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Women's Soccer

Stanford Heads to Syracuse Following Bye Week

Following a bye week, No. 8 Stanford will hit the road for ACC play when it visits Syracuse on Thursday

Match Notes
Women's Soccer
at
atSyracuse
Syracuse, NY
4:00 PM PDT
Live StatsACC Network Extra

MATCH NOTABLES

Thursday's match will be the second between the two programs after Stanford earned a 4-0 victory last year in the inaugural meeting ... including the match vs. Syracuse, Stanford is 4-0-0 against teams from New York - defeating Cornell 1-0 on October 12, 1991, LIU 4-0 on September 10, 2006, and Hofstra 4-0 on November 22, 2019

QUICK PASSES

  • Stanford enters the week ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 10 according to TopDrawerSoccer ... carried the Preseason No. 1 tag for the first time since 2018 and was the top-ranked team through the first five polls this season ... is 74-10-12 over its last 96 matches and has managed a clean sheet in 49 of its last 92 contests, including eight of the first 11 this season … has outscored the opposition 91-25 over its last 28 matches ... went 7-2-1 against ranked opponents a year ago, including 3-0-0 at home, and is 3-1-0 so far this season ... is the only program to have reached the College Cup in each of the past three seasons ... has now made three consecutive trips for the fifth time in program history, and the first since 2017-19 ... has been ranked in each of the last 55 United Soccer Coaches polls dating back to October 4, 2022 ... has recorded at least 15 wins in each of the last 19 seasons in which it has played 15 matches (played just 12 matches during the 2020-21 season) and has reached 20 wins in 11 of those seasons ... is the winningest program in California since 2010, compiling 310 victories
  • The Cardinal owns a 139-8-11 record at Cagan Stadium since the start of the 2014 season but had a 20-match win streak dating back to the 2024 season snapped with a 2-2 draw vs. USC on September 3 and saw it's 21-match home unbeaten streak (20-0-1) snapped with a 1-0 loss to Louisville on September 17 ... has managed unbeaten home slates in seven of the last 13 seasons
  • Stanford has won two of the last nine College Cups - most recently capturing the title in 2019 ... made its 13th appearance in the College Cup last year, including its third in as many years ... also made its seventh appearance in the College Cup final and second in the last three seasons ... is 3-4 in national championship matches … 12 of Stanford’s 13 College Cup appearances have come since 2008
  • Stanford finished the 2025 season as the national runner up for the second time in three seasons after dropping the championship match to Florida State
  • The Cardinal won the 2025 ACC regular-season and tournament championships for the first time in program history
  • Caroline Birkel represented the U.S. at the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland ... was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list to start the season ... has not allowed a goal this season and has recorded four shutouts to run her career total to seven ... has been named TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI second team, Preseason All-ACC and is listed on the United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper to Watch list ... was named ACC Goalkeeper of the Year last year
  • Lizzie Boamah represented the U.S. at the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland ... was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week on September 22 after making a game-saving tackle in the 90th minute to secure a shutout victory over No. 3 Wake Forest on September 20
  • Lily Freer was named TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI first team last year
  • Brooke Holden scored in four consecutive matches from August 23 to September 3 and has contributed 10 points (4 goals, 2 assists) ... posted a goal and an assist in Stanford's 6-0 shutout win over UC Irvine (August 23) ... notched the equalizer in the 87th minute vs. USC on September 3
  • Kaiya Jota represented England at the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland
  • Eleanor Klinger represented England at the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland
  • Charlotte Kohler was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy preseason and midseason watch lists ... co-Offensive Player of the Week on August 25 after managing a goal and an assist in matches vs. No. 14 Georgetown (August 20) and UC Irvine (August 23) ... owns six career matches with at least one goal and an assist ... has scored in seven of the 11 matches this season, including each of the first four to start the year ... managed a point in each of the first seven matches of the year, and has a point in eight of 11 overall ... finished with two assists against Cal State Fullerton on August 30 for her fifth career match with multiple assists ... has contributed on 11 of Stanford’s 27 goals this year while totaling 18 points (7 goals, 4 assists) ... has managed 49 goal contributions in her career (24 goals, 25 assists) … TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI first team, Preseason All-ACC and is listed on the United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch list ... led the nation with 17 assists last season – the second-most in a single season in Stanford history and averaged .68 assists per match to rank third nationally
  • Sadie Leal-Schuman was named ACC Freshman of the Week on September 1 after scoring one goal and three assists for five points in 163 minutes played as Stanford posted a pair of shutouts over No. 17 UCLA and Cal State Fullerton ... notched an Olimpico goal in the 30th minute against Cal State Fullerton (August 30), bending her corner kick into the net for her first career goal, and also added an assist against the Titans ... has compiled eight points this season (1 goal, 6 assists) ... has recorded a pair of multi-assist matches this season
  • Peyton Marinos notched the game-winner in the 77th minute as Stanford defeated No. 3 Wake Forest 2-0 on September 20
  • Y-Lan Nguyen represented the U.S. at the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland ... has been named TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI first team and is listed on the United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch list ... was named TopDrawerSoccer National Freshman of the Year a year ago
  • Sammy Smith was named ACC Defender of the Week on September 1 after helping Stanford post a pair of shutouts over No. 17 UCLA and Cal State Fullerton
  • Alex Tay represented Ghana at the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland and the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in August of this year
  • Jaden Thomas was named IWSOC National Player of the Week on September 10 after securing a hat trick with an assist at Santa Clara on September 6 ... was the first Stanford hat trick since Jasmine Aikey had three against California on November 3, 2023 … hat trick was also her first career multi-goal match … with three goals and an assist against the Broncos, compiled seven points – the most for a Cardinal player since Jasmine Aikey had eight points vs. San Jose State on November 11, 2022 ... became just the 13th player in Stanford history to record seven-plus points in a match
  • Bella Winn has contributed 10 points (3 goals, 4 assists) this season ... managed a goal and an assist in back-to-back matches against UC Irvine and No. 17 UCLA, including scoring the game-winner against the Bruins (August 27) ... was listed on the United Soccer Coaches Forwards to Watch list
  • London Young was named the inaugural ACC Freshman of the Week on August 18 after helping Stanford post a 1-0 shutout victory over Cal Poly

NOW AND LATER

  • Following a bye week, No. 8 Stanford will hit the road for ACC play when it visits Syracuse on Thursday
  • Kickoff between the Cardinal and Orange is set for 4 p.m. PT and Alex Burnstein and David Horn will have the broadcast call on ACC Network Extra
  • Following the clash with Syracuse, Stanford will return to The Farm to host rival California on Friday, October 16 at 7 p.m.
  • The match against the Golden Bears will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

  • Celebrate Senior Night with us as we honor our seniors prior to a match against California on Friday, October 16
  • Join us for our annual Pink Match on Thursday, October 29 vs. NC State as we raise breast cancer awareness and take the field in our pink jerseys

LAST TIME OUT

  • Playing on the road at SMU on September 25, Stanford could not convert its chances en route to settling for a scoreless draw and a point in the ACC standings
  • Aubrey Brown was outstanding in goal for the Mustangs, making nine saves to ensure the clean sheet ... Brown was especially impressive in the second half, tallying six of her nine saves
  • Sophomore Caroline Birkel also impressed in a clean sheet of her own for the Cardinal, compiling four saves
  • Stanford controlled play early in the first half, eventually playing to a 10-6 advantage in shots, but SMU managed to shift momentum considerably in the latter half of the first 45 minutes to ensure that the teams went to the locker rooms even
  • The Cardinal came out strong in the second half, posting a 16-4 advantage in shots, but was unable to find the back of the net despite several quality chances
  • Mia Bhuta delivered a shot in the 54th minute that required a diving stop from Brown, and the putback from Jaden Thomas at the back post sailed wide
  • The Cardinal earned a corner kick opportunity in the 68th minute, but Brown was once again there to turn away a shot from freshman Peyton Marinos following a scramble in front of the net
  • Ella Kral hit the crossbar in the 76th minute before Brooke Holden had an open look at goal only to sail her shot high over the bar one minute later
  • Kral once again had a golden opportunity at the breakthrough in the 86th minute, but she was stuffed by Brown in a 1-on-1 situation just in front of net
  • The scoreless draw was the first for Stanford since playing a 0-0 match at #23 USC on October 26, 2023

CARDINAL RETIRES MEYER'S NO. 19

  • Stanford officially retired the No. 19, last worn by Katie Meyer from 2018-21, during a ceremony September 3 prior to the Cardinal’s match vs. USC
  • The pregame ceremony featured Katie’s parent, Steve and Gina, being presented with framed No. 19 jerseys before the Cardinal unveiled a No. 19 decal that adorns a portion of the wall along the south end of the facility
  • “Katie was an extraordinary competitor, an exceptional leader and, most importantly, an incredible person who had a profound impact on everyone around her,” The Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe said. “She played the game with such passion and courage, and she brought a joy and energy to our program that was uniquely Katie. Retiring the No. 19 is a meaningful way for us to honor her legacy and ensure that future generations of Stanford women’s soccer players understand the impact she had on this program, this university and the people who had the privilege of knowing her.”
  • A two-time team captain, fearless competitor, and beloved teammate, Meyer proudly represented the Cardinal with passion, confidence, and unforgettable spirit ... among her many memorable moments on the field, Meyer played a defining role in Stanford’s run to the 2019 national championship, making four saves in regulation and two more in the penalty shootout as the Cardinal defeated No. 2 North Carolina in the College Cup final
  • Meyer tragically passed away in 2022, after which her family established Katie’s Save, an organization dedicated to advocating for systemic change at colleges and universities, promoting mental health, protecting students and preventing suicide
  • In recognition of Katie’s lasting impact on The Farm, Stanford Athletics created the Katie Meyer Leadership Award in 2026 ... presented annually at the Stanford Athletic Board Awards ceremony, the award honors the student-athlete who best embodies Meyer’s unwavering leadership, dynamic spirit and relentless commitment to excellence — qualities that defined her legacy ... the inaugural recipient was women’s soccer player Andrea Kitahata, who was a teammate of Meyer’s during the 2021 season

CLEAN SHEETS TO START THE SEASON

  • The Cardinal managed a clean sheet in each of its first five matches of a season for the first time since recording a shutout in the first nine of the 2014 campaign
  • Stanford finally conceded a pair of goals in a 2-2 draw to USC on September 3, but proceeded to record a 4-0 shutout at Santa Clara on September 6 to run its shutout total to six in the first seven matches of the year
  • The Cardinal has managed a clean sheet in eight of the 11 matches overall this year, but is 0-2-1 when allowing a goal this season
  • Starting goalkeeper Caroline Birkel has yet to allow a goal this season while logging 405 minutes between the posts
  • Over the first five matches this year, Stanford allowed just 26 total shots - including 10 on frame
  • Stanford has been especially stingy in the first half, allowing only 27 total shots by its opponents in 495 combined first-half minutes

HERMANN TROPHY WATCH

  • Stanford sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Birkel and junior midfielder Charlotte Kohler were among the players named to the 2026 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List to start the season, and Kohler was listed on the midseason watch list released in September
  • A Cardinal player has claimed four of the last nine MAC Hermann trophies, with Jasmine Aikey earning the honor last season ... Andi Sullivan won the award in 2017, followed by Catarina Macario becoming a back-to-back winner in 2018 and 2019 ... Kelley O'Hara was the first Stanford player to win the MAC Hermann Trophy at the conclusion of the 2009 season ... O'Hara was followed by Christen Press (2010) and Teresa Noyola (2011) to bring Stanford's total to seven winners
  • The Hermann Trophy is presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club and is the nation's highest individual honor, recognizing the National Player of the Year as determined by a vote of Division I head coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches
  • The award is named in honor of the late Robert Hermann, the St. Louis, Mo., businessman and soccer executive who founded the National Professional Soccer League — the first professional soccer league in the United States, which later became the North American Soccer League ... Hermann was inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012

HOME SWEET HOME

  • Stanford owns a 139-8-11 record at Cagan Stadium since the start of the 2014 season but had a 20-match win streak dating back to the 2024 season snapped with a 2-2 draw vs. USC on September 3 and saw it's 21-match home unbeaten streak (20-0-1) snapped with a 1-0 loss to Louisville on September 17
  • Stanford's 1-1 draw with Washington on October 14, 2023 ended a string of 21 straight wins at home – a stretch that dated back to October 3, 2021 … the Cardinal would extend it's unbeaten streak to 34 straight matches (32-0-2) before No. 1 Duke snapped the string with a 4-1 victory on October 10, 2024
  • The Cardinal finished 14-0-0 at home last season and outscored its opponents 64-9 in those matches
  • So far this year, Stanford is 5-1-1 at home and has outscored the opposition 22-3
  • Including last year, Stanford has managed unbeaten home slates in seven of the last 13 seasons
  • Including a 2-0 victory over No. 14 Georgetown this year, Stanford is unbeaten in its last 38 home openers (37-0-1) dating back to 1989 ... lone tie came vs. Portland in 2013
  • The Cardinal is outscoring opponents 132-14 with 27 shutouts over those 38 home openers
  • Stanford owns a 38-4-1 record overall in home openers in program history (since 1984)
  • Stanford had a 43-match unbeaten streak at home snapped during the 2020-21 season with a 1-0 loss to Cal on March 20 ... went 42-0-1 over the span, which began at the beginning of the 2017 season ... played to a 1-1 draw vs. then-No. 7 Santa Clara on September 16, 2018 for the only tie over the 43-match string

CARDINAL IN THE TOP 10

  • Stanford opened the 2026 season at No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches poll after finishing 2025 as the national runner-up ... was ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll for the first time since 2018 and carried the top ranking through the first five polls this year
  • The Cardinal opened the 2025 season at No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, reached as high as No. 1, and was ranked in the Top 10 throughout the year
  • Including the final poll, the Cardinal was ranked in the top three in each of the last 13 polls in 2025
  • Stanford has been ranked in the IWSOC/United Soccer Coaches Top 10 for 24 consecutive weeks dating back to the final poll in 2024
  • The ACC held the No. 1 ranking in all but one week last year ... North Carolina, Duke, Stanford, Virginia, Notre Dame and Florida State all occupied the top spot
  • In the last 44 weeks of the United Soccer Coaches Poll, dating back to 2023, an ACC team has been ranked No. 1 in all but four polls
  • So far this season, the ACC's Stanford, Duke and North Carolina have held the top spot in the IWSOC poll

RING, RING...THE NATIONAL TEAM IS CALLING

  • Caroline Birkel, Lizzie Boamah and Y-Lan Nguyen represented the U.S., Kaiya Jota and Eleanor Klinger suited up for England, and Alex Tay played for Ghana, at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland that began on September 5
  • Stanford went 3-2-1 over the six matches with players away from the program due to the U20 World Cup
  • Stanford's six overall selections were the most of any program in the nation ... the three U.S. selections were tied with North Carolina for the most from any college program, while Jota, Klinger and Tay were the lone collegiate players on their rosters
  • The USA opened the World Cup on September 6 with a 2-1 loss to Italy before drawing Japan 2-2 on September 9 and defeating New Zealand 9-0 on September 12 to advance out of the group stage ... the Americans saw their World Cup run end in the Round of 16 after a 1-1 draw resulted in Brazil advancing 5-4 on penalties on September 16
  • England got their World Cup campaign underway with a 1-1 draw against Canada on September 5 before defeating Tanzania 5-1 on September 8 and falling 2-1 to Brazil on September 11 ... the Young Lionesses' run ended when it dropped a Round of 16 match to Nigeria 3-0 on September 17
  • The Black Princesses opened their Women's World Cup campaign with a 3-0 setback against Ecuador on September 6, rebounded for a 3-1 victory over South Korea on September 9, but had its World Cup run end with a 4-0 setback at the hands of France on September 12
  • For the second time ever, and in its 12th installment, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup featured 24 nations ... the competition started in 2002 as a 12-team tournament played at the U-19 level ... the 2004 tournament also featured U-19s before moving to U-20s for the 2006 tournament
  • The 24 teams that competed in the tournament were host Poland, England, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain from Europe; the USA, Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica from Concacaf; Benin, Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria from Africa; Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia from South America; Korea Republic, Japan, Korea DPR and China PR from Asia; and New Zealand and New Caledonia from Oceania
  • Spain edged Korea DPR 4-3 in penalties following a scoreless match to win gold, while Colombia won a PK shootout, 4-3, over Italy following a 1-1 draw to claim bronze

SUCCESS UNDER RATCLIFFE

  • This fall marks the 24th season under the direction of Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe
  • Ratcliffe is Stanford's all-time winningest soccer coach with a 420-76-45 record in his tenure on The Farm
  • Ratcliffe has guided Stanford to three national championships, seven NCAA finals, 11 conference titles, 12 College Cup appearances, a berth in the NCAA third round in 16 of the past 20 seasons, and a spot in the NCAA Tournament in 22 of his 23 seasons

SPREADING THE WEALTH

  • So far this season, 12 players have scored goals, and three more have contributed an assist, as 15 players have factored into points
  • Charlotte Kohler leads the way with seven goals and four assists for 18 points through the first 11 matches
  • Brooke Holden has amassed 10 points by way of four goals and two assists, while junior Bella Winn has scored three goals with four assists for 10 points
  • Freshman Sadie Leal-Schuman owns the team lead in assists with six, teaming those with one goal for eight points
  • Jaden Thomas has also totaled eight points, anchored by a hat trick and an assist for seven points at Santa Clara on September 6

GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT

  • With a 1-0 shutout victory over Cal Poly to start the season, Stanford now owns a 20-match unbeaten streak in season openers (19-0-1) dating back to 2007 ... Stanford has posted 12 shutouts over the 20-match streak
  • The Cardinal has won 16 straight season openers ... played to a 1-1 draw at Boston College to start the 2010 season
  • Stanford last dropped a season opener in 2006 - a 2-1 defeat at Utah
  • Stanford is 37-4-2 all time in season openers - including 21-2-1 under Paul Ratcliffe

CARDINAL TABBED SECOND IN STACKED ACC

  • Coming off a 2025 season in which it won its first ACC regular-season and tournament titles, Stanford was picked to finish second this year by the league’s coaches
  • Stanford secured three first-place votes and totaled 233 points, just six points behind ACC favorite Notre Dame with seven first-place votes and 239 overall points ... Duke, which collected three first-place votes, was third with 224 points, followed by defending national champion Florida State (three first-place votes, 213 points) and North Carolina (one first-place vote, 207 points) to round out the top five
  • The United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll included No. 1 Stanford, No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 3 Duke, No. 4 Florida State, No. 8 North Carolina, No. 11 Virginia, No. 18 Wake Forest and No. 25 Clemson, while Louisville entered the year receiving votes

PAIR ON PRESEASON ALL-ACC SQUAD

  • In addition to the preseason poll, the ACC coaches also selected a Preseason All-ACC team, with sophomore Caroline Birkel and junior Charlotte Kohler earning spots on the squad
  • Birkel is the reigning ACC Goalkeeper of the Year and was named United Soccer Coaches All-Region third team as a freshman
  • Kohler earned United Soccer Coaches All-America third team and All-Region second team honors a year ago

TOP PLAYERS PLAY ON THE FARM

  • Stanford boasted six players on TopDrawerSoccer's Preseason Top 100 Players list and three on the Preseason Best XI teams
  • Midfielders Charlotte Kohler and Y-Lan Nguyen both landed on the Preseason Best XI first team, while goalkeeper Caroline Birkel was selected Best XI second team
  • Nguyen led the pack of six Cardinal in the Top 100, claiming the No. 6 overall spot ... Kohler (No. 8), Birkel (No. 20), Bella Winn (No. 34), Eleanor Klinger (No. 44) and Sammy Smith (No. 86) were also featured on the list
  • The Cardinal’s six players in the Top 100 were tied for the most of any program in the nation, while Stanford is the only program to have two players in the top 10

AYE AYE, CAPTAINS!

  • Stanford named a pair of players team captains ahead of the 2026 season - senior Mia Bhuta and junior Charlotte Kohler
  • Bhuta was previously voted a team captain a year ago, while Kohler is a first-year captain on The Farm

RELOADING FOR 2026

RILEY CLAIMS HER HALL OF FAME SPOT

  • A four-time Olympian and five-time World Cup participant while captaining New Zealand, Ali Riley was inducted into the Stanford Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026 on September 25
  • Joining Riley as members of the class were Inky Ajanaku (women’s volleyball), Kevin Hogan (football), Kristian Ipsen (men’s swimming and diving), Onnie Killefer (field hockey), Owen Marecic (football), Ali Riley (women’s soccer), Erika Roddy (women’s rowing), Laura Shane (lacrosse), Erik Shoji (men’s volleyball) and Kawika Shoji (men’s volleyball)
  • Riley is the 10th inductee from women's soccer and the first since Kelley O'Hara in 2025
  • Riley led the Cardinal to four NCAA appearances (2006-09), back-to-back NCAA College Cups (2008-09) and a national runner-up finish (2009) ... Top Drawer Soccer First-Team All-American (2009), NSCAA Third-Team All-American (2009) ... member of Pac-10 title squad (2009), fueling the Cardinal to its first conference championship in seven seasons ... two-time All-Pac-10 selection (first team in 2009, second team in 2007) ... Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2009), 3-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection (2007-09) ... four-time Olympian (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020), representing New Zealand ... five-time World Cup participant (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023), representing New Zealand ... retired in September 2025 following a decorated professional career, including winning WPS championships with FC Gold Pride (2010) and Western New York Flash (2011) while recognized as a 5-time New Zealand Player of the Year

SMITH ACHIEVES WINTER OLYMPIC DREAMS

  • Less than two months after starting at defender in the 2025 College Cup final for Stanford, Sammy Smith achieved her lifelong goal of making an Olympic team
  • Smith earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Cross Country Ski Team ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, which began February 6, 2026, and participated in the women's sprint classic
  • Stanford has long been regarded as the preeminent training ground for national team competition ... in Summer Olympics competition, affiliates have captured 335 overall medals from 196 medalists, including a school-record 39 medals at the 2024 Paris Games, representing the most student-athlete medals won in an Olympics by any school ... for the third consecutive edition of the Summer Games, Stanford also totaled the most Team USA selections (37) and Team USA medals (36)
  • However, this one just felt a bit different ... Smith’s selection to the national team is extremely rare, if not, unprecedented: a current varsity student-athlete competing for the national team of a different sport within the same academic calendar year ... a native of Boise, Idaho, Smith is believed to be Stanford’s first American varsity student-athlete to also participate in a Winter Olympics since Bonny Warner, a member of the Cardinal’s field hockey team from 1982-84 who competed for Team USA’s luge squad in 1984, 1988 and 1992 ... Stanford’s most recent Team USA Winter Olympian was Rachael Flatt, a figure skater who competed in the 2010 Games and graduated in 2015
  • Following a sophomore campaign in which she appeared in every match for the Cardinal, including starting 14 at defender, Smith quickly shifted her attention to the slopes and traveled to Lake Placid, New York, for the U.S. Cross Country Championships from Jan. 4-9 ... just 27 days removed from the national title match, Smith won both the skate sprint and classic sprint to make her case for inclusion on the Olympic team
  • Needing another strong performance to solidify her standing, Smith traveled to the 2026 FIS Cross Country Skiing World Cup in Oberhof, Germany, from Jan. 17-18 ... in a potential preview of Olympic competition to come, Smith sprinted to a career-best 12th-place finish and was the top American in the field
  • All that was left to do was await the announcement of the 97-member U.S. Ski & Snowboard Olympic Team ... that announcement came early on the morning of Jan. 22 as Team USA nominated its athletes for the Olympic Games
  • The Milano Cortina Games took place across Italy, becoming the most geographically widespread Games in history ... athletes competed across 25 venues in four main clusters: Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Valtellina and Val di Fiemme, with 116 medal events on the schedule ... for ski and snowboard events, Bormio hosted men’s alpine, Cortina hosted women’s alpine, cross country, ski jumping and nordic combined took place in Val di Fiemme and freestyle, freeski and snowboard in Livigno

ACC DANCING

  • Nine ACC programs earned bids to join the 64-team field for the 2025 NCAA Division I Championship, including No. 1 seeds Stanford, Notre Dame and Virginia, No. 2 seed Duke, No. 3 seed Florida State, No. 6 seed Louisville, No. 7 seed Wake Forest, No. 8 seed Clemson and North Carolina
  • The nine selections matched 2024's total and tied for the second-most in conference history ... the nine teams also tied for the most among all conferences
  • Three of the nine advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round (Stanford, Duke and Florida State) - tied for most among all conferences ... all three advanced to the College Cup, and Stanford met Florida State for the national title - marking the second consecutive season that two ACC schools played for the national championship
  • Last year also marked the eighth straight season at least one ACC team competed in the national championship match, and the third time within that span that two ACC teams played for the title (2018 and 2024) ... the national championship was the ACC’s 27th in conference history and 33rd among current membership
  • An ACC team won a third consecutive NCAA title after Florida State won it all in 2023 and 2025, and North Carolina claimed the crown in 2024
  • Last year marked the fourth consecutive season (and 16th time in the 44-year history of the event) that the ACC sent multiple teams to the College Cup
  • Since 2019, ACC teams have made 16 appearances in the College Cup, the most of any conference with the next closest being just five appearances
  • Current ACC membership has played in every Women’s College Cup with a combined 93 appearances and 32 of the 43 national championships
  • Last season marked the seventh consecutive season the ACC has sent multiple teams to the national quarterfinals ... in the last five NCAA Women's Soccer Championships, the ACC has sent 20 teams to the national quarterfinals, the most among all conferences - the next closest total is just nine (Big Ten)
  • Combined with last season’s results, the ACC is now 17-0-1 in first-round matchups over the past two seasons
  • Since 2019, 56 ACC teams have earned bids into the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament, the most among all conferences ... the next closest conference has earned 52 bids (SEC)
  • Last season marked the first since 2021 that the ACC claimed three of the four top seeds ... excluding the shortened tournament field in 2020, the ACC has had multiple No. 1 seeds in eight consecutive years ... no other conference has had multiple No. 1 seeds since 2016

REPRESENTING THE SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM

NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES

  • The Cardinal has made 34 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 27 in the last 28 seasons ... has made seven appearances in the College Cup final, including four in the last nine seasons - 2017, 2019, 2023 and 2025 ... Stanford is 3-4 in national championship matches ... Stanford has won two of the last nine College Cups - most recently capturing the title in 2019
  • Stanford has appeared in 13 College Cups, including five straight from 2008-12, with its three national championships coming in 2011, 2017 and 2019 ... 12 of the 13 College Cup appearances have come since 2008
  • In addition to the three national titles, Stanford has also been the national runner-up four times (2009, 2010, 2023, 2025)
  • The Cardinal has compiled a 78-26-9 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play
  • Stanford has reached the second round in 27 of the 34 appearances, has earned a berth in the NCAA third round in 16 of the past 20 seasons, has reached the NCAA quarterfinal round in three consecutive years and 13 times since 2008, and has advanced to the College Cup in three straight seasons and 12 times in the last 18 campaigns ... is 13-for-18 all-time advancing to the College Cup from the round of eight
  • Stanford has opened the NCAA Tournament at home 24 times in program history ... hosted the first round in 13 straight seasons from 2007-19 ... is a perfect 23-0-0 in first-round matches played at home (received a first-round bye in 1999)
  • Stanford is 62-4-5 all-time in postseason games hosted on The Farm, and has won 22 straight (last loss: 1-0 (2OT) vs. Santa Clara on November 18, 2016) ... is 50-1-2 over the last 53 postseason home games dating back to 2008
  • The Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe owns a 67-16-6 record in postseason action while at Stanford, having guided the Cardinal to 12 College Cup appearances, seven College Cup finals, and the NCAA Tournament in 22 of his 23 seasons
  • Stanford earned the No. 1 overall seed in four straight tournaments from 2016-19
  • In a season in which Stanford set a program record with 102 goals, it was the Cardinal's grit, determination and mental toughness that ultimately secured the program's third national championship on Dec. 8, 2019 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif. ... after 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, top-seeded Stanford defeated No. 2 North Carolina 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout with Kiki Pickett scoring the deciding penalty kick and Katie Meyer making a pair of saves in the shootout
  • Stanford captured its second national championship on Dec. 3, 2017 with a 3-2 win over UCLA ... Kyra Carusa and Andi Sullivan opened the scoring for the Cardinal and, after the Bruins fought back with two goals to tie the match at 2-2, Jaye Boissiere’s stunning left-footed strike in the 67th minute put Stanford on top for good
  • After qualifying for the College Cup for the fourth-straight season, Stanford broke through in 2011 with its first national championship in program history ... Teresa Noyola’s header in the 53rd minute was the only goal of the match as goalkeeper Emily Oliver and the Cardinal shut down the Blue Devils for 90 minutes

HOME OF CHAMPIONS

  • Stanford is the all-time leader with 139 NCAA team championships (71 men, 68 women), and 178 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 50 seasons, dating back to the 1976-77 campaign
  • During the 2025-26 season, artistic swimming, men's gymnastics, sailing and women's golf won national titles, with the gymnastics title stretching the NCAA team title streak to 50 years
  • Stanford has won the Learfield Directors’ Cup in 26 of the possible 32 seasons, including a 25-year streak from 1995-2019

#OLYMPIANSMADEHERE

  • Less than two months after starting at defender in the 2025 College Cup final for the Stanford women’s soccer team, Sammy Smith achieved her lifelong goal of making an Olympic team ... Smith earned a spot as a member of the U.S. Olympic Cross Country Ski Team ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, which got underway February 6, 2026 ... Smith’s selection to the national team is extremely rare, if not, unprecedented: a current Division I varsity student-athlete competing for the national team of a different sport within the same academic calendar year ... a native of Boise, Idaho, Smith is believed to be Stanford’s first American varsity student-athlete to also participate in a Winter Olympics since Bonny Warner, a member of the Cardinal’s field hockey team from 1982-84 who competed for Team USA’s luge squad in 1984, 1988 and 1992 ... Stanford’s most recent Team USA Winter Olympian was Rachael Flatt, a figure skater who competed in the 2010 Games and graduated in 2015
  • Stanford concluded the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with a school-record 39 medals, shattering its previous best while cementing its reputation on the world’s biggest stage as the nation’s top collegiate program
  • The 39 medals were 12 more than the previous record of 27 at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games
  • Stanford’s haul of 39 medals (12 gold, 14 silver, 13 bronze) was the most by any school at one Olympics
  • Cardinal student-athletes medaled in 13 of Stanford's 36 varsity sports: artistic swimming, women’s basketball, women’s fencing, men’s gymnastics, sailing, men’s rowing, women’s soccer, women’s swimming and diving, men’s track and field, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, men’s water polo, women’s water polo
  • The Cardinal boasted 19 first-time medalists - a total that ranks second in school history behind the 21 at the 2008 Beijing Games
  • If Stanford was a country in the 2024 Games, it would have finished tied with Canada for 11th place
  • Boasting a school-record 59 Olympians with Cardinal ties, Stanford won at least 20 medals for the sixth time in school history (2020, 2016, 2008, 1996, 1924)
  • The Cardinal’s 59 Olympians (20 male, 39 female) represented 14 countries across 20 varsity sports
  • In addition to the 59 qualifiers, Stanford’s Olympic representation also included five alternates, one national team head coach and three national team assistant coaches
  • For the third straight Olympics, Stanford totaled more Team USA selections (37) than any other school, reinforcing its status as the preeminent training ground for U.S. national team competition
  • Stanford has won 128 medals combined over the last five Summer Games
  • All told, Stanford’s affiliates have captured 335 overall medals (162 gold, 93 silver, 80 bronze) from 196 medalists, and the Cardinal has produced at least one medalist in every Olympics in which the U.S. has competed since 1912