Preseason No. 1

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford, the two-time defending NCAA champions, topped the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll announced Thursday.
 
The nation's most successful collegiate soccer program over the past three seasons, Stanford is 46-8-11 (.792) since 2014, has won back-to-back national championships and three consecutive Pac-12 titles.
 
In 2015 the Cardinal routed Clemson 4-0, the largest margin of victory in a College Cup final since 1975. Last December, Stanford beat Wake Forest in penalties following a scoreless 110 minutes. The Cardinal did not allow a goal throughout the entire tournament on the way to its second championship, becoming just the third team to win the title while posting at 0.00 postseason goals against average.
 
One of six programs to win back-to-back national championships and the first to do it in a dozen years, this season the Cardinal will attempt to become just the second program to win three straight NCAA titles (Virginia; 1991-94). Stanford, which returns nine of its 11 starters, including 100 percent of its goals scored and over 90 percent of its assists, will also enter the 2017 season with an active shutout streak of 548:29.
 
The Cardinal is followed in the top five by No. 2 Wake Forest, No. 3 Denver, No. 4 North Carolina and No. 5 Clemson.
 
Season ticket memberships, mini plans and single-game tickets are currently on sale by visiting gostanford.com/msoctickets or calling 800-STANFORD.
 
Thirteen of Stanford's scheduled matches are at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium, including a pair of free exhibitions against Portland (Aug. 13) and Pacific (Aug. 19). The Cardinal has posted a 27-2-6 (.857) record at home over the past three seasons with a goals against average of 0.52.
 
Stanford's regular-season home opener is on Friday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. against No. 14 Creighton.