STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford men's soccer team will play UC Irvine in the second round of the NCAA tournament, on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
The Anteaters (11-5-4) beat visiting Grand Canyon on penalty kicks, 6-5, on Thursday night after a 1-1 draw.
Stanford (11-3-4) was among 16 teams to receive a first-round bye in the 48-team tournament. Now, the Cardinal begins its postseason quest to win a fourth consecutive NCAA championship, a feat not reached since Virginia did so from 1991-94.
The winner plays Oregon State or Saint Mary's in the third round.
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GAME INFORMATION:
NCAA men's soccer tournament
Second round
Stanford (11-3-4) vs. UC Irvine (11-5-4)
Sunday, Nov. 18 • 5:30 p.m.
Laird Q. Cagan Stadium • Stanford, Calif.
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Live Stats: Click here.
Tickets: Click here.
Air Quality Updates: Click here.
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Stanford's active NCAA postseason streaks:
- Three consecutive NCAA championships.
- 12 consecutive shutouts.
- 1,214 minutes, 20 seconds without allowing a goal.
- 15-match unbeaten streak (11-0-4).
- Two consecutive NCAA tournaments without allowing a goal (10 matches)
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United Soccer Coaches top-25 rankings:
Stanford, No. 6 (No. 9 seed in tournament)
UC Irvine, unranked (unseeded)
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Previous NCAA tournament meetings (2):
2009, NCAA second round (at UC Irvine): Stanford 1, UC Irvine 0.
2014, NCAA second round (at Stanford): UC Irvine 1, Stanford 0.
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Stanford at a glance:
Stanford won its fifth consecutive Pac-12 championship, going 7-2-1 in conference play. The Cardinal's trademark is its defense. Stanford led the Pac-12 in fewest goals allowed (11), goals-against average (0.57), and shutouts (10). Central defender Tanner Beason, a redshirt junior, was the first in conference history to win Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Forward Amir Bashti (7 goals, 6 assists, 20 points) and redshirt freshman goalkeeper Andrew Thomas also received first-team All-Pac-12 honors.
UC Irvine at a glance:
The Anteaters reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014, when they met Stanford in the second round. UCI won the Big West Conference regular season title with a 5-1-1 record, but lost to UC Davis in the semifinals of the conference tournament on penalty kicks, 6-5, after a scoreless draw. Senior forward Ivan Canales (10g, 5a, 25p) is the Big West Offensive Player of the Year and senior Daniel Crisostomo is the conference Midfielder of the Year, with second-year Yossi Raz named Coach of the Year.
Series history:
Stanford's last loss in NCAA tournament play and its most recent matchup with UCI was Nov. 23, 2014, in a 1-0 overtime loss to the visiting Anteaters in the second round. The Anteaters' Michael Sperber netted the game-winner at 6:35 into the first overtime, handing the Cardinal its first home loss on the season. It was Stanford's first defeat against UC Irvine dating back to 1993. Stanford holds an 8-1 series lead.