MORAGA, Calif. – Stanford continues its run toward a fourth consecutive NCAA men's soccer title when it takes on Saint Mary's in a third-round matchup Sunday at 1 p.m.
Stanford (12-3-4), winner of five consecutive Pac-12 championships, is the tournament's No. 9 seed. Saint Mary's (18-0-1), the West Coast Conference champion, is the No. 8 seed.
Both will enjoy air cleansed by recent rain in the Bay Area. Unhealthy air from the Camp Fire in Butte County forced Saint Mary's to play a second-round match, a 1-0 victory over Oregon State, in Fresno. Stanford was able to stay home Sunday for a 2-0 victory over UC Irvine, but not before alternate plans were in place in case the air quality index began to rise.
This is the second time Stanford and Saint Mary's have met in the NCAA tournament – the Cardinal won 3-0 in the first round in 2009 – but the first in Moraga. The winner plays top-seeded Wake Forest or Akron in the quarterfinals.
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GAME INFORMATION:
NCAA men's soccer tournament
Third round
Stanford (12-3-4) vs. Saint Mary's (18-0-1)
Sunday, Nov. 25 • 1 p.m.
Saint Mary's Stadium • Moraga, Calif.
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Stanford's active NCAA postseason streaks:
- Three consecutive NCAA championships.
- 13 consecutive shutouts.
- 1,304 minutes, 20 seconds without allowing a goal.
- 16-match unbeaten streak (12-0-4).
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Previous NCAA tournament meetings (1):
2009, NCAA first round (at Stanford): Stanford 3, Saint Mary's 0.
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Stanford at a glance:
The Cardinal advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 win over UC Irvine on Sunday. Tanner Beason scored from the penalty spot, and Zach Ryan's ninth of the season doubled the lead late. Andrew Thomas made three saves to earn the shutout. Stanford, which won its fifth consecutive Pac-12 championship by going 7-2-1 in conference play, is led by its defense. Stanford led the Pac-12 in fewest goals allowed (11), goals-against average (0.54), and shutouts (11). 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 Thomas also received first-team All-Pac-12 honors.
Saint Mary's at a glance:
This is the first NCAA tournament match at home in Saint Mary's history. The Gaels, the West Coast Conference champions, own a program-record 23-match unbeaten streak. Remi Prieur (0.44 GAA, 13 shutouts) was named WCC Goalkeeper of the Year and Sebastian Schacht was Freshman of the Year. Adam Cooper, in his 13th season, was named WCC Coach of the Year. In the NCAA second-round victory over Oregon State at Fresno Pacific University, Anders Engebretsen scored the winner in the 81st minute. Jake Rudel leads the Gaels in scoring with 13 goals, 5 assists for 31 points.
Series history:
Stanford leads the series 22-4-2, including 10-3 at Saint Mary's. Stanford holds a 10-match unbeaten streak against the Gaels, though they drew, 2-2, in their most recent meeting, at Stanford in 2016. The most recent Gael victory was Sept. 17, 1995, by a 3-1 score. The teams met in an exhibition this year, with the Cardinal winning 2-1.