STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford welcomes the addition of two impact transfers to the program next season, as Alayna Burns and Allison Kuzyk will arrive on The Farm for the 2024 campaign as announced by head coach Roz Ellis on Thursday.
This marks the second consecutive season that Stanford has bolstered its team through the transfer portal, with former MAC Freshman of Year Maroussia Walckiers making eleven starts with two goals and an assist in her first season as a Cardinal. Walckiers spent her previous two seasons at Longwood University.
Burns brings immediate leadership to the Cardinal attackers, appearing in 59 games at forward in her previous four seasons at Duke. Reaching the NCAA semifinals with the Blue Devils a season ago, the Medford N.J., native registered six goals and three assists during her four-year stint with the Blue Devils.
Highly decorated in the classroom, Burns was a four-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction and NFHCA National Academic Squad (2020-23), as well as a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection (2021-23) and two-time All-ACC Academic Team member (2022-23).
Kuzyk provides an immediate scoring threat to a Stanford team that returns 88 percent of its offensive production from the season ago, netting 23 goals and 47 points in three seasons at Pennsylvania (All 2020 Ivy League fall sports were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions).
Ranking second in the Ivy League a season ago in shots (66), shots on goal (39), goals (13), points (27) and game-winning goals (4), The Vancouver, B.C. native was selected to the NFHCA First Team All-Region and was a First Team All-Ivy selection in 2023. Kuzyk was twice named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week in 2022, getting the nod on the All-Ivy Second Team that season.
A tandem of Burns and Kuzyk joins the program ahead of an exciting time in the field hockey landscape, as Stanford prepares for its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.