TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
#8 STANFORD CARDINAL (5-1-0) vs. SYRACUSE ORANGE (2-2-2)
SU Soccer Stadium | Syracuse, N.Y.
MATCH NOTES » Bay Area rivals Stanford and Saint Mary’s will square off for the fifth straight season on Tuesday evening, extending a series that dates back to 1977. The Cardinal own a commanding 25-6-3 record all-time against Saint Mary’s and have won three straight against the Gaels under Knowles Family Director of Men’s Soccer Jeremy Gunn. Accomplished leaders guide both programs, as Gunn has led Stanford to 162 wins and the only three NCAA championships in program history, while Saint Mary’s leader Adam Cooper stands as the Gaels’ winningest head coach with four NCAA Tournament berths and four WCC Coach of the Year honors.
LAST TIME OUT » No. 8 Stanford made its return to the win column on Tuesday evening, dispatching Bay Area foe Saint Mary’s with a 3-1 victory. The Cardinal gave up the opening goal but responded with three unanswered goals to defeat the Gaels, remaining undefeated in nonconference play. Stanford was the aggressor from wire to wire, recording a season-high 25 shots against the Gaels, including eight attacks on frame throughout the contest. Alfonso Tenconi-Gradillas led the scoring for the Cardinal with a pair of set piece goals, marking the first multi-goal performance of the senior’s career. Trevor Islam also buried his team-leading third goal of the campaign, while Zach Bohane, Will Cleary, Shane De Flores, and Joshua Partal all recorded assists in the winning effort.
FRESH FACES MAKING AN IMPACT » Tomo Allen, Joshua Partal, and Jack Pymm each cracked the starting lineup for the Cardinal in Tuesday’s win over Saint Mary’s, marking another milestone for the impressive freshman class. The last time three true freshmen started in the same game for Stanford was also against the Gaels, when Fletcher Bank, Will Cleary, and Liam Doyle were first to the pitch in a 2-0 victory on Oct. 15, 2022. Through six games this season, four freshmen have already found the scoresheet for the Cardinal. Allen, Pymm, and Jude Stone have each found the back of the net in the early going, while Partal leads the newcomers with a pair of assists. The 2022 season was also the first time at least three true freshmen have recorded goals in the same year, with Bank, Doyle and Zach Bohane all scoring that season.
TREVOR’S BREAKOUT START » Joined the Cardinal as a walk-on last season, sophomore midfielder Trevor Islam has now cemented himself as a key contributor for Stanford this season, leading the team in both goals (3) and points (6) through the first six games. Islam’s season started with his first career brace in a 5-1 victory over Sacramento State, before enjoying another career first on Tuesday by netting the game-winner against the Gaels. Islam has already recorded career highs for a season in many major statistical categories, posting new bests in goals, points, shots (9), shots on goal (4), and games played (3).
NEW ROLE, SAME STANDARD » After spending the first three seasons of his career as a striker, Alfonso Tenconi-Gradillas has embraced a new role at center back for Stanford. In his first season on the Cardinal back line, Tenconi-Gradillas has guided a stout defense to just 42 shots allowed and a 0.83 goals against average. “He’s been absolutely amazing all season,” coach Gunn said about Tenconi-Gradillas. “He’s playing incredibly well, he’s doing everything right, and he’s been an absolute rock for us. It was great to see him chip in on the scoring tonight.” Tuesday, however, Tenconi-Gradillas went back to his striking roots, scoring a pair of goals on set piece opportunities for his first career brace.
CARD IN THE RANKINGS » After suffering its first loss of the year, the Cardinal enters the week ranked No. 8 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 7 by TopDrawerSoccer. Stanford was ranked No. 1 last week after a 4-0 start to the season, marking the third consecutive season the program has reached the top of the national polls. This year’s Cardinal squad returns a veteran core that finished 9-5-6 last season and has reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament each of the last three years.
TEAM STATISTICAL SUCCESS » Stanford has outpaced its opponents in every statistical category through the opening weeks of the season, holding an advantage in goals (13-5), shots (119-42), shots on goal (39-16), shots per game (19.8-7.0), assists (12-6), and corner kicks (34-22). The Cardinal also held the statistical edge in each major offensive category throughout 2024.
GAME OF OPPORTUNITIES » Stanford has looked strong in the early stages of the 2025 season, showing a clear edge on both sides of the ball through six matches. On the attacking end, the Cardinal has generated 19.80 shots per game, ranking fourth nationally and second in the ACC. The offensive chances have translated into scoring opportunities, with Stanford also sitting fourth in the conference in total goals with 13. On defense, Stanford has allowed just 42 shots thus far, tied for the fewest through six games since 2020, when the team conceded only 27 in its first six matches.
SPREADING THE WEALTH » Through just six matches, Stanford has already had eight players find the back of the net with 13 total Cardinal contributing to the scoresheet. Zach Bohane, Trevor Islam, and Jack Pymm have each tallied multiple goals for Stanford so far this season. For comparison, the Cardinal finished the 2024 season with 20 players recording at least one point, including seven who scored multiple goals. Bohane paced last year’s group with 13 points, followed by Shane De Flores (11) and Jackson Kiil (10). Fourteen of the 20 players finished with multiple points.
A PERFECT PRESEASON » The Cardinal kicked off 2025 with an undefeated preseason, posting exhibition wins over San Francisco, Cal State Bakersfield, and Cal Poly at Cagan Stadium. Stanford outscored its opponents 5-1 across the three matches, with 25 Cardinal getting valuable minutes before the regular season gets underway. Shane De Flores led Stanford with three preseason goals, while Zach Bohane and freshman Jude Stone also found the back of the net.
GREAT UNDER GUNN » One of four coaches to win NCAA titles in both Division I and Division II, head coach Jeremy Gunn has led Stanford to the College Cup final four times since 2015. He and Virginia’s Bruce Arena (1991-94) are the only coaches to win three consecutive NCAA men’s soccer championships. His teams are 163-53-52 (.707) in his 13 seasons on The Farm and he owns a career record of 350-114-83 (.717) in 26 seasons, a mark which makes him the tenth-winningest active coach at the Division I level (by percentage). Gunn’s 350 victories rank 12th among active D-I head coaches by win total.
NEW CARDINAL COACHES » Two new members of the Cardinal coaching staff enter the fold for 2025, as Drew Hutchins and Woo Jeon join the sideline this upcoming season. Hutchins, a 2014 Stanford graduate, arrives on The Farm after spending one season as an assistant coach for NC State. During his time in Raleigh, Hutchins helped guide the Wolfpack to a 10-5-5 record and an NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance. Hutchins makes his return to Stanford after a four-year playing career from 2010-2013, where he started every game his final two seasons. Jeon is set to serve as assistant coach for the Cardinal after a two-year stint with Cal Poly. Most recently serving as associate head coach for the Mustangs, Cal Poly made two Big West championship appearances and earned the program’s first Big West regular season title in 2024 during Jeon’s two years in San Luis Obispo.
RETURNING CARDINAL » The Cardinal brings back eight veterans who made 15+ starts for the program last season, including leading scorers Zach Bohane and Shane De Flores, as well as third-year netminder Rowan Schnebly. Other key returners include Fletcher Bank, Palmer Bank, Will Cleary, Dylan Groeneveld, and Dylan Hooper, while Alex Chow and Alfonso Tenconi-Gradillas are also expected to play major roles after making 19+ appearances a season ago.
HOME SWEET HOME » Stanford boasts a 320-128-74 (.684) record on The Farm dating back to the 1973 season, including a 96-23-28 (.748) mark at Cagan Stadium under Knowles Family Director of Men’s Soccer Jeremy Gunn. Stanford opened up the 2025 campaign with four consecutive home victories over Sacramento State, No. 4 Denver, UC Davis, and Saint Mary’s. Last season, the Cardinal went 6-3-4 on home turf, outscoring opponents 24-13.
FUTURE OF THE FARM » Stanford’s loaded freshman class was lauded as the highest-ranked recruiting class in the ACC and the No. 2 rated recruiting class nationally by TopDrawerSoccer. The 2025 recruiting class includes No. 36 Victor Fung (D), No. 48 Tomo Allen (F), No. 52 Jack Pymm (M), No. 123 Jude Stone (M), No. 162 Brayden Montague (GK), Brad Bennett (M), Dillon Logan (F), Joshua Partal (M), and Aidan Reilly (D). The group represents the Cardinal’s highest-ranked recruiting class since 2019.
ALL EYES ON BOHANE » Zach Bohane was selected to a pair of preseason watch lists ahead of the 2025 campaign, as the senior midfielder was featured on the ACC Preseason Watch List while also being named as a TopDrawerSoccer Midfielder to Watch. Bohane made 16 starts in his 17 appearances in 2024, leading the Cardinal in goals (5), points (13), shots (49), shots on goal (21), and game-winning goals (3). He went on to garner First Team All-ACC honors as well as a United Soccer Coaches Second Team selection. A native of Monte Sereno, Calif., Bohane has been one of Stanford’s most prolific scoring threats throughout his career, sitting second among active players in career points (42) with 13 goals and 16 assists during his three seasons on The Farm.
TOPDRAWERSOCCER PRESEASON BEST XI » TopDrawerSoccer named Zach Bohane to the Preseason Best XI Second Team, giving the midfielder his second consecutive preseason nod by the outlet. Bohane was also listed at No. 17 in the TDS 2025 Preseason Men’s College Top 100 Players list, joining goalkeeper Rowan Schnebly, who was ranked No. 77.
2024 REVISITED » Stanford remained among the nation’s elite in 2024, finishing 9-5-6 to secure the program’s 22nd all-time postseason appearance and the 11th NCAA Tournament berth in Knowles Family Director of Men’s Soccer Jeremy Gunn’s 12 seasons at the helm. After a blazing 7-1 start to the year, the Cardinal climbed to a No. 1 national ranking for the second consecutive season. Despite a string of draws and close losses in the latter half of the regular season, the team’s defining moment came in the opening round of the ACC Tournament, when Dylan Hooper scored from beyond midfield to seal a dramatic 3-2, buzzer-beating win over Notre Dame. Earning the No. 16 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, Stanford prevailed over UC Santa Barbara with a 6-5 win in penalties to advance to the NCAA third round, but would fall victim to the other side of penalty kicks in a scoreless draw at top-seeded Ohio State to end the 2024 campaign.
ACADEMIC WEAPONS » Stanford got it done both on the pitch and in the classroom in 2024, honored by the United Soccer Coaches with the 2024-25 College Team Academic Award. The Cardinal boasted a 3.74 grade point average, the highest GPA among Division-I award winners. Additionally, 15 student-athletes were named All-ACC Academic Team selections in 2024, with Noah Adnan, Fletcher Bank, Palmer Bank, Zach Bohane, Alex Chow, Liam Doyle, Dylan Groeneveld, Dylan Hooper, Dylan Jarvie, Jackson Kiil, Kwabena Kwakwa, Will Reilly, Rowan Schnebly, Alfonso Tenconi Gradillas, and Nik White all recognized by the conference.
SOPHOMORE SEASON IN THE ACC » Stanford ranked tied for fifth in the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) preseason poll, sitting behind Clemson, defending champion Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, and Duke. went 3-2-3 in conference play during its inaugural ACC season, picking up three key road wins over No. 2 Clemson, No. 23 Notre Dame, and Virginia. Heading into 2025, the Cardinal eyes first-time conference matchups against Boston College, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech.
ACC IN THE RANKINGS » Eight ACC programs are ranked in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, including five in the top-10, both the most of any conference. No. 2 Clemson is this week’s highest-ranked team in the conference, followed by No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 5 NC State, No. 6 Louisville, No. 8 Stanford, No. 14 Virginia Tech, No. 19 Duke, and No. 21 North Carolina.
CONFERENCE DOMINANCE » The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has proven to be the pinnacle of the sport with eight ACC programs having won an NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, the most of any conference. Virginia leads the league with seven national titles, followed by Clemson (4), Stanford (3), North Carolina (2), Duke (1), Notre Dame (1), Syracuse (1), and Wake Forest (1). Six active ACC head coaches have won D-I national championships including Jeremy Gunn, Mike Noonan (Clemson), Carlos Somoano (North Carolina), Jay Vidovich (Pittsburgh), Ian McIntyre (Syracuse), and George Gelnovatch (Virginia). NC State’s Marc Hubbard won a Division II national title in 2013.
CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE » Stanford is one of just two programs to win three straight NCAA titles (2015-17). Virginia won four in a row from 1991-94. It is also one of seven to win at least three national championships along with Saint Louis (10), Indiana (8), Virginia (7), San Francisco (4), UCLA (4) and Maryland (4). Stanford went 52-7-10 (.826) during its three-year championship run
POSTSEASON REGULARS » Stanford’s 2024 NCAA tournament bid marked the Cardinal’s 11th appearance in the NCAA tournament in the last 12 seasons and its 22nd NCAA tournament appearance overall. The Cardinal has made seven College Cups, most recently in 2019, along with five College Cup Finals and three NCAA Championships (2015-17).
HOME OF CHAMPIONS » Stanford is the all-time leader with 137 NCAA team championships (70 men, 67 women), and 173 national championships overall. The Cardinal owns the most recognizable streak in college athletics, having won at least one NCAA team title during each of the last 49 seasons, dating back to the 1976-77 campaign. The Cardinal has also produced 565 NCAA individual champions and 658 overall. Stanford has won the Learfield Directors’ Cup in 26 of the possible 31 seasons, including a 25-year streak from 1995-2019.
SCOUTING THE ORANGE » It has been an up-and-down start for Syracuse so far this season, who heads into its first ACC contest of the 2025 campaign. The Orange have recorded wins over Loyola (MD) and Yale but have also fallen victim to uncharacteristic results, including a 1-0 loss to Duquesne and a 0-0 draw to New Haven. Syracuse has scored just three goals this season, with Kelvin De Costa, Landon Darko, and Tim Brdaric each scoring once, while Tomas Hurt has eight saves and two shutouts in goal.
NOW AND LATER » Stanford continues ACC play with a trip to upstate New York on Saturday, taking on the Syracuse Orange at 4 p.m. PT on ACC Network Extra. The Cardinal will then return to California for the second leg of a two-game road stint against San Jose State on September 17, before returning to Cagan Stadium to host its first conference contest of the season against Virginia Tech on September 21.
A LOOK AHEAD » The 16-game 2025 slate features six NCAA Tournament teams from 2024: Denver, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, SMU, UC Davis, and Wake Forest. With a 1-0-0 record against ranked opponents this season after a 2-1 win over No. 4 Denver, Stanford awaits three more opponents currently featured in the United Soccer coaches poll, including Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, and San Francisco.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS » Mark your calendars as we welcome students back to campus with a free T-Shirt giveaway on September 21. Fans can also stick around after the action for our first postgame autograph session of the season. Miss out on the fun? Return to Cagan Stadium on September 28 and snag a free beanie courtesy of Stanford Athletics.