FRESNO, Calif. – No. 2 Stanford opened its 2025 campaign on Saturday with a pair of victories at Fresno State’s Polopalooza, defeating No. 12 UC San Diego 15-4 and No. 5 Hawai’i 12-7.
Stanford (2-0, 0-0 MPSF) produced dominant stretches in both games, thanks to arguably the deepest roster in the country. The Cardinal received goals from 11 different players through the two games combined.
One year after splitting its four matches at Polopalooza – which included a 9-7 overtime loss to Hawai’i – the Cardinal was relentless on offense and stingy on defense.
Stanford’s season opener was highlighted by the return of five players who took a leave of absence and redshirt year to train and compete with their respective national teams in preparation for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Serena Browne, Jenna Flynn, Ryann Neushul, Jewel Roemer and Ella Woodhead all made key contributions in different ways on Saturday.
The Cardinal’s defense was exceptional, holding UC San Diego and Hawai’i to combined totals of 20 percent shooting overall and 0-16 on power play opportunities.
Stanford returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 25, against California in Berkeley at 9 a.m.
No. 2 Stanford 15, UC San Diego 4
Eleanor Facey and Jenna Flynn recorded hat tricks, fueling a 15-4 rout in which Stanford received goals from 10 different players.
The Cardinal, which shot 55.6 percent and converted 5-9 power play chances, led 5-0 after the first period and 10-1 halftime.
Flynn, who in 2023 became one of four first-year players in school history to score at least 60 goals, set the tone early. Fellow Olympian Roemer added two scores in her return to the lineup.
Transfer Juliette Dhalluin and Serena Browne scored their first goals in a Cardinal uniform.
Christine Carpenter was successful in her debut in goal, playing the first three quarters before giving way to Jackie King.
Stanford Goals: Eleanor Facey (3), Jenna Flynn (3), Jewel Roemer (2), Kamryn Barone (1), Serena Browne (1), Juliette Dhalluin (1), Maggie Hawkins (1), Quinn Healy (1), Sophia Sanders (1), Ella Woodhead (1).
No. 2 Stanford 12, No. 5 Hawai’i 7
Ryann Neushul delivered a career-high six goals on seven attempts to lead a 12-7 win in the nightcap.
Returning to the lineup after redshirting 2024 for the Olympics, Neushul eclipsed her previous best of five goals against San Jose State on April 28, 2023.
Stanford built a 7-2 halftime advantage, taking control late in the first period after Hawai’i scored the game’s opening goal.
Kamryn Barone and Jenna Flynn added two scores apiece as Stanford finished 3-3 on penalty shots.
Carpenter made four saves over the first three quarters before King completed the fourth.
Stanford Goals: Ryann Neushul (6), Kamryn Barone (2), Jenna Flynn (2), Juliette Dhalluin (1), Jewel Roemer (1).