STANFORD, Calif. - Despite beginning its 2019 NCAA title defense with a 1-3 start, Stanford (6-4, 3-3 MPSF) ripped off five straight wins while becoming the first school in MPSF history to capture three straight conference titles. The Cardinal locked up the No. 1 seed at NCAA Championships before falling 11-10 to UCLA in the semifinals.
Stanford's season was even more impressive considering the early-season adversity faced during its pandemic-shortened campaign, originally scheduled for fall 2020 but played in spring 2021. The Cardinal, which reported back to campus on Jan. 4 and started its regular season two weeks later than its peers, missed its first tournament and was unable to schedule nonconference opponents like its MPSF counterparts.
NCAA Semifinal FinishStanford's NCAA title defense came up short, falling 11-10 to UCLA in the semifinals on March 20. Tyler Abramson scored a game-high four goals, including his final tally that evened the game at 10-10 with 1:43 left.
However, UCLA's Tommy Gruwell scored the game-winner 30 seconds later to secure the win for UCLA, which defeated Stanford for the third time in four meetings this season. The Bruins held a slim 27-25 shot advantage but were 8-10 on power play opportunities. Tied 2-2, the Bruins scored six of the next nine goals to lead 8-5 at halftime.
Stanford was represented on the All-Tournament Team with Abramson (first team), AJ Rossman (second team) and Quinn Woodhead (second team).
ACWPC All-AmericansStanford was well represented among the 2020-21 ACWPC All-America Team, with Tyler Abramson, AJ Rossman and Quinn Woodhead earning the highest level of national recognition.
Abramson and Rossman were honored as first-team recipients while Woodhead received honorable mention status. Abramson is a three-time ACWPC All-American while Rossman and Woodhead are two-time honorees.
MPSF Three-PeatStanford defeated California 9-8 on March 7 to capture its third straight MPSF championship and eighth overall in school history. Trailing 4-1, the Cardinal scored six unanswered goals in the second and third quarters, with AJ Rossman and Larsen Weigle notching two goals apiece. It was the fourth consecutive season that Stanford and California faced off in the MPSF title game.
Andrew Chun was named the MPSF/KAP7 Tournament MVP, producing 21 saves in two games with a 56.8 save percentage. In the final against Cal, Chun stopped 13 of the 21 shots he faced. Chun is Stanford's fourth MPSF Tournament MVP, joining Ben Hallock (2018-19) and Alex Bowen (2014). Tyler Abramson and Quinn Woodhead were also named to the MPSF/KAP7 All-Tournament Team.
Individual LeadersTyler Abramson led Stanford in goals (21), shots (53) and points (26) while owning the Cardinal's only MPSF Player of the Week honor from Feb. 22.
Beck Jurasius (16), AJ Rossman (16), Ethan Parrish (15) and Quinn Woodhead (14) also scored at least 10 goals while Soren Jensen totaled a team-high nine assists. Rossman led the Cardinal with seven multi-goal performances.
MPSF All-Academic Scholar-AthletesStanford was honored with 11 MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athletes, comprising its entire roster of eligible student-athletes who practiced and competed during the most unprecedented season in the history of the sport.
Of Stanford's 17-member competition roster, only its six freshmen did not receive academic recognition, a formality based on the MPSF's criteria of sophomore academic standing and requirement to have completed at least one full academic year at the institution.
History Lesson The Cardinal has made 34 all-time NCAA appearances and owns 11 NCAA titles in school history (2019, 2002, 2001, 1994, 1993, 1986, 1985, 1981, 1980, 1978, 1976), including winning back-to-back NCAA championships four times.
Head coach John Vargas has accumulated a 370-111 (.769) overall record in 19 seasons at the helm of the Cardinal. A three-time MPSF Coach of the Year honoree, Vargas has guided Stanford to a pair of NCAA titles (2002, 2019) and five MPSF crowns (2004, 2014, 2018-20).
Honor Roll Tyler Abramson
- ACWPC First Team All-American
- NCAA All-Tournament Team (First Team)
- MPSF All-Tournament Team
- All-MPSF First Team
- MPSF Player of the Week (Feb. 22)
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
Andrew Chun
- MPSF/KAP7 Tournament MVP
- All-MPSF Honorable Mention
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
Andrew Churukian
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
Troy Gleason
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
Soren Jensen
- All-MPSF Honorable Mention
Beck Jurasius
- All-MPSF Second Team
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
Parker Killion
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
Spencer Nelson
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
Ethan Parrish
- All-MPSF Honorable Mention
AJ Rossman
- ACWPC First Team All-American
- NCAA All-Tournament Team (Second Team)
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
Walker Seymour
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
Larsen Weigle
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
- NCAA Elite 90 Award recipient
Quinn Woodhead
- ACWPC Honorable Mention All-American
- NCAA All-Tournament Team (Second Team)
- MPSF All-Tournament Team
- All-MPSF First Team
- MPSF All-Academic Scholar-Athlete