STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford (21-1, 5-1 MPSF) has been awarded the No. 1 seed for the upcoming NCAA Championship, scheduled for May 12-14 at the Douglass M. Eberhardt Aquatics Center in Stockton, Calif.
Extending its streak as the nation's only program to have participated at every NCAA Championship since the event's inception in 2001, Stanford is bidding to repeat as NCAA champions for the first time since 2014-15.
Stanford is chasing its ninth NCAA title in school history after defeating USC 10-7 to capture the 2022 crown.
The Cardinal, which has advanced to 11 of the last 12 NCAA finals, also captured national championships in 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011 and 2002.
The NCAA Championship field features nine teams, with the top seven having been placed directly in the bracket and the remaining two teams competing for the final berth in the single-elimination tournament.
Stanford's postseason journey begins Friday, May 12, against the winner of LIU (21-12) and Biola (16-14).
Backed by Aria Fischer's four goals and three assists, Stanford defeated USC 12-7 yesterday to claim its second straight MPSF title. The Cardinal repeated as MPSF champions for the second time in school history (2000-01) and captured its seventh conference title overall, having also won the crown in 2014, 2006 and 2003.
Sunday's contest was yet another highly-anticipated matchup between the nation's top two programs, as Stanford and USC have combined to win the last 12 NCAA titles. However, the Cardinal has held the upper hand recently, winning five of the last seven meetings,
Stanford's 16-game winning streak earlier this season was its longest overall since 2014. The Cardinal's 16-0 start was its best since opening 24-0 during the 2011 campaign.