STANFORD, Calif. – Following a 2024 season in which it reached its second consecutive NCAA College Cup, Stanford was picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference according to the league’s coaches.
In addition to the preseason poll, the coaches also voted on a Preseason All-ACC team. Redshirt senior Andrea Kitahata was named to the 14-player squad.
Kitahata led the Cardinal in goals (9), assists (6), game-winners (3) and points (24) a year ago, and had a goal in five consecutive matches during a stretch of the season - becoming the first Cardinal to score in five consecutive matches since Catarina Macario in the 2019 national title season.
Defending national champion North Carolina was selected as the preseason favorite with 10 first-place votes and 246 overall points. Notre Dame garnered two first-place votes and 229 points to edge Florida State (225 points) for second in the poll. The Seminoles, which defeated Stanford in the 2023 College Cup final, earned four first-place votes while placing third. Duke was picked fourth with 208 points, followed by the Cardinal with 201 points. Virginia, which was selected seventh behind Wake Forest in the poll, garnered the final first-place vote.
Stanford, which enters the season ranked No. 7 in the nation according to United Soccer Coaches, is preparing to open the 2025 season on Thursday, August 14 when it hosts San Francisco at 7 p.m.