STANFORD, Calif. -- Dominating the far wall in the team clubhouse is a photo taken shortly after Stanford captured the 2011 NCAA women's soccer championship.
Team captain Alina Garciamendez is holding the NCAA trophy in both hands while teammates crowd around her, screaming and pointing to the sky. The joy is unmistakable.
That moment represents the height of a program that has searched for that feeling ever since and may soon regain it, with a Friday College Cup semifinal looming against South Carolina in Orlando, Florida. As much as any of Stanford's offensive dynamos of that era, Garciamendez was just as influential as a stalwart central defender and captain. She provided the foundation, character, fierceness, and grace of the program.Garciamendez created a tradition of excellence at that position that continued with Maddie Bauer and now rests in the talents of junior Alana Cook and sophomore Tierna Davidson, who comprise the most dynamic and skillful central defensive tandem in the country.
While the Cardinal has scored a national-leading 86 goals – 25 more than anyone else – it has allowed only seven. Remove an early 3-2 loss at No. 8 Florida -- the only blemish in a 22-1-0 season -- and Stanford has allowed only four goals in 22 matches and has surrendered only one at home. Stanford's 18 shutouts lead the nation and are one from the school record.
"It definitely has been a collective effort," coach Paul Ratcliffe said. "But a massive part of it is our two central defenders. They've created a great partnership. They organize a lot of the defense, holding the line together. Their communication is key, especially because most goals usually come from the central part of the field."
Stanford's offense is its best defense because of its possession style keeps opponents chasing. It requires ball skills at every position, especially in the central defense, which often is the launching point for the attack. That's where Cook and Davidson thrive.Cook is the classic center back, following in the tradition of Garciamendez, who started every match and set a school record with 102 starts. Bauer arrived just afterward and established herself as a team leader and mentor to Cook, who became the latest freshman to step directly into a starting role.
In her first match, Cook's giveaway led to a Hawaii goal in a 2-1 Stanford victory, but by the end of the season, Cook already earned her first all-conference and all-region honors.
"I've been a defender my whole life," said Cook, from Far Hills, New Jersey. "I'm a little more inclined to stay home and play make from the back. It's great having Tierna, who is more inclined to go forward. A lot of times the other teams are not accounting for a center back charging through the middle. When 'T' goes forward, teams usually aren't ready for it and good things happen."
In the NCAA third round, Davidson knifed 80 yards through the Florida State defense before laying the ball off for Jordan DiBiasi, who scored in the 79th minute for a 1-0 victory. It was easy to see why Davidson earned an invitation to join the U.S. national team camp last month. She is a natural holding midfielder and in Stanford's scheme, dictates the tempo and launches or switches the attack."I never go into a game thinking I'm going to go run with the ball for 70 yards," said Davidson, out of nearby Sacred Heart Prep. "That's never the plan. But sometimes it just opens up because teams usually aren't expecting a defender to dribble that far."
Ratcliffe likes the way Cook and Davidson complement each other: "Tierna is great at reading the game. Her distribution of the ball is very good, her heading ability is strong." And Cook brings "composure. She closes down spaces really well. She's a strong, tough player, and a hard-tackling defender."
Before the opening whistle, Cook and Davidson will look at each other, laugh at a joke and feel a sense of assurance. It's time to recreate history.