Stanford still No. 1 in final week of non-conference play

SAN FRANCISCO - No. 1 STANFORD remains in the top spot in the nation after a commanding 3-1 victory over rival Notre Dame and a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over then-No. 2 North Carolina. The undefeated Cardinal finish non-conference play this week, hosting Cal Poly and No. 7 Santa Clara and looks to extend its program-record 28 game win streak, the longest win streak since North Carolina won 31 in a row from 2003-04. The top-ten matchup between the Cardinal and No. 7 Santa Clara will be televised on Pac-12 Networks on Sunday.
• Seven games will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks this week, starting with UTAH hosting Oklahoma on Thursday. Friday’s slate includes Long Beach State at No. 3 USC, CALIFORNIA facing UC Davis and ARIZONA hosting Cal State Fullerton. Sunday’s matchups include Denver visiting COLORADO, Portland at OREGON STATE and the marquee matchup between No. 7 Santa Clara and No. 1 Stanford.

IN THE RANKINGS:
• Four Pac-12 teams are ranked in the top-25 of the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the fifth week in a row. With Stanford at No. 1 for the fifth-straight week and USC jumping up to No. 3, the Pac-12 is the only conference in the nation to have two teams ranked in the top-five every week this season. UCLA is No. 8 and WASHINGTON STATE takes the 16th spot, maintaining its undefeated record. Arizona, California, Colorado and OREGON all received votes.  

NATIONAL STATS LEADERS:
• The Pac-12 has some of the best passers in the country with four teams ranked in the top-15 in assists per game, including second-ranked Colorado (3.57), fifth-ranked Arizona (3.14), 10th-ranked Stanford (2.83) and 11th-ranked USC (2.71).
• Individually, Washington State’s Maddy Haro leads the nation with 1.0 apg and USC’s Savannah DeMelo ranks seventh with .83 apg.
• Pac-12 teams have also been tough to score on, as Arizona, Colorado and USC all have a shutout percentage of .714 that ranks 13th-best in the nation. Arizona’s Lainey Burdett has helped Arizona get off to a strong start with five shutouts this season, which is seventh-best nationally.
• Colorado has found an effective balance of strong goalie play and efficient offense this season. Ranked seventh in the country in save percentage (.931) and 10th in goals against average (.277), while second in the country in assists per game (3.57) and points per game (9.57), the Buffs’ balanced play has led them to a 6-0-1 record in non-conference play. Leading the way offensively has been two-time Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week Tatum Barton, who leads the nation with 1.14 goals per game.

MAC HERMANN WATCH LIST:
• Stanford’s Catarina Macario has played a significant role in the Cardinal’s undefeated record, notching three assists in wins over Notre Dame and then-No. 2 North Carolina. Macario added to her highlight reel with an incredible assist after dribbling through five Tar Heel defenders and teeing up Madison Haley for the game-winning goal in overtime. Her play earned her a Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week selection. 
• USC’s Savannah DeMelo has been an offensive force this season, scoring another goal and adding an assist in a win over Missouri, putting her 11th in the nation with 2.17 points per game. Ally Prisock assisted on the Trojans’ equalizing goal in a 3-2 win over San Diego and led a USC defense that allowed just five shots in two games.
• UCLA’s Ashley Sanchez contributed a goal and an assist to beat Pepperdine 3-0, now leading the Bruins with five points on the season.
• The Pac-12 has the most representatives on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List with 12 student-athletes, the most from the Conference since eight were named in 2009. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer, presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete. The watch list is headlined by last year’s MAC Hermann Trophy finalist Jessie Fleming of UCLA, and semifinalists Stanford’s Tierna Davidson and Catarina Macario, and UCLA’s Hailie Mace. Stanford leads the nation with five student-athletes on the 2018 watch list, including Davidson, Macario, Alana Cook, Tegan McGrady and Jaye Boissiere. The Conference is also represented by Taylor Korniek, Colorado; Savannah DeMelo and Ally Prisock, USC; Kaiya McCullough and Ashley Sanchez, UCLA.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
• Colorado’s Tatum Barton has continued to impress this season, notching her second-weekly honor of the season and second of her career after scoring two goals in the first 11 minutes of play in a 3-0 win over Michigan State. Leading the nation with 1.14 goals per game, Barton has tallied a career-best eight goals and 17 points just four weeks into the season.
• Colorado also picked up a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week nod for Kelsey Aaknes, her first-career weekly honor. She recorded an assist on the game-winning goal to complete the 2-1 comeback win over Marquette.
• Alison Jahansouz of Stanford earned her first-career Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week honor after she allowed just two goals against Notre Dame and No. 2 North Carolina. She tied a career high with five save in the win over the Tar Heels to extend the Cardinal’s program record win streak to 28.

2017 IN REVIEW:
• Last season, seven Pac-12 teams made the NCAA Tournament with Stanford earning a No. 1 overall seed for the fourth-straight year and was joined in the field by No. 2-seeded UCLA, No. 3-seeded USC, Arizona, Colorado, California and Washington State. Six teams advanced to the second round and three made the round of 16. Stanford was crowned the 2017 NCAA Champion for the second time in program history in the first-ever-all-Pac-12 final against UCLA.

PROMISING FRESHMAN CLASS:
• The incoming Pac-12 freshman class had the most selections of any conference on the Top Drawer Soccer preseason Best XI Freshman team. Sophia Smith of Stanford, Summer Yates of WASHINGTON, Maricarmen Reyes of UCLA and Eva Van Deursen of ARIZONA STATE look to make their mark in their first season.

PAC-12 WOMEN’S SOCCER BROADCASTS:
• Pac- 12 Networks coverage on the pitch features a 66-game women’s soccer schedule. All Pac-12 universities appear on the Networks at least seven times in 2018.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded standings)

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (Times local to site)

PAC-12 WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

ALSO NOMINATED FOR 9/11:

Offensive: Emily Knous, ARIZ; Miranda Nild, CAL; McKenzie Weinert, OSU; Catarina Macario, STAN; Ashley Sanchez, UCLA; Penelope Hocking, USC; Olivia Van der Jagt, WASH; Hailey Smith, WSU.
Defensive: Hallie Pearson, ARIZ; Sydney Studer, OSU; Alana Cook, STAN; Delanie Sheehan, UCLA; Ally Prisock, USC; Taylor Sekyra, WASH; Maegan O’Neill, WSU.
Goalkeeper: Lainey Burdett, ARIZ; Jalen Tompkins, COL; Bridgette Skiba, OSU; Lauren Brzykcy, UCLA; Kaylie Collins, USC.

NATIONAL HONORS

MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List

Alana Cook, Stanford; Tierna Davidson, Stanford; Tegan McGrady, Stanford; Jaye Boissiere, Stanford; Catarina Macario, Stanford; Hailie Mace, UCLA; Jessie Fleming, UCLA; Kaiya McCullough, UCLA; Ashley Sanchez, UCLA; Savannah DeMelo, USC; Ally Prisock, USC; Taylor Kornieck, Colorado