Stanford on the verge of clinching 2019 Pac-12 crown this week

SAN FRANCISCO — Possessing a six-point lead in the league standings with three matches remaining, STANFORD controls its destiny this week in its quest for an unprecedented fifth-straight outright Pac-12 women's soccer title.

Stanford (8-0-0, 24 pts.) has an opportunity to capture the 2019 Conference crown with two victories, a win and a draw, or favorable results from second-place WASHINGTON (6-2-0, 18 pts.) this week.

The Cardinal can clinch at least a share of the title with a victory over ARIZONA STATE on Thursday, Oct. 31 (5 p.m., P12N). The Huskies, who have their most league wins since 2000 (eight), can remain in title contention with a victory Thursday, while third-place USC (5-3-0, 15 pts.) and UCLA (5-3-0, 15 pts.) would be eliminated should the Cardinal collect any points this week.

Washington moved into the national rankings at No. 21 following its 2-0 home upset of then No. 7 USC last week - the fifth upset in Conference play this season. The Huskies look to carry that momentum hosting COLORADO (Thursday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m.) and UTAH (Sunday, Nov. 3, 12 p.m.).

No. 11 USC and No. 13 UCLA are on the road this week to take on OREGON and OREGON STATE. The Ducks collected their first Conference win last week with a 1-0 road victory over the Sun Devils, while the Beavers knocked off ASU for the first time since 2011.

IN THE RANKINGS:
• Four Pac-12 women’s soccer teams are ranked in this week’s United Soccer Coaches top 25.
• Stanford continues its season-long top-5 run, remaining at No. 2 for the sixth week in a row after picking up road wins at Colorado (4-0) and Utah (4-0) last week.
• USC moves down four spots to No. 11 after splitting the week, while UCLA moves up five to No. 13 after topping Washington (1-0) and Washington State (2-1).
• Washington makes its second season appearance in the poll this year coming in at No. 21 after upsetting USC (2-0). This marked the first time the Huskies defeated a top-10 team since upsetting No. 2 Florida in 2017.
• The Pac-12 has 11 schools in the top-100 of the most recent RPI rankings. Nine teams are inside the top 50, including four in the top 20, led by Stanford at No. 1.

MAC HERMANN WATCH LIST:
• Stanford’s Catarina Macario and Sophia Smith continue to be an offensive powerhouse up top for the Cardinal. Macario netted two goals last week to maintain her national-and Conference-lead in goals (20), goals per game (1.25), points (53), points per game (3.31), and assists (13). She became one of just four Cardinal that have scored 20-or-more goals in a season. Fellow forward Smith scored her career-high eighth tally and notched an assist to help defeat the Utes (4-0).
• Senior forward Taylor Kornieck scored her 10th goal of the season in Colorado’s draw (1-1) with CALIFORNIA. Kornieck is just one goal shy of matching her career-high (11), and five goals shy of tying former Buff Nikki Marshall for CU’s all-time lead (42).
• Nine Pac-12 student-athletes were named to the 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. This is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. The watch list is headlined by 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Catarina Macario of Stanford. The Cardinal is further represented by sophomore forward Sophia Smith. The Bruins lead the Conference with three student-athletes on the list: 2018 semifinalist Ashley Sanchez, 2017 finalist Jessie Fleming, and junior defender Lucy Parker. Adding to the list of honorees are USC’s Kaylie Collins and Savannah DeMelo, Colorado’s Taylor Kornieck, and Washington State’s Morgan Weaver.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
• Arizona’s Jada Talley scored four goals and notched two assists last week including the game-winner in both victories over Oregon (5-2) and OREGON STATE (2-1). Talley was named offensive player of the week for the first time this season, earning the 21st all-time award for the Wildcats.
• Stanford defender Sam Hiatt helped the Cardinal continue its undefeated Conference run after defeating Colorado (4-0) and Utah (4-0). She leads a defensive line that has not allowed a goal since Sept. 28, compiling 707:38 shutout minutes. Hiatt collects her second-career defensive player of the week honor, and Stanford’s 75th all-time weekly nod.
• Washington’s Siena Ruelas helped Washington take down their first top-10 team since 2017 with a win over then-No. 7 USC (2-0). Ruelas recorded a career-high nine saves and earned her third shutout of the season against the Trojans, helping the Huskies become just the second team this season to not allow a goal to USC. She earns her second-career goalkeeper of the week honor, and Washington’s 28th all-time weekly award.

NON-CONFERENCE NOTABLES:
• Pac-12 women’s soccer boasted the highest winning percentage for the last four weeks of non-conference play (.875, .857, .811), finishing with a combined record of 76-14-9 with a .813 percentage, including 6-3 against ranked sides.
• Oregon State and USC finished their non-conference slates undefeated, two of just seven Division I teams to not record a loss in non-conference play.
• The league continues to post impressive offensive results as they currently have the third-most assists (339), fourth-most goals (364), and sixth-most shots (2,980) in the country.

2018 IN REVIEW
• Last season, five Pac-12 teams earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Stanford entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed, UCLA at No. 2, and USC at No. 4, while Washington State and ARIZONA clinched at-large bids. The Conference posted an impressive postseason run, as all Pac-12 squads went undefeated in the first round for the first time since 2007. The Cardinal, the Bruins, and the Trojans landed spots in the third round, marking the third-straight year three Conference teams were in the round of 16.

PAC-12 WOMEN’S SOCCER BROADCAST
• 70 women’s soccer contests will be televised on Pac-12 Networks throughout the season. Eight Conference matchups will be broadcasted this week starting with Arizona at California (1 p.m. PT), Arizona State at Stanford (5 p.m. PT), Colorado at Washington (7 p.m. PT, P12M), UCLA at Oregon State (7 p.m. PT, P12O), USC at Oregon (7 p.m. PT, P12LA), and Utah at Washington State (7 p.m. PT, P12W) on Thursday, Oct. 31. On Sunday, Nov. 3, Networks will air Arizona State at California (12 p.m. PT, P12BA) and Arizona at Stanford (12 p.m. PT, P12A).

CONFERENCE STANDINGS 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (Times local to site)

P12N/P12A/P12BA/P12LA/P12M/P12O/P12W - Indicates live broadcast on Pac-12 Network.
 

PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
THIS WEEK: 
Offensive: Jada Talley, ARIZ
Defensive: Sam Hiatt, STAN
Goalkeeper: Siena Ruelas, WASH

ALSO NOMINATED:
Offensive: Emma Westin, CAL; Taylor Kornieck, COLO; Ally Cook, ORE; Abby Schwartz, OSU; Madison Haley, STAN; Maricarmen Reyes, UCLA; Summer Yates, WASH.
Defensive: Samantha Falasco, ARIZ; Sydney Collins, CAL; Hannah Taylor, ORE; Sydney Studer, OSU; Kaiya McCullough, UCLA; Kaylene Pang, WASH.
Goalkeeper: Hope Hisey, ARIZ; Angelina Anderson, CAL; Jalen Tompkins, COLO; Katelyn Carter, ORE; Bridgette Skiba, OSU; Katie Meyer, STAN; Lauren Brzykcy, UCLA.

2019 WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List
Taylor Kornieck, Colorado; Caterina Macario, Stanford; Sophia Smith, Stanford; Jessie Fleming, UCLA; Lucky Parker, UCLA; Ashley Sanchez, UCLA; Kaylie Collins, USC; Savannah DeMelo, USC; Morgan Weaver, Washington State

IN THE PRESEASON

Pac-12 Preseason Poll | NCAA Preseason Poll | MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List