STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford enters the season ranked No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason top 25, as announced Thursday by the organization.
It is the eighth time in the past nine seasons the Cardinal has earned a top-five preseason ranking and 11th consecutive year ranked by the United Soccer Coaches, previously known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
We open the season ranked #2 in the @UnitedCoaches poll... #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/2CP4z51SJY
— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) August 4, 2017
Seven of the Cardinal's 2017 opponents 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.
Stanford's challenging 19-game schedule begins Aug. 18 with a trip to Marquette, followed by visits to Wisconsin and Florida. Five of Stanford's eight nonconference opponents appeared in the NCAA tournament last season.
Stanford won its 11th Pac-12 title in 2016 with a 10-1-0 conference mark, leading the league in goals scored (51) and points (141). Stanford's 2.43 goals per game ranked seventh nationally, with Andi Sullivan leading the conference in points (29) and Kyra Carusa topping the league in assists (10).
Season begins in August.
— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) June 21, 2017
Home debut to kick off September. #GoStanford? ?????
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Stanford's lone preseason matchup takes place Aug. 18 at UC Davis, with the home opener against Georgetown set for Sept. 1. The Cardinal opens Pac-12 play in Pullman, Washington, against Washington State on Sept. 21. Eleven of Stanford's games will be televised on Pac-12 Networks, including the regular season finale against Cal at Laird. Q. Cagan Stadium on Nov. 3.
Tickets for the upcoming season are available at www.GoStanford.com/wsoctickets.
2017 Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 10 | UC Davis (Ex.) | Davis, Calif. | TBD |
| Aug. 18 | Marquette | Milwaukee, Wis. | 5:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 20 | Wisconsin | Milwaukee, Wis. | 3 p.m. |
| Aug. 25 | Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | 2 p.m. |
| Sept. 1 | Georgetown | Stanford, Calif. | 4 p.m. |
| Sept. 3 | Navy | Stanford, Calif. | 1 p.m. |
| Sept. 8 | San Francisco | Stanford, Calif. | 7 p.m. |
| Sept. 10 | Yale | Stanford, Calif. | 1 p.m. |
| Sept. 17 | Santa Clara | Santa Clara, Calif. | 7 p.m. |
| Sept. 21 | Washington State | Pullman, Wash. | 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 28 | Arizona | Stanford, Calif. | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 1 | Arizona State | Stanford, Calif. | 1 p.m. |
| Oct. 5 | Utah | Salt Lake City, Utah | 4 p.m. |
| Oct. 8 | Colorado | Boulder, Colo. | 11 a.m. |
| Oct. 13 | Washington | Stanford, Calif. | 8 p.m. |
| Oct. 19 | Oregon | Stanford, Calif. | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 22 | Oregon State | Stanford, Calif. | 1 p.m. |
| Oct. 26 | UCLA | Los Angeles, Calif. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 29 | USC | Los Angeles, Calif. | 3 p.m. |
| Nov. 3 | California | Stanford, Calif. | 7 p.m. |