STANFORD, Calif. - No. 1 Stanford (16-1, 2-1 MPSF) welcomes No. 4 UCLA to The Farm on Saturday (1 p.m.) in the first of back-to-back home weekends.
Stanford came away with a split of its SoCal road swing, suffering its first loss of the season in 12-11 defeat at No. 2 USC before bouncing back with an 11-3 triumph at No. 6 Long Beach State the following day. The Cardinal was enjoying only its fourth 15-0 start in school history before the Trojans rallied for eight goals over the final eight minutes. 24 hours later, Stanford built a 7-0 lead before holding Long Beach State scoreless until the 3:03 mark of the third quarter while limiting the 49ers to 3-of-26 shooting overall.
• The Cardinal has overpowered its opponents through 17 games, pairing a balanced offense with a suffocating defense. Stanford has scored at least 10 goals in every game this season and 272 overall, good for an average of 16.0 per game. Perhaps the best indication of Stanford's depth is that 10 players have scored at least 10 goals this season. The Cardinal has also looked sharp on the defensive side of the pool, with its 107 goals allowed representing the lowest total of any school in the nation. Stanford has allowed double-digit goals only three times.
• Stanford defeated No. 2 USC 10-6 in the championship game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Feb. 23, capturing its third tournament title in the last four seasons and seventh overall. In routs of Cal State Fullerton (19-6) and UC San Diego (17-3), Stanford maintained its streak of producing 10 different goal scorers in a game, a feat which has occurred nine times this season. The Cardinal then cruised past defending NCAA champion UCLA 14-4 in the semifinals, representing its largest margin of victory against the Bruins in school history.
• In 2024, Stanford was without five players who were taking a leave of absence and redshirt year to train and compete with their respective national teams in preparation for the Paris Summer Olympics. All-Americans Jenna Flynn, Ryann Neushul and Jewel Roemer joined Ella Woodhead in training for Team USA while Serena Browne competed for Canada. Each player has returned in 2025, significantly enhancing Stanford’s trademark depth. Flynn (40 goals), Neushul (39) and Roemer (34) are Stanford's top three scorers while Woodhead and Browne have combined for 32 goals. Neushul was named MPSF Player of the Week for Jan. 21 after a career-high six-goal performance on Jan. 18.
• Flynn, Neushul and Roemer have been named to the Peter J. Cutino Award Watch List, as No. 1 Stanford is once again well represented in the discussion for the nation’s top player. Stanford, which leads the nation with three selections, has boasted seven players combining to win the award 10 times: Aria Fischer (2023), Makenzie Fischer (2019, 2022), Kiley Neushul (2012, 2015), Annika Dries (2011, 2014), Melissa Seidemann (2013), Jackie Frank (2003) and Brenda Villa (2002).
• Stanford was also busy last summer adding Juliette Dhalluin, a 2023 third-team All-American transfer from Arizona State. Dhalluin, who has totaled 24 goals and 26 assists, compiled Sun Devil rookie records of 70 goals, 38 assists and 48 steals in 2023. She also has extensive international experience, most recently competing with France at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
• Christine Carpenter was named MPSF Player of the Week for Feb. 25, earning the first weekly honor of her career. In three games at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, Carpenter totaled 24 saves, including a career-high 13 stops against USC in the final. The Trojans were limited to six goals on 32 shots and a 2-for-11 mark on the power play. Carpenter has made a team-leading 94 saves this season while filling a key spot vacated by two-time All-American goalkeeper Maya Avital, who closed out her career ranking second in program history with 613 saves.
• In 28 seasons, head coach John Tanner has compiled a 657-97 overall record while directing the Cardinal to 23 all-time NCAA appearances, nine NCAA titles (2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2002) and nine national runner-ups. An eight-time ACWPC Coach of the Year and six-time MPSF Coach of the Year, Tanner picked up his 600th career victory in Stanford's 25-8 win over Fresno State on Jan. 28, 2003.