Title Pursuit BeginsTitle Pursuit Begins
Women's Soccer

Title Pursuit Begins

No. 1 Stanford (18-1-0, 11-0-0)
 vs. Utah Valley (10-11-1, 5-2-0) | Saturday • 7 p.m. (PT)
Television • Facebook.com/StanfordWSoccer
Live Statistics • via GoStanford.com
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STANFORD, Calif. – No. 1-seeded Stanford opens the 2017 NCAA Tournament on Saturday when it hosts Utah Valley at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.

The Cardinal (18-1-0 overall, 11-0-0 Pac-12) enters the tournament on a 16-game win streak having clinched its third straight Pac-12 Championship. Recently, 11 players were named All-Pac-12, including Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year Catarina Macario, Defender of the Year Tierna Davidson and Midfielder of the Year Andi Sullivan.

Paul Ratcliffe was also named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the third straight season and eighth time overall – no other coach has won the award more than twice. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. PT with live streaming available at Stanford Women's Soccer's Facebook page (Facebook.com/StanfordWSoccer).

Tickets for Saturday's matchup are available now at GoStanford.com. Reserved seats are $15, and general admission seats are $10 for adults and $8 for students, youth and seniors. Call 1-800-STANFORD for more information.

Saturday's Opponent, Utah Valley
• This is the first ever meeting between the Cardinal and the Wolverines (10-11-1, 5-2-0).
• Utah Valley earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament with a penalty-kick shootout win over Seattle in the WAC Championship last Sunday.
• It is the second trip to the NCAA Tournament for Utah Valley, which made its first appearance in the postseason in 2015.
• Breanna DeWaal leads the team in goals (9) and points (24), and Brooklyn Nielsen owns a 1.30 goals-against average and a 9-7-1 record to lead the Wolverines in goal.

Number One Overall Seed
• Stanford was awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season after going 18-1-0 (11-0-0 Pac-12) in the regular season.
• Stanford kept its place atop the United Soccer Coaches, TopDrawerSoccer and Soccer America polls, also earning the No. 1 ranking in the NCAA's Ratings Power Index (RPI).
• Ten of Stanford's 2017 opponents made the postseason tournament – Arizona, Georgetown, Washington State, Florida, Santa Clara, California, Wisconsin, USC, UCLA and Colorado.
• Should Stanford advance past Utah Valley, the Cardinal would welcome the winner of Hofstra and Auburn to The Farm on Oct. 17.

Tree-Peat
• Stanford clinched its third consecutive Pac-12 championship with a 3-1 win at #5 USC on Sunday, Oct. 29.
• It was Stanford's 12th Pac-12 championship and seventh under head coach Paul Ratcliffe, who is in his 15th season in charge of the program.
• Entering Friday, Ratcliffe's record on The Farm stands at 269-50-27, with a 324-84-34 overall clip.
• Stanford's 11-0-0 record in the Pac-12 was the first undefeated Pac-12 season since the Cardinal accomplished that feat in 2012.  

Cardinal Cleans Up
• Stanford claimed five of six individual awards and had 11 players named to the Pac-12 All-Conference teams, as announced Tuesday by the conference.
• Tierna Davidson earned Defensive Player of the Year, Andi Sullivan was named Midfielder of the Year, Catarina Macario claimed Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors and Paul Ratcliffe was named Coach of the Year.
• It is the eighth time Ratcliffe has been named Pac-12 Coach of the Year, and third year in a row – no other coach has ever won the award more than twice.
• This is Sullivan's second Pac-12 Player of the Year award after winning Player of the Year in 2016 – Sullivan has missed just two games this season, both while she was on duty with the United States National Team.
• Davidson earned two Defensive Player of the Week honors on her way to winning Defensive Player of the Year – she helped Stanford achieve the lowest goals-against average (0.32) and most shutouts (15) in the league.
• Macario leads the Pac-12 in goals (14), assists (10), points (38) and shots (101).
• Joining Davidson, Macario and Sullivan on the All-Pac-12 first team is Alana Cook. Cook has played nearly every minute at center back this season.
• Jaye Boissiere, Kyra Carusa, Jordan DiBiasi, Tegan McGrady and Michelle Xiao were each named to the All-Pac-12 secont team.
• Civana Kuhlmann and Kiki Pickett joined Macario on the all-freshman team.

Perfect at Home
• Stanford owns a perfect record at home this season, going 10-0-0 (6-0-0 Pac-12) with 45 goals scored and none conceded (900:00 minutes).
• In 10 games, Stanford is outshooting opponents 309-42 with a 143-17 advantage in shots on goal.
• The Cardinal managed four or more goals seven times at home, including five with six or more than three with seven or more.
• The Cardinal completed its four-game home stand on Sept. 1-10 with 26 goals scored and none conceded.
• Over its three matches against Navy, San Francisco and Yale, the Cardinal set a program record with 22 goals – previously, Stanford had scored 19 in a three-game stretch in 1991.
• Over that three-game stretch, 14 players earned multiple points while eight players scored multiple goals.

Streaking Stanford
• Since its 3-2 loss at No. 8 Florida on Aug. 25, Stanford has won its past 16 games with 13 of those coming via shutout.
• Stanford is outscoring opponents 59-3 on the current streak.
• During the streak, only one goal has come from the run of play (vs. USC, Oct. 29) – the other two came via a deflected free kick (at Santa Clara, Sept. 17) and a penalty kick (at Washington State, Sept. 21).
• During the 16-game win streak, six players have registered 16 or more points – Catarina Macario (30), Kyra Carusa (21), Jordan DiBiasi (19), Michelle Xiao (18), Jaye Boissiere (17) and Civana Kuhlmann (16).
• Stanford's win streak in Pac-12 play stands at 18 after wins over ranked opponents UCLA, USC and California to end the regular season. Stanford's last loss in Pac-12 play came on Oct. 6, 2016 at USC.
• The Cardinal is unbeaten in 30 regular-season home matches, dating back to a loss against Penn State on Sept. 11, 2015 – Stanford's record stands at 28-0-2 over that span.

Postseason History
• This is Stanford's 27th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, dating back to 1990.
• Stanford's streak of NCAA tournament appearances stretches to 20 – Stanford has not missed the postseason tournament since 1997.
• Stanford has made seven appearances in the College Cup, most recently in 2014 – from 2008-2012, Stanford appeared in five consecutive final fours.
• Stanford's lone national championship came in 2011 after finishing as national runners-up in 2009 and 2010.
• Paul Ratcliffe has guided Stanford to the NCAA Tournament in each of his 15 seasons at Stanford – the other five head coaches in school history have a combined 11 appearances.
• Ratcliffe's postseason record stands at 37-11-4 (0.750).
• Last season, top-seeded Stanford was eliminated in the second round with a 1-0 overtime loss against Santa Clara – the loss snapped a 30-game NCAA Tournament home unbeaten run from 2008-16.

Shutout Streak Snapped
• Stanford recently snapped a streak of 788:28 minutes without allowing a goal between Sept. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 29 – the longest shutout streak in program history stands at 893:58 minutes (2013-14).
• Prior to allowing a goal at #5 USC on Sunday, Oct. 29, the Cardinal went 1,284:07 minutes between conceding goals from the run of play – the last time Stanford allowed a goal from open play had been at No. 8 Florida on Aug. 25. Stanford allowed goals against Santa Clara and Washington – one came via a deflected free kick and the other was a penalty kick.

Number One Offense
• Stanford's 70 goals in the regular season is the most in Division I since East Tennessee State scored 73 in 2014. Stanford is 10 goals away from the program record, set in 2009.
• The Cardinal leads the nation in virtually every offensive category – goals per game (3.68), assists per game (3.53), points (207), shots per game (25.05) and shots on goal per game (11.42).
• Four Cardinal have 20 or more points on the season – Catarina Macario (38), Kyra Carusa (27), Jordan DiBiasi (21) and Jaye Boissiere (20).

Macario's Masterful Season
• Macario's outstanding regular season netted her Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors.
• She led the Pac-12 in points (38), goals (14) and assists (10), and set the program freshman scoring record, previously held by Lindsay Taylor (35 points).
• Nationally, Macario ranks fourth in points, eighth in goals, seventh in assists and fifth in shots (5.32) and shots on goal (2.63) per game.

Bossing the Midfield
• Stanford's trio of Jaye Boissiere, Jordan DiBiasi and Andi Sullivan have started a bulk of Stanford's games as a midfield trio – they have combined for 23 assists this season, which is more than 211 Division I teams have managed in 2017.
• DiBiasi's nine assists are a career high and rank second on the team and in the conference behind Catarina Macario, while her 21 points ranks third in the Pac-12.
• Boissiere ties for fifth in points and third in assists in the Pac-12 – she had a stretch of scoring in five of six contests from Sept. 1-21.
• Sullivan had assists in five straight games from Sept. 1-17, typically dictating play from the midfield. Sullivan was named Midfielder of the Year after winning Player of the Year honors in 2016.

Carusa's Career Year
• Kyra Carusa has scored a career-high 12 goals in 2017 after netting five goals in each of her first two seasons.
• Her goal and point totals (27) rank third in the conference behind teammate Catarina Macario and Hailie Mace.
• Nationally, Carusa ranks 25th in goals and 36th in points.
• Starting all 19 games in the regular season, Caursa was named to the All-Pac-12 second team.

Freshmen in the Mix
• Stanford's freshmen have accounted for 24 percent of the team's starts, 36 percent of goals, 34 percent of assists and 35 percent of total points.
• Civana Kuhlmann ties for fourth in the Pac-12 in goals (8) and ninth in points (18).
• Kiki Pickett has started 18 of 19 games at right back, establishing herself as first choice at that position – Pickett has four assists and her first career goal came at No. 5 USC on Oct. 29.
• Madison Haley has made 14 appearances off the bench, scoring two goals and setting up three others – Haley has become a key sub and one of the first Cardinal in the game off the bench.
• Other freshmen to appear in 2017 are Belle Briede (13 appearances, 3 assists), Sophia Serafin (7 appearances, 1 assist) and Jojo Harber (11 appearances).

For Card and Country
• Sullivan was called up for a fourth time on Oct. 31 for the United States' games against Canada on Nov. 9 in Vancouver and on Nov. 12 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California. Sullivan will miss Stanford's first-round matchup against Utah Valley before rejoining the team next week.
• Sullivan earned her third call-up to the United States Women's National Team on Oct. 11. – as a result, Sullivan was absent for Stanford's wins over Oregon (Oct. 19) and Oregon State (Oct. 22).
• Sullivan earned four caps during the 2016 prior to a season-ending injury in the NCAA Tournament – she started all four matches, and was named Player of the Match after her first senior cap, a 4-0 win against Switzerland on Oct. 19, 2016.
• Sullivan recorded assists in a 5-1 win over Switzerland and a 7-1 win over Romania.
• Sophomore Tierna Davidson earned her second call-up to the United States Women's National Team on Sept. 7, joining the squad following Stanford's 7-0 win against Yale.
• Jill Ellis previously called on Davidson for a training camp on Jan. 13-23, but Davidson has yet to earn her first senior team cap.
• Both players were the only current NCAA student-athletes on the roster during their call-ups. 
• Former Cardinal Chioma Ubogagu joined Sullivan in the Oct. 31 call-ups. It is the first call-up to the full National Team for Ubogagu, who starred for Stanford from 2011-14.

Top of the CLASS
• Senior Andi Sullivan was named one of 30 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award on Oct. 12.
• The award, an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, focuses on four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
• A two-time Pac-12 all-academic honorable mention, Sullivan is set to graduate following the 2017 season with a degree in symbolic systems. She is an active participant in soccer clinics for Female Footballers and the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative, and has worked with the Cupertino and Hillsborough AYSO programs.
• On the field, Sullivan has starred for the Cardinal since her freshman season in 2014. The 2016 Pac-12 Player of the Year, Sullivan is a three-time All-Pac-12 first teamer, a two-time United Soccer Coaches first-team All-American and a three-time United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region selection.


MAC Hermann Trophy 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 United Coaches' 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 players to start all 21 matches in 2016.
• This is the third consecutive season in which Stanford has had multiple players selected to the watch list – goalkeeper Jane Campbell joined Sullivan in each of the past two seasons.
 
Cardinal Collecting Pac-12 Honors
• Tierna Davidson was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second time on Nov. 7. She helped Stanford earn its 15th shutout of the season with a 1-0 win over No. 22 Cal the week prior.
• Catarina Macario was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 31 for the second straight time after wins at No. 6 UCLA and No. 5 USC. She scored a goal and assisted another in Stanford's win against USC, which clinched the Pac-12 championship.
• Macario was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week after a 4-0 win over Oregon (Oct. 19) and a 6-0 victory against Oregon State (Oct. 22).
• Macario registered 9 points on the week, scoring three spectacular goals and assisting three others.
• Davidson and Lauren Rood were named Pac-12 Players of the Week following Stanford's 1-0 win against Washington (Oct. 13).
• Davidson earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after assisting the only goal of the match and contributing to Stanford's fifth straight shutout.
• Rood earned Goalkeeper of the Week honors after her sixth shutout of the season against Washington.

Team Academic Award
• Stanford earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 2016-17 season, as announced on Oct. 4 by the organization.
• Stanford was one of 813 collegiate programs (282 men, 531 women) to receive the award – Stanford was one of 195 schools to have both its men's and women's team honored.
• The Cardinal posted a 3.42 team grade-point average, led by Pac-12 All-Academic first teamer Michelle Xiao. Maddie Bauer, Kyra Carusa, Averie Collings, Alana Cook, Jordan DiBiasi, Tegan McGrady, Andi Sullivan, Megan Turner and Ryan Walker-Hartshorn also earned honorable mentions.

2017 Season Highlights
• Thanks to Catarina Macario's first-half goal, No. 1 Stanford beat No. 22 Cal 1-0 to wrap up the regular season. Alison Jahansouz earned the shutout, and Stanford its 16th in a row on Senior Day (Nov. 3).
• Stanford clinched the Pac-12 title with a 3-1 win at No. 5 USC (Oct. 29). Kiki Pickett scored her first career goal, and Michelle Xiao and Catarina Macario also scored.
• Jordan DiBiasi scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at No. 5 UCLA (Oct. 26). Alison Jahansouz made three saves, including a huge one late in the game to preserve the lead.
• The Cardinal scored six or more goals for the fifth time in a 6-0 win over Oregon State (Oct. 22). Civana Kuhlmann led Stanford with two goals, and Catarina Macario scored with two assists while Lauren Rood earned her seventh shutout in eight starts.
• Stanford stretched its win streak to 12 with a 4-0 win over Oregon (Oct. 19) at Cagan Stadium. Catarina Macario scored two outstanding goals and assisted another, and Alison Jahansouz earned her sixth shutout of the season.
• No. 1 Stanford improved to 6-0-0 in Pac-12 play with a 1-0 win over Washington (Oct. 13). Lauren Rood made a key save late in the match following Kyra Carusa's goal in the 86th minute.
• Stanford completed its road trip with a 3-0 win at Colorado (Oct. 8) -- freshman Civana Kuhlmann scored twice in front of her hometown fans, and Michelle Xiao scored a brilliant strike from the left edge of the area to help Stanford win its 10th in a row.
• The Cardinal started its rocky-mountain road trip with a 3-0 win at Utah (Oct. 5). Jordan DiBiasi, Michelle Xiao and Kyra Carusa each scored for the Cardinal, and Lauren Rood earned her fifth shutout in six starts.
• After a relatively pedestrian three games of offense (five goals in three games), Stanford erupted for a 6-0 win over Arizona State on Oct. 1. Michelle Xiao scored twice, and Catarina Macario, Jordan DiBiasi, Kyra Carusa and Mariah Lee pitched in one goal apiece.
• Stanford returned from a two-game road trip on Sept. 28, defeating Arizona, 1-0. Jordan DiBiasi scored her eighth career game winner for the game's only goal.
• The Cardinal opened conference play with a 2-1 win at Washington State (Sept. 21). Stanford's unbeaten run in conference openers extended to 17 seasons thanks to goals from Tierna Davidson and Jaye Boissiere, and a timely penalty-kick save by Alison Jahansouz in the 62nd minute.
• Stanford wrapped up nonconference play with a 2-1 win over Santa Clara (Sept. 17). Jaye Boissiere opened the scoring in the 49th minute, and Michelle Xiao scored the winner in the 75th after the Broncos equalized.
• The Cardinal kept its unbeaten run at home alive with a 7-0 win against Yale (Sept. 10). Seven Cardinal scored goals – Jordan DiBiasi, Catarina Macario, Sam Tran, Jaye Boissiere, Michelle Xiao, Averie Collins and Madison Haley. Alison Jahansouz improved to 3-1-0 as a starter with her third shutout.
• Stanford improved to 20-0-0 all-time against USF with an 8-0 win on Sept. 8. Kyra Carusa, Civana Kuhlmanna, Tierna Davidson, DiBiasi, Macario, Haley, Collins and Mariah Lee scored one goal apiece, while Lauren Rood ea rned her third shutout in as many starts.
• Stanford improved to 4-0-1 on Sept. 3 with a 7-0 win over Navy. Kyra Carusa scored a brace, and Jaye Boissiere, Catarina Macario, Mariah Lee, Civana Kuhlmann and Andi Sullivan pitched in a goal apiece. Alison Jahansouz improved to 2-1-0 with the shutout.
• The Cardinal opened its home schedule with a 4-0 win over No. 10 Georgetown (Sept. 1). Catarina Macario, Civana Kuhlmann, Jaye Boissiere and Kyra Carusa scored for Stanford. Lauren Rood got the shutout, her second one in as many career starts.
• Stanford suffered a setback at No. 8 Florida on Aug. 25, dropping a narrow 3-2 decision. Catarina Macario and Beattie Goad scored, but Florida got two goals in quick succession near the end of the second period to claim the win.
• Stanford improved to 2-0-0 with a 5-0 win over Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Catarina Macario scored twice, and Sam Hiatt, Kyra Carusa and Civana Kuhlmann added goals. Lauren Rood earned the shutout in her first career start.
• The Cardinal opened the season with a 4-0 win at Marquette. Alison Jahansouz saved an early penalty to keep the match at 0-0 before Catarina Macario, Kyra Carusa (2) and Mariah Lee scored. Jahansouz earned the shutout with three saves.