SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2025
NO. 12 STANFORD CARDINAL (13-2-2) vs. KANSAS CITY ROOS (12-3-5)
Cagan Stadium | Stanford, Calif.
MATCH NOTES » Stanford begins its quest for a fourth national title on home turf, welcoming Kansas City to Cagan Stadium for the second round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship on Sunday in the first-ever matchup between the two programs. Sunday’s match will be the 65th NCAA Tournament game in program history and the 39th match under Knowles Family Director of Men’s Soccer Jeremy Gunn, in which he has gone 20-7-11 (.671) and has advanced 27 times in 38 opportunities. The Cardinal goes up against a relatively unproven program in Kansas City, making its fifth postseason appearance in program history with just a 4-4 record in tournament games. The Roos enter Sunday’s contest coming off a 1-0 first-round win over Lindenwood.
POSTSEASON REGULARS » Stanford was selected as the No. 12 national seed during Monday’s NCAA selection show, marking the Cardinal’s 12th postseason appearance in the last 13 seasons and the 23rd appearance in program history. The Cardinal has reached the third round of the bracket and has hosted its first NCAA tournament match in all but one of their postseason berths since 1997 (The 2020 NCAA Tournament was played at neutral sites due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19). Stanford holds claim to one of the most dominant runs in recent history, being the last program to win three consecutive NCAA Championships (2015-17). The Cardinal is looking to make its eighth College Cup berth, most recently appearing in 2019.
TOURNAMENT TESTED » The Cardinal enters the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship with a 3-1-1 record against the tournament field this season, scoring eight goals in those five games. Stanford boasts wins over Denver (2-1), Oregon State (3-2), and Syracuse (3-2) earlier in the year. The only blemishes both came against No. 5 seed SMU - a late-season scoreless draw and a 1-0 defeat in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament. Stanford brings an experienced core to the postseason, featuring 11 players that have made at least one NCAA tournament appearance - Fletcher Bank (7), Will Cleary (7), Shane De Flores (7), Liam Doyle (7), Zach Bohane (6), Palmer Bank (5), Dylan Hooper (5), Rowan Schnebly (5), Alex Chow (2), and Duncan Jarvie (1).
PRIMETIME PERFORMERS » With a brace in Stanford’s ACC opening round matchup against Boston College, Will Cleary matched Shane De Flores for the most postseason points (6) among active Cardinal, with both tallying two goals and two assists in tournament play. Zach Bohane and Liam Doyle have also netted two postseason goals apiece in their careers, while Fletcher Bank leads the team with three assists during playoff action. The group highlights a balanced Stanford attack, as nine different players have appeared on the scoresheet in each of the past four postseasons.
POISE ON THE PENALTY SPOT » Postseason play marks the return of penalty kicks for the remainder of the season, an area in which the Cardinal has plenty of experience under Knowles Family Director of Men’s Soccer Jeremy Gunn. Coach Gunn has compiled a remarkable 10-2 record in postseason matches decided by penalty kicks since his arrival on The Farm, along with a 14-3 all-time record across each of his three head coaching stops (Stanford, Charlotte, Fort Lewis College). The Cardinal went 1-1 in penalty kicks last postseason, prevailing over UC Santa Barbara with a 6-5 win in penalties to advance to the NCAA third round, but falling victim to the other side of penalty kicks in a scoreless draw at top-seeded Ohio State to end the 2024 campaign.
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 172-56-55 (.705) in his 13 seasons on The Farm and he owns a career record of 358-116-85 (.717) in 27 seasons, a mark which ranks him seventh among active D-I head coaches by win percentage. Gunn’s 358 victories rank 12th among active D-I head coaches by win total.
HOME SWEET HOME » Cagan Stadium has proven to be one of the toughest places to play in the country for Cardinal opponents, as Stanford boasts a 328-130-76 (.685) record on The Farm dating back to the 1973 season, including a 104-25-30 (.748) record under Knowles Family Director of Men’s Soccer Jeremy Gunn. This season, the Cardinal opened with a program-record nine consecutive wins, while Coach Gunn became the first Stanford head coach to hit the century mark at Cagan Stadium. Stanford ultimately finished the season with a 9-0-1 record at home, securing its first unbeaten home campaign since the 2020 season.
PLAYOFF ATMOSPHERE » Throughout the program’s storied history, Cagan Stadium has been the site of many winning postseason moments as the Cardinal boasts a 21-4-8 (.758) record on home turf during tournament play. The home-field advantage has been even more impactful under Jeremy Gunn, going 11-2-5 during his home postseason appearances and advancing 15 times in those 18 opportunities.
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, capturing at least one NCAA team championship for 49 consecutive seasons in a streak that dates back to the 1976-1977 season. 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.
CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE » Stanford is one of just two programs in the NCAA to win three consecutive national championships (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.
ACC TOURNAMENT RECAP » After finishing second in the ACC regular season standings, the Cardinal went 1-1 in the ACC Tournament, ending its conference championship bid in the quarterfinal round. Stanford opened the tournament with a 4-2 victory over No. 15 seed Boston College, scoring four unanswered goals to overcome its largest deficit of the season. Senior captain Will Cleary led the Cardinal offense with a brace, while Tomo Allen and Jack Pymm each added goals. In the quarterfinals, the Cardinal held an 18-8 shot advantage but surrendered a deciding penalty kick in the 60th minute, falling 1-0 to the eventual ACC champions, SMU.
REGULAR SEASON REWIND » Going 12-2-2 in the regular season, Stanford remained among the nation’s elite in 2025, spending two separate stints as the No. 1 team in the country and reaching double-digit regular-season wins for the eighth time under Knowles Family Director of Men’s Soccer Jeremy Gunn. The Cardinal offense was powered by Trevor Islam (six goals, 15 points) and Zach Bohane (five goals, 13 points), while the defense shined with six clean sheets on the year. Finishing second in the ACC regular-season standings, the Cardinal was particularly dominant at home with a 9-0-1 record, going unbeaten at Cagan Stadium for the first time since 2020 and recording its most home victories in a regular season since 2017.
COMEBACK CARDINAL » Stanford’s rally over Boston College in the first round of the ACC Tournament was just the latest example of the Cardinal’s resilience this season, a defining trait of the 2025 squad. Stanford’s 4-2 win over the Eagles marked the first time the Cardinal have come back to win from a two-goal deficit since defeating No. 5 Oregon State, 3-2, on March 13, 2021. The Cardinal is no stranger to comeback victories this season, with perhaps its most impressive comeback coming against Syracuse, where Trevor Islam and Fletcher Bank scored goals in the final 10 minutes to overcome a late deficit. Stanford has also flipped results in the final 60 seconds of matches twice this season, with Alfonso Tenconi-Gradillas heading home an equalizer with 36 seconds left to salvage a 2-2 draw against San Jose State, before Tomo Allen netted a 90th-minute game-winner to defeat Oregon State.
THE POWER OF TWO » The Cardinal have been virtually unbeatable under Jeremy Gunn when scoring multiple goals in a game, holding a record of 127-2-16 (.931) under Gunn in such matches. This season, the Cardinal are 11-0-1 in games with multiple goals, with the lone non-victory being a 2-2 draw at San Jose State. Stanford’s last loss while scoring two goals came on April 10, 2021, a 3-2 road defeat at Oregon State.
GAME OF OPPORTUNITIES » Stanford’s ability to maintain the edge on both sides of the ball has been pivotal to the Cardinal’s success this season. On the attacking end, the Cardinal has generated 18.94 shots per game and 7.44 shots on goal per game, both ranking second in the ACC and in the top five nationally. Defensively, Stanford has tallied six shutouts and allowed just 132 shots this season, on pace for the fewest attacks allowed since the 2020 team allowed just 71 shots during the COVID-shortened campaign.
TEAM STATISTICAL SUCCESS » Stanford has outpaced its opponents in every statistical category so far this season, holding an advantage in goals (36-16), shots (341-132), shots on goal (134-52), shots per game (18.9-7.3), assists (27-12), and corner kicks (128-58). The Cardinal also held the statistical edge in each major offensive category throughout 2024.
SPREADING THE WEALTH » Stanford has had a balanced approach on offense this season, with 11 different goal scorers and 14 total Cardinal contributing to the scoresheet. Trevor Islam leads the Cardinal with six goals, followed by five goals from Zach Bohane, and Fletcher Bank, Will Cleary, and Alfonso Tenconi-Gradillas each tallying four scores. Joshua Partal has been Stanford’s leading distributor with six assists. Stanford finished last season with 20 players recording at least one point, including seven who scored multiple goals and 14 with multiple points, led by Bohane (13), De Flores (11) and Jackson Kiil (10).
STORYBOOK SEASON » After joining the program as a walk-on last season, sophomore midfielder Trevor Islam has enjoyed a breakout campaign as the Cardinal’s leading scorer in 2025. The Mill Valley, Calif., native also recorded his first brace against Sacramento State (Aug. 24) and first one goal, one assist match versus Pittsburgh (Oct. 11) of his career this season. An ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week earlier in the campaign, Islam leads the team with career-highs in goals (6) and points (15), along with new personal bests in game-winning goals (2), shots (29), and shots on goal (19).
TEAM PLAYER » Alfonso Tenconi-Gradillas has embraced a new role this season, becoming a fixture of the Stanford backline after spending the first three years of his career as a striker. Starting each game at center back so far this season, Tenconi-Gradillas and the Cardinal defense have earned six clean sheets and limited opposing offenses to just 7.3 shots per game. The position shift has not limited Tenconi-Gradillas’ offensive production, as the senior sits tied for third on the team in goals (4), recording a pair of braces against Saint Mary’s and San Jose State.
HELPING HAND » Freshman Joshua Partal has quickly established himself as a pivotal presence in the Cardinal midfield with a team-leading six assists so far this season, making an impact on the Stanford offense both from set pieces and in the run of play. Named to the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week on Sept. 23, Partal’s six helpers so far this season have already eclipsed Stanford’s assist leader from last season, Will Reilly.
TAKE IT TO THE BANK » The twin-brother tandem of Fletcher and Palmer Bank has been instrumental to the Stanford lineup this season, impacting the game on both ends of the pitch. After making the move to the left wing this season, Fletcher has recorded career-highs in goals (4), points (13), shots (36) and shots on goal (16) this season. Palmer has added two goals of his own this season, and has anchored a stout Cardinal backline that has allowed just 0.89 goals per game this season.
ALL EYES ON BOHANE » The always reliable senior captain Zach Bohane has continued to be a leader in the Cardinal attack in 2025, recording 13 points with five goals and three assists on the year, leading the Cardinal in shots (60), shots on goal (24) and game-winning goals (3). No stranger to the national spotlight, Bohane was also named to the MAC Hermann Midseason Watch List, which highlights the nation’s top contenders for the highest honor in collegiate soccer. A two-time First Team All-ACC honoree and a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America selection in 2024, Bohane has been Stanford’s most prolific scoring threat throughout his career with 19 goals and 19 assists during his time on The Farm.
VETERAN CORE » Stanford’s veteran core entering the postseason features eight players 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, Trevor Islam, Alfonso Tenconi-Gradillas have also played critical roles. The Cardinal veterans have combined for 44 career wins and three NCAA tournament appearances, advancing as far as the national quarterfinals in 2023.
FRESH FACES » Stanford’s freshmen class has made a substantial impact on the Cardinal’s success this season, with four newcomers finding the scoresheet. Jack Pymm leads the group with four goals, while Tomo Allen (3) and Jude Stone (1) also added scores. Meanwhile, Joshua Partal paces the entire team with six assists. This marks the first time since 2022 that three freshmen have scored in the same season, when Fletcher Bank, Liam Doyle, and Zach Bohane each tallied goals. Stanford’s loaded freshman class, which also includes Brad Bennett, Dillon Logan, Victor Fung, Brayden Montague, and Aidan Reilly was the top-rated recruiting class in the ACC and ranked No. 2 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer, the Cardinal’s best-ranked class since 2019.
TOPDRAWERSOCCER MIDSEASON TOP 100 » Four Cardinal players earned national recognition when TopDrawerSoccer released its midseason lists earlier this month. Zach Bohane was Stanford’s lone representative in the Midseason Top 100, climbing five spots from the preseason list to No. 12 in the player rankings. Three Stanford freshmen were included in the Midseason Freshmen Top 100, led by midfielder Jack Pymm at No. 4, followed by Joshua Partal at No. 10 and Tomo Allen at No. 98.
ALL-CONFERENCE NODS » After a succesful second season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), four Cardinal earned All-ACC recognition for the 2025 season, as decided by the league’s 15 head coaches. Seniors Fletcher Bank and Zach Bohane both earned All-ACC First Team honors, while newcomers Joshua Partal and Jack Pymm were each named to the All-ACC Freshman team. Bohane has been named an all-conference First Team member for the third consecutive year, including twice in the ACC, while Bank earned his second First Team nod after being selected for the All-Pac-12 First Team in 2023.
SOPHOMORE SEASON IN THE ACC » Stanford outperformed expectations after slotting in fifth in the 2025 ACC preseason poll, compiling a 5-2-1 record to finish second in the regular season conference table. After first-time conference matchups against Boston College, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech, the Cardinal has now played each of its 14 leaguemates, compiling an 8-4-4 conference record through its first two seasons in the ACC.
CONFERENCE DOMINANCE » The 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 D-II national title in 2013.
ACC IN THE TOURNAMENT » Nine ACC programs earned berths into the 2025 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, including four among the 16 national seeds. No. 2 Virginia, No. 5 SMU, No. 12 Stanford, and No. 15 NC State each received first-round byes, while Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Syracuse each secured bids. The ACC’s nine tournament teams were the most of any league, and is tied for the second-most in tournament history, matching the league’s totals in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024. The ACC has won the men’s soccer national championship 20 times, with at least one program reaching the College Cup in 22 of the last 24 seasons.
OPENING ROUND CHAOS » Spectacular goals and late-game heroics highlighted an exciting opening round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, with seven matches decided in overtime or penalty kicks. Five teams won their first round matches on the road, with Hofstra, Western Michigan, Grand Canyon, Washington, and Notre Dame each earning victories. Other notable moments included North Florida finding an equalizer with just one second remaining against North Carolina, before the Tar Heels ultimately earned the victory in penalty kicks, while Duke buried an 88th-minute penalty kick to knock off Farleigh Dickinson and West Virginia’s Marcus Caldeirs scored a hat trick to lift the Mountaineers to a comeback win over St. John’s in overtime.
SCOUTING THE ROOS » Led by head coach Ryan Pore, Kansas City looks to continue its fifth NCAA tournament appearance in program history after defeating Lindenwood 1-0 on Thursday. The Roos are in the tournament for the second-straight year, marking the first time that they have qualified for the national tournament in consecutive seasons. 4-4 all-time in NCAA tournament games, Kansas City’s offense is led by Jeremy Francou with 11 goals, tied for fourth-most in program history. Defensively, the Roos have tallied nine shutouts with goalkeeper Marc Papow boasting a 1.00 GAA and .729 save percentage.
NOW AND LATER » No. 12 Stanford kicks off its quest for a fourth national title in a second-round matchup against Kansas City on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. PT. Alejandro Flores and Tim Swartz will be on the call, which will be streamed live on ESPN+. The winner of Sunday’s contest will advance to the third round of the tournament and face off against the winner of Washington and No. 5 SMU. The tournament continues with the NCAA quarterfinals on Dec. 5-6, before the nation’s final four teams meet at the College Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. on Dec. 12-15.