STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford field hockey earned its first preseason honors ahead of the 2026 campaign as four Cardinal have been tabbed to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I Watchlist, the organization announced Thursday.Â
The watch list - which includes 212 student-athletes from Division I institutions - recognizes field hockey student-athletes who have demonstrated a high level of achievement and are considered among those with strong potential for NFHCA All-Region and All-American consideration this season.
Student-athletes were nominated by their NFHCA member coaches and must have earned qualifying field hockey recognition within the previous two years. Qualifying honors include NFHCA All-Region, NFHCA All-America, All-Conference, Senior Nexus Championship selection, NCAA All-Tournament Team, or selection to a U.S. National or international team roster.
Stanford’s nominees include two athletes who appeared on the watch list a season ago in junior goalkeeper Anya Jackson and midfielder Natalie Hoppe. Hoppe led the Cardinal in scoring a season ago with 10 points via a 4-2-10 line while Jackson earned a 3-4 record across four starts and 11 appearances.Â
Also earning nods on the watch list were senior Star Horlock and freshman Opal Sparling. Horlock returns to the Cardinal having missed last season while training with the England National Team. Horlock spearheads the Cardinal attack with her 10 career goals and 23 points. Sparling begins her first season on The Farm having been a member of the U.S. National Team at the U16, U18 and U21 level and was ranked the No. 10 player in MAX FIeld Hockey’s Class of 2026 rankings.Â
Stanford begins the 2026 campaign with a three-game, opening weekend homestand, starting with a bout against UMass–Lowell on Friday, August 28 before back-to-back contests against American and Central Michigan on Sunday, August 30 and Monday, August 31. First strike for Stanford’s match against the River Hawks on Friday is slated for 4 p.m. PT.