STANFORD, Calif. - No. 15 Stanford (0-2, 0-0 America East) opens its 2018 home slate this weekend with visit from No. 11 Syracuse (2-0, 0-0 ACC) on Saturday at 6 p.m. on the Varsity Turf.
Stanford returns to The Farm after a challenging season-opening trip to Evanston, Illinois, where the Cardinal fell 3-0 to top-ranked and defending NCAA champion Connecticut, before dropping a 3-2 double-overtime heart-breaker after a thrilling comeback from 2-0 down against No. 12 Northwestern.
Stanford's 2018 schedule features eight regular-season home games, but with five of its first six matchups on the road, the Cardinal is relishing its chance to pick up a big, early-season win at the Varsity Turf.
Some impressive debuts on opening weekend. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/4ip2G46s6k
— Stanford Field Hockey (@StanfordFH) August 30, 2018
The Cardinal, which has won at least 13 games in each of head coach Tara Danielson's eight seasons, has been especially strong at home under her leadership. The Cardinal comes into 2018 with a 56-12 record at Varsity Turf -- an incredible 82 percent mark -- since Danielson became head coach.
Stanford is led in the cage by junior Kelsey Bing, who has solidified her reputation as one of the premier goalkeepers in the country. An NFHCA West Region Second Team selection, Bing ranked sixth nationally in 2017 with a .794 save percentage while making 112 saves. Bing is off to a great start in 2018, posting 15 saves through the Cardinal's first two matches.
In addition to its returning cast, the roster includes seven freshmen ready to make an impact, most notably Molly Redgrove, Fenella Scutt and Isabelle Pilson.
Redgrove started her Cardinal career with a bang last weekend in Evanston. A three-year member of the England National Team, Redgrove scored twice over a span of eight minutes to bring Stanford even with Northwestern, and she will look to add to that tally against the Orange.