinal Ranked Second

Stanford earned a preseason No. 2 ranking from both United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer. It was the eighth time in the past nine seasons the Cardinal has had a preseason top-five ranking from United Soccer Coaches. Seven of Stanford's opponents in 2017 rank in the preseason top 25 – No. 3 USC, No. 5 Georgetown, No. 7 Florida, No. 9 UCLA, No. 20 Utah, No. 24 Santa Clara and No. 25 Colorado.

Leading the Pack

Stanford is the favorite to win the Pac-12, as voted by the conference coaches. The Cardinal received 119 points, including 10 of the 12 first-place votes, to finish ahead of UCLA (110) and USC (101), who each received one first place vote. California (86), Utah (81) and Colorado (74) completed the top six.

Dias Completes Staff

Vijay Dias was named volunteer assistant coach. Dias, who played professionally in India, Spain and the United States, joins from Montana, where he served as assistant coach in 2016 and volunteer assistant for the 2011-12 seasons. A graduate of Indiana, Dias helped the Hoosiers win a national championship in 2003.

A Look Back

Stanford won its 11th Pac-12 championship in 2016 thanks to an 18-2-1 overall record, including a 10-1-0 clip in conference play. Paul Ratcliffe picked up his seventh Pac-12 Coach of the Year honor, while Sullivan was the Pac-12 Player of the Year. Stanford made its 19th consecutive NCAA appearance and 26th overall, earning one of four No. 1 seeds and extending its postseason home unbeaten streak to 30 before falling to Santa Clara, 1-0, in double overtime.