STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford checks in at No. 21 in the preseason edition of the Penn Monto/NFHCA National Coaches Poll.
A fixture in the national rankings since 2010, Stanford (0-0, 0-0 America East) opens its 2019 campaign with a pair of difficult tests, hosting No. 15 Northwestern on Friday and No. 4 Connecticut on Sunday.
The Cardinal is opening the season at home for the first time since 2016 and seeking its first win in a season opener since 2014.
For the fourth time in five years, Stanford has been tabbed as the favorite to win the America East's West Division title. The Cardinal has won two of the last three America East Conference crowns while qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in 10 of the last 12 seasons.
The Cardinal's schedule will feature 18 regular-season games overall, highlighted by the Cardinal hosting this weekend's Stanford Invitational to start the season. In addition to home matches against Connecticut and Michigan, Stanford will face three other opponents that reached the NCAA Tournament last season, traveling to Harvard (Sep. 12), Wake Forest (Sep. 27) and Duke (Sep. 29).
The Cardinal is led by America East Offensive Player of the Year Corinne Zanolli, Co-Goalkeeper of the Year Kelsey Bing and Rookie of the Year Molly Redgrove.
Stanford has won at least 13 games in each of head coach Tara Danielson's nine seasons, including a 14-6 mark in 2018.