STANFORD, Calif. — Following another strong season in 2025, Stanford Field Hockey returns to the pitch in just a few months as the Cardinal announced the release of its 2026 schedule on Friday. The Cardinal embarks on a 17-game schedule that features some of the most prominent teams in the nation with 10 games taking place at Varsity Turf.
The 2026 slate begins with a season-long, four-game homestand as the Cardinal welcome former America East foes UMass-Lowell for the season opener on Friday, August 28. The Cardinal then hosts American and Central Michigan on a back-to-back during the opening weekend of the season, taking on the Eagles on Sunday, August 30 before dueling against the Chippewas on Monday, August 31. The Cardinal close the homestand against Bellarmine on Friday, September 4.
Following four games in seven days, Stanford hits the road for the first time in 2026 with a trip to Massachusetts as Stanford takes on The College of the Holy Cross on Friday, September 11 before ending the road trip against Northeastern on Sunday, September 13.
Following the trip to the Northeast, Stanford hosts two of the top programs in the nation as part of a three-game swing across eight days to end the month of September. The Cardinal plays host to defending national champions Northwestern on September 17 before playing its penultimate nonconference matchup with a midweek date against UC Davis (September 22). Stanford wraps up the month with its Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opener as Stanford takes on defending conference champions North Carolina from Varsity Turf on Friday, September 25.
Stanford then embarks on its first of two conference road trips, taking on Virginia (October 2) and Louisville (October 4) for a two-game swing to open the final month of the regular season. Following two conference matchups at home against Duke (October 9) and Wake Forest (October 11) the following week, the Cardinal finishes up nonconference action in Davis, Calif., taking on the Aggies on Friday, October 16. Stanford then heads back out east to take on Syracuse (October 23) and Boston College (October 25) before wrapping up ACC action at home for a big game against Cal on Friday, October 30.
Stanford returns four of its top-six goal-scorers from a season ago with Natalie Hoppe leading the charge after a strong 10-point freshman campaign in 2025. Defensively, Mia Clark captains the Cardinal in her senior campaign, helping anchor a Stanford defense that also returns goalkeeper Anya Jackson who went 3-4 last season in 11 appearances. Stanford also welcomes seven newcomers to the squad including six freshmen and one transfer that look to make an instant impact.