America East Tournament Nov. 2-5 • Lowell, Mass. • Tournament Central
No. 18 Stanford (10-7, 4-2 AE)
UMass Lowell (9-10, 3-5 AE) | Thurs. • 12:30 p.m. (PT) • Live Stream
America East Semifinals vs. TBA | Sat. • 11:30 a.m. (PT)
America East Finals vs. TBA | Sun. • 10 a.m. (PT)
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STANFORD, Calif. - No. 18 Stanford travels east again this week as it sets to defend its 2016 America East crown. The Cardinal will take on host UMass Lowell in quarterfinal action Thursday at 12:30 p.m.PT in Lowell, Mass.
Last Time Out:
The Cardinal fired up a senior showcase last Saturday as it closed out its regular season with a 6-2 rout of UC Davis to clinch the No. 1 seed in the America East West Division. Kristina Bassi and Marissa Cicione combined to each collect two goals and two assists in the game, while Maddy Belin collected the win in the cage for Stanford.
The Cardinal claims the No. 1 seed in the @AmericaEast West Division headed into next week's tourney! #BURNhttps://t.co/mkMRqs9KAq
— Stanford FieldHockey (@StanfordFH) October 29, 2017
On Tap - UMass Lowell Riverhawks:
The Riverhawks will enter into Thursday's match-up with a 9-10 record and a 5-6 record at home at Cushing Field. Key wins for UML this season have come against Colgate, Miami (OH), Ball State and Georgetown. The Riverhawks took a 2-1 win over the Hoyas at home in a shootout before closing the season with a huge double OT win over Vermont to clinch a spot in the America East Tournament.
Stanford has only met UML twice in its history - a 3-2 win in last season's America East quarterfinals and a 4-3 win earlier this year in Lowell with Cicione's hat trick sending the Cardinal towards victory.
Tourney History:
Most in the America East world know that Stanford topped UMass Lowell, Cal and Pacific last year en route to its first America East title, but in its first year in the AE in 2015 the Cardinal topped Vermont 5-2 before falling in overtime in the semifinals 2-1 to No. 19 Maine despite outshooting the Black Bears 21-4.
In the Polls:
Stanford checks in this week with a No. 18 ranking - the 76th consecutive week that the Cardinal has been ranked in the NFHCA poll - dating back to Nov. 9, 2010.
Game of Numbers:
- 4 - freshmen that have played in every game
- 73 - winning percentage (120-45) Danielson has in her tenure at Stanford (All-time 126-58 - 68%)
- 10 - career shutouts for Kelsey Bing
Earning Hardware the Hard Way:
With the season a full ten weeks in, the Cardinal has earned at least one individual award in over half of them, which includes a 10-day break from game play. The list is as follows:
August 29 - Kelsey Bing - Defensive Player of the Week
September 6 – Corinne Zanolli - Rookie of the Week
September 19 – Kelsey Bing – Defensive Player of the Week
September 26 – Corinne Zanolli – Rookie of the Week
October 24 - Corinne Zanolli - Rookie of the Week
October 30 - Kristina Bassi - Offensive Player of the Week
Youth Movement:
The Cardinal roster boasts a combination of both experienced upperclassmen and hungry freshmen and sophomore classes. In Stanford's 17 games four freshmen have started with rookie and Max Preps top-10 recruit Corinne Zanolli leading the offense with 12 goals and nine assists for 33 points.
To Be the Best You Must Play the Best:
Danielson is notorious for having one of the hardest schedules in the NCAA - with this year being no different. Right out of the gate the Cardinal's first six opponents this season were all ranked in the top-25. The four of the six Cardinal losses on the year have come against top-20 ranked teams including No. 1 UConn and No. 14 Northwestern. An updated RPI released this week has Stanford ranked 18th in the NCAA.
Bring Your Green Hat Snoop-A-Loop, We're Going Streaking!
Stanford this season amassed an impressive seven-game win streak, which was snapped by Ohio State in overtime. Though Danielson's teams are no stranger to streaking - the Cardinal put together a nine-game win streak in 2011 before the 2014 team shattered the school record for consecutive wins with 12. While a daunting task to achieve with one of the hardest schedules in the NCAA, the 2017 Cardinal is looking start another one this season.