Stanford Ranked 12th

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford was ranked 12th in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Preseason Top 20 Coaches Poll, released Tuesday by the organization.

It is the second consecutive year Stanford received a No. 12 preseason ranking and the fifth straight year the Cardinal has earned a national preseason ranking.

Stanford will take on five teams ranked in the preseason poll, including No. 3 Connecticut, No. 14 Northwestern, No. 17 Michigan, No. 18 Delaware and No. 20 Iowa.

During the 2013 season Stanford climbed to a No. 6 ranking, matching the best in school history. The Cardinal was ranked No. 13 or higher throughout the entire season. The Cardinal, which has been included in the national rankings for all but one week over the past four years, concluded its season ranked 10th.

Stanford is coming off an impressive 2013 season in which it registered its fifth consecutive 15-win season, finishing 16-5 overall, and claimed its fifth straight NorPac West regular season title.

The Cardinal will open its season at home Friday against No. 18 Delaware at 3 p.m. followed by a Sunday matchup against 2013 NorPac champions Liberty.