This year in Pac-12 women's soccer: Stanford's NCAA title caps dominant 2019 season for Pac-12
SAN FRANCISCO - Stanford edged North Carolina in penalty kicks to capture the 2019 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship and cap one of the Pac-12's most successful campaigns in Conference history. The Cardinal's title was its third in program history, and the sixth all-time for Pac-12 women's soccer programs including the Conference's fifth in the last nine seasons.
Stanford advanced to its fifth all-time championship match by defeating Conference rival UCLA, 4-1, in the semifinals. The Cardinal then battled the Tar Heels, who had previously edged Washington State (2-1) in the semifinals, to a scoreless draw before posting a 5-4 advantage in penalty kicks to hoist the hardware for the second time in the last three seasons.
Pac-12 women's soccer was dominant throughout the 2019 season as it accounted for:
• the nation's best record during non-conference play (.815, 77-14-9)
• nine NCAA Tournament participants, equaling the most in league history (2014) and tied for the most in the 2019 field
• seven teams in the NCAA Second Round, equaling the most in league history (2014)
• four teams in the NCAA Third Round and Quarterfinals, the most in the nation, for the first time in league history
• three teams in the NCAA College Cup for the first time in league history, and just the third time by one conference in NCAA history (ACC - 2011, 2013).
• the nation's best record in NCAA postseason play (.696, 19-8-1)
Through 2019, Pac-12 holds an all-time record of 215-135-29 (.606) in the NCAA Tournament, owns six national championships and six-second place finishes. The Conference has won an NCAA title in five of the last nine seasons, and six of the last 13 years (USC ’07, STAN ’11, UCLA ’13, USC ’16, STAN ’17, STAN ‘19).
The MAC Hermann Trophy named two Pac-12 student-athletes as finalists UCLA’s Jessie Fleming and Stanford’s Catarina Macario, the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy winner. Both were named United Soccer Coaches first-team All-Americans, first-team All-Region, and All-Pac-12 first team. This is the third-straight season two Pac-12 student-athletes were named finalist. Last year, Stanford’s Catarina Macario took home collegiate soccer’s top honor, marking the fifth Conference player to win the award, all by Stanford players. The Cardinal have had five MAC Hermann Trophy winners, the second-most of any program. The Pac-12 had nine representatives on the watch list and four semifinalists, tied for the most of any conference. This year’s winners will be announced on Jan. 3, 2020 at the MAC Hermann Trophy Banquet at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year l Catarina Macario etched her name in the Pac-12 record books as she notched the most goals (32), assists (23) and points (87) in a season in Conference history. Macario's 32 goals this season are the eighth-most in NCAA history, while her 87 points are tied for the third-most in NCAA history behind Mia Hamm (97) and Christine Sinclair (88).
The Pac-12 Conference announced the All-Pac-12 women’s soccer honors for the 2019 season, as determined by a polling of the Conference coaches. USC’s Tara McKeown was voted Pac-12 Forward of the Year and is the first Trojan to earn the honor. Stanford’s Catarina Macario was tabbed Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year, her third annual in three seasons, and fellow Cardinal Naomi Girma was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. California’s Angelina Anderson was named Pac-12 Goalkeeper and Freshman of the Year and is the first player in Conference history to earn both honors. Washington head coach Lesle Gallimore was voted the Pac-12 Coach of the Year.
The Pac-12 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 for an .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 posted strong impressive offensive results this fall finishing regular season play with the third-most assists (382), fourth-most goals (414), and third-most shots (3,488) in the country.
ARIZONA (12-7-1, 5-5-1) was selected with an at-large bid to make its program-best third-consecutive and seventh overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Wildcats topped TCU (1-0) in the first round before losing a heartbreaker to Penn State (4-3) in overtime. Arizona at least 10 games for the third-straight season, knocking off two top-15 teams (UCLA, Washington State) in one season for the first time in program history.
ARIZONA STATE (6-11-3, 0-9-2) started the season with five-straight victories for just the second time in ASU history, including two 7-1 wins (Central Arkansas, Tennessee Tech), en route for a 6-2-1 record in non-conference play. The Sun Devils recorded 33 goals this season, the seventh most in the Conference and notched 28 assists, the sixth most in the league.
After finishing 11th in the league and missing the tournament in 2018, CALIFORNIA (13-5-3, 5-3-3) finished in fifth place in the Conference before heading to the NCAA Tournament for the 26th time in program history, first time since 2017. The Bears fell to Bay Area foe Santa Clara (1-0) in overtime in the first round. The Bears allowed only 15 goals this season, the second least in the league, and were one of the last teams in the country to concede a goal as its backline was led by First Team All-Pac-12 center back Emily Smith and Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year Angelina Anderson. Anderson was also voted the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, becoming the first player in conference history to earn both honors in the same season.
COLORADO (12-8-2, 3-6-2) earned an at-large bid to make its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance, defeating Northern Colorado (6-0) in the first round followed by a narrow loss to North Carolina in the second round Goalkeeper Jalen Tompkins finished her career as the all-time CU leader in saves (369) and wins (49), while forward Taylor Kornieck wrapped her college campaign as the program’s all-time points leader (102) and the second-most career goals (39) in Buffs history.
OREGON (5-9-5 1-8-2) finished the season with 26 goals for the first time since 2010, the seventh most in program history. The Ducks produced a goal for 13-straight games, the second-longest streak in school history. Oregon also notched 24 assists by 13 different Ducks led by freshman midfielder Sakura Yoshida with six, tied for third in a single season in the UO record book.
OREGON STATE (11-6-2, 3-6-2) had one of its best seasons in program history finishing with 11 wins, its most since 2012, and tying for eighth place in the league, its highest finish since 2012. The Beavers finished their non-conference campaign undefeated (8-0) for the first time in OSU history, outscoring its opponents, 21-3.. Oregon State recorded four-consecutive shutouts in September, good for a program record. The Beavs topped four opponents in the top-100 RPI - Colorado (2-1), Oregon (1-0), Villanova (2-1) and Rice (2-1) and did not didn’t drop a match to any team with an RPI lower than 40.
STANFORD (24-1-0, 11-0-0) earned its third NCAA national title this season, topping North Carolina in penalty kicks (5-4) in the championship match. The Cardinal had an outstanding season, going undefeated in Conference play and to claim its unprecedented fifth-straight outright Pac-12 crown. The championship squad finished its fall run leading the country in nearly offensive category including goals (102), assists (102), assists per game (0.923), points (306), points per game (12.75), shots per game (4.06), shots on goal per game (12.17), winning percentage (.958) and scoring offense (4.25). Junior and Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year Catarina Macario led the Cardinal to program-best goal count this fall, netting 32 herself, the most in school and Pac-12 single-season history.
UCLA (18-5-1, 8-3-0) advanced to the NCAA College Cup for the 11th time in program history, dropping its semifinal match to eventual champion Stanford (4-1). The Bruins made their 22nd overall NCAA appearance and were seeded at No. 2 for the second-straight year. All-Pac-12 Freshman honoree Mia Fischel led the team in goals (14), points (31), and shots on goal (44) while First-Team All-Pac-12 selection Ashley Sanchez recorded the most shots (73) and assists (15), equaling her own program single-season 2018.
USC (17-5-1, 7-4-0) earned an at-large bid and No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament for its sixth-straight postseason appearance. The Trojans advanced the Elite eight for the third time in school history before falling to top-seeded North Carolina (3-2). USC finished its Conference campaign in third place after finishing its non-conference slate undefeated (7-0-1) for the second time in school history. The Trojans scored the third-most goals (47) and assists (46) in the Conference thanks to Pac-12 Forward of the Year Tara McKoewn (15) and sophomore attacker Penelope Hocking (18) who netted 33 of the team’s 45 goals this season.
UTAH (8-9-4, 3-5-3) earned its eighth all-time NCAA Tournament berth this season serving an at-large bid for its first appearance since 2016. The Utes closed out the regular season with a pair of 1-0 victories over then-No. 21 Washington and rival Colorado to help secure their postseason berth.
WASHINGTON (12-7-2, 7-4-0) earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament and topped Seattle U at its home-hosted first round match before falling to South Florida (2-0) in the second round. This marked the Huskies’ first postseason appearance since 2015 as head coach Lelse Gallimore took Washington to the tournament 15 times in her 26 years as a coach in Seattle. Despite being voted 10th in the coaches’ preseason poll Gallimore finished her last season with the Huskies in third place in the league standings thanks to a defensive line that only allowed 18 goals this season, good for the fourth-best goals against average (.93) in the Pac-12.
WASHINGTON STATE (16-7-1, 5-5-1) made history this season advancing to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals and College Cup for the first time in school history. On the way, WSU upset No. 1 seed Virginia, and No. 2 seed South Carolina, becoming the first team to beat the gamecocks in 17 matches. The Cougs amassed a 16-7-1 overall record this fall, setting a program record for wins, and finishing in sixth place in the Conference. Washington State had the fourth-most goals (45) and the third-most points (46) in the league thanks to four-time All-Pac-12 selection Morgan Weaver who led WSU in goals (15) and points (35).
CONFERENCE STANDINGS
| Teams | Points | Pac-12 Record | Overall Record |
| Stanford | 33 | 11-0-0 | 24-1-0 |
| UCLA | 24 | 8-3-0 | 18-5-1 |
| USC | 21 | 7-4-0 | 17-5-1 |
| Washington | 21 | 7-4-0 | 12-7-2 |
| California | 18 | 5-3-3 | 13-5-3 |
| Washington State | 16 | 5-5-1 | 16-7-1 |
| Arizona | 16 | 5-5-1 | 12-7-1 |
| Utah | 12 | 3-5-3 | 8-9-4 |
| Oregon State | 11 | 3-6-2 | 11-6-2 |
| Colorado | 11 | 3-6-2 | 12-8-2 |
| Oregon | 5 | 1-8-2 | 5-9-5 |
| Arizona State | 2 | 0-9-2 | 6-11-3 |
2019 WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
NATIONAL HONORS
MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
Jessie Fleming, UCLA; Catarina Macario, Stanford
UNITED SOCCER COACHES ALL-AMERICA
First Team
Naomi Girma, D, STAN
Jessie Fleming, M, UCLA
Catarina Macario, M, STAN
Tara McKeown, F, USC
Second Team
Angelina Anderson, K, CAL
Madison Haley, F, STAN
Third Team
Kiki Pickett, D, STAN
Taylor Kornieck, M, COLO
Morgan Weaver, F, WSU
SENIOR CLASS AWARD® CANDIDATES
Jessie Fleming, UCLA
SENIOR CLASS AWARD® FINALISTS
Jessie Fleming, UCLA