STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford finished 16-7 overall and 5-1 in America East competition in 2019, producing its most victories since a program-best 19-3 record in 2014. In addition to capturing its third America East crown in four seasons, the Cardinal also notched its second NCAA win in school history after defeating Miami (Ohio) 3-1 in the opening round. Stanford, which dropped a 4-0 loss to eventual NCAA champion and top-ranked North Carolina two days later, remained a top-25 fixture all season, peaking at No. 15 while defeating five top-25 teams overall.
Back in NCAA'sStanford drew a tough assignment as postseason play progressed, falling 4-0 to No. 1 North Carolina, the two-time NCAA defending champion and winner of 46 consecutive matches dating back to 2017.
However, the Cardinal clearly made the most of its 17th NCAA appearance in school history and first since 2017, prevailing 3-1 over Miami (Ohio) two days earlier in an opening-round game hosted at the Varsity Turf.
Fueled by Corinne Zanolli's hat trick, Stanford earned its second NCAA win in school history. The Cardinal's only other victory came back on Nov. 15, 2014, defeating Louisville 2-1 in overtime in a first-round contest.
After a scoreless first quarter in which neither team produced a shot attempt or a penalty corner, Stanford quickly took control. Zanolli, who ripped off a game-high six shots, scored the first of her three goals in the 20th minute, firing a shot to the top corner following a cross from Fenella Scutt.
Leading 1-0 at halftime, Zanolli scored twice in a two-minute stretch at the start of the third quarter. After finding the cage unassisted at the 32:19 mark, she then converted a penalty stroke one minute later. Stanford held advantages in shots (11-7) and penalty corners (4-3).
Since the NCAA moved to its present format in 2017, opening-round games are now recognized as official games and count toward an institution's postseason record. The Cardinal, which has reached the NCAA Championship in 10 of the last 13 seasons, is 2-17 all-time in the postseason.
America East Champions
Sarah Johnson's game-winner in the final minute capped a 2-1 victory in the America East Championship final, clinching Stanford a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Making its third appearance in the conference tourney final, Stanford knocked off host No. 20 Monmouth for its fifth top-25 win of the season. The Cardinal was crowned America East champions for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2016-17.
The Cardinal completed an impressive tournament run, winning three consecutive low-scoring games thanks to a stingy defense and opportunistic offensive play. Stanford blanked Albany 1-0 in the quarterfinals and outlasted Maine 1-0 in a semifinal shootout.
Stanford broke through for a 1-0 lead at the 5:36 mark of the first quarter, as Corinne Zanolli increased her nation-leading goal total to 30 with an unassisted finish. Zanolli ripped off a game-high six shots, helping the Cardinal finish with a 16-2 advantage in attempts.
Tied 1-1, Stanford continued to press in the final quarter, attempting seven of its 10 penalty corners over the final 15 minutes. The Cardinal finally capitalized at the 58:04 mark when Johnson tapped home a quick pass from Isabelle Pilson.
For only the third time in her career – all resulting in wins – Kelsey Bing did not come up with a save.
Corinne, For The WinThe most prolific goal scorer in school history, junior Corinne Zanolli delivered of the best offensive seasons for any Division I player in recent memory.
Zanolli finished tied for the national lead in goals (33) while ranking second in points (69) and attempting 124 shots. Zanolli, who delivered six hat tricks in 2019 and has nine for her career, produced eight game-winning goals and converted four of six penalty strokes. Zanolli's average of 1.43 goals per game ranked second in the country.
In 64 career games, Zanolli has scored a school-record 74 goals, increasing her total every season as a junior (33), sophomore (26) and freshman (15).
Zanolli was honored as a Longstreth/NFHCA First-Team All-American, following up on a sophomore season in which she earned second-team accolades. One of seven players in program history and the first since 2014 to earn first-team honors, Zanolli concluded her season as the America East Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row.
Bing Leaves Her Legacy
Senior Kelsey Bing put the finishing touches on one of the most accomplished four-year careers in school history.
Bing, who led the Cardinal to three NCAA appearances and three America East crowns over her career, departed The Farm as a two-time Longstreth/NFHCA All-American, three-time America East Goalkeeper of the Year and the program's all-time leader in career saves (418).
As a senior in 2019, Bing started all but one game in the cage for the Cardinal, making 123 saves and boasting a 1.47 GAA, along with two shutouts and a .788 save percentage, the fifth-best mark in the nation. The only game Bing missed was a Senior Night victory on Nov. 1 against UC Davis, as she competed as the starting goalkeeper for Team USA in its International Hockey Federation (FIH) qualifier on Nov. 1-2 against India.
A mechanical engineering major with a 3.94 cumulative GPA, Bing was named the Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I National Scholar-Athlete, regarded as the highest academic accolade in the country. Bing also made it a clean sweep of all national (NFHCA) and conference (America East) academic honors.
Senior SuccessStanford's senior class of Emma Alderton, Kelsey Bing, Phoebe Crosthwaite and Jessica Welch produced a 57-27 overall record, 18-4 record in conference play, three NCAA Tournament appearances (2016, 2017, 2019) and three America East titles (2016, 2017, 2019).
Honor Roll Senior Emma Alderton
America East Conference Honor Roll Senior Kelsey Bing
Longstreth/NFHCA Second Team All-American
Longstreth/NFHCA All-West Region First Team
America East Goalkeeper of the Year
America East West Division All-Conference Team
America East All-Championship Team
America East Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 15)
America East Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 24)
Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA National Scholar-Athlete
America East Fall Scholar-Athlete
NFHCA Scholar of Distinction
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
America East Elite 18 Award
America East All-Academic Team
Junior Frances Carstens
America East Conference Honor Roll
Junior Madison Connell
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Sophomore Lily Croddick
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Senior Phoebe Crosthwaite
America East West Division All-Conference Team
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Freshman Megan Frost
America East All-Rookie Team
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Sophomore Liz Heckard
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Conference Honor Roll
Redshirt Sophomore Sarah Johnson
America East West Division All-Conference Team
America East Most Outstanding Player
America East All-Championship Team
Junior Kaylie Mings
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Sophomore Isabelle Pilson
NFHCA Scholar of Distinction
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Sophomore Juli Porto
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Freshman Caroline Reinhart
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Conference Honor Roll
Sophomore Hannah Santos
America East Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 5)
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Redshirt Sophomore Hannah Schofield
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Conference Honor Roll
Sophomore Fenella Scutt
Longstreth/NFHCA All-West Region Second Team
America East West Division All-Conference Team
America East All-Championship Team
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Redshirt Sophomore Emily Surgent
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Conference Honor Roll
Freshman Lynn Vanderstichele
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Senior Jessica Welch
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Freshman Rose Winter
America East All-Rookie Team
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
Junior Corinne Zanolli
Longstreth/NFHCA First Team All-American
Longstreth/NFHCA All-West Region First Team
America East Offensive Player of the Year
America East West Division All-Conference Team
America East All-Championship Team
America East Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 5)
America East Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 29)
America East Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 15)
America East Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 17)
America East Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 10)
NFHCA National Academic Squad
America East Commissioner's Honor Roll
America East All-Academic Team