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2020-21 Season In Review

by gostanford.com
Jul 8, 2021

Stanford (10-3-1, 7-2-1 Pac-12)
Statistics
NCAA Statistical Rankings

UNIQUE SEASON

  • For the first time in the modern history of the program, Stanford played its full season during the spring, spanning from February to the postseason in May.
  • The Cardinal played its first game on Feb. 12, after not having competed since the 2019 College Cup on Dec. 13, 2019. The team was able to practice a few weeks in the fall and then restart training on Jan. 18 prior to the start of the season.
  • The majority of Stanford's season was against conference foes, playing only two non-conference games against Pacific and San Francisco to start the season.

TOURNAMENT SNAPSHOT

  • Stanford went 10-3-1 overall in the 2020 season, winning the Pac-12 for the sixth time in the last seven seasons with a 7-2-1 mark, and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • Adding to the unprecedented season, the NCAA Tournament was held entirely in the state of North Carolina. 
  • As the nation's No. 4 seed, Stanford earned a first-round bye and advanced past Omaha in the second round, earning a dramatic 1-0 victory in overtime. The Cardinal fell to North Carolina in the third round.
  • The Cardinal is 30-15-9 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Its active stretch of eight consecutive postseason berths is the longest in Stanford history. Stanford finished the season ranked 10th in the nation.

ALL-AMERICAN CAMPAIGN

  • Zach Ryan was named a United Soccer Coaches first-team All-American following an impressive junior campaign with the Cardinal.
  • With his honor, Stanford has accumulated 14 All-America honors since 2014 including seven consecutive seasons with a first-team All-American.
  • Ryan was the key to Stanford's offense all season long, totaling 10 goals with three assists for 23 points. 
  • He ranked second in the Pac-12 in both total goals and total points, while his four game-winning goals were first in the conference and third nationally.
  • Ryan was also named the Pac-12 Player of the Year.

AGAINST THE BEST

  • In a condensed season, the Cardinal went 2-2 against ranked competition, including two top-10 victories over No. 5 Oregon State and No. 6 Washington.
  • Stanford is 34-19-12 against ranked competition under Coach Gunn.

THOMAS' FINAL ACT

  • Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas wrapped his Stanford career as one of the best in program history before signing a Generation Adidas contract with Seattle Sounders FC.
  • Thomas earned first team All-Pac-12 honors for the third time in his career this season, along with All-Region accolades for the third time. He was named an All-American in 2019.
  • Thomas is only the third player in program history to earn first-team All-Pac-12 honors three times.
  • Thomas led the Pac-12, only allowing eight goals on the year, and was just shy of the conference's top spot with an 0.73 goals against average this season.
  • He finishes his career ranking second in program history with a goals against average of 0.67, fourth in career shutouts (23) and fifth in career minutes played (5,222). His 172 career saves are eighth in the Stanford record books.

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CONFINES OF CAGAN

  • Stanford was undefeated at home during the 2020 season, going 6-0-1.
  • The Cardinal has a 58-8-13 record at Cagan Stadium since 2014.

SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST

  • Senior Charlie Wehan produced his best season with the Cardinal this spring, tied for the team lead with six assists and ranking fourth in goals (4) and points (14).
  • After earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors the past two years, Wehan was named to the first team this season.
  • Wehan appeared in all 14 matches, but only started in three, providing a true spark off the bench.
  • He featured a career-high two assists in Stanford's come-from-behind win over No. 5 Oregon State at home, and provided the game-winner in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Omaha in overtime.

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FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

  • In addition to Zach Ryan being named the Pac-12 Player of the Year, redshirt freshman Mark Fisher was named Freshman of the Year by the conference after his first season on the field for the Cardinal.
  • The honor marks the second straight season a Stanford player has been named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
  • Fisher played and started in all 14 matches for the Cardinal, finishing the year with three assists.

ALL-REGION

  • Stanford placed four players on the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men's All-Far West Region Teams for the seventh consecutive season.
  • Zach Ryan was named to the first team, while Will Richmond, Andrew Thomas and Charlie Wehan picked up second-team selections.

ALL-PAC-12

  • Stanford placed seven on the Pac-12's various all-conference teams with Zach Ryan, Will Richmond, Andrew Thomas and Charlie Wehan earning first team honors.
  • Keegan Hughes and Gabe Segal were both named to the second team, while Keegan Tingey picked up honorable mention.
  • It was the eighth consecutive season Stanford has had at least seven players honored by the conference.

ACADEMICALLY ELITE

  • Stanford was the only team in the country to feature two first-team Academic All-Americans by CoSIDA, as Andrew Thomas and Zach Ryan were each represented.
  • Thomas is only the third player in program history to be named an Academic All-American twice.
  • Both players earned their bachelor's degrees this spring, with Ryan boasting a 3.51 GPA as a management science and engineering major, and Thomas with a 4.051 GPA and a major in engineering physics.
  • The pair were also named first-team Scholar All-Americans by United Soccer Coaches.
  • Will Richmond and Keegan Tingey joined Ryan and Thomas on the CoSIDA Academic All-District list.

RACKING UP THE WINS

  • Knowles Family Director of Men's Soccer Jeremy Gunn earned his 300th career victory following a 3-1 win at California to start Pac-12 play.
  • His overall record is 307-96-60,

TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD

  • Stanford was honored by United Soccer Coaches in the fall with the College Team Academic Award for the most recent academic year. The Cardinal finished above the minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA during 2019-20.
  • 18 Cardinal were named to the Fall Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll, including student-athletes with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or above who have served at least one year in residence on campus. Stanford featured the most honorees in the conference. 

DYNAMIC OFFENSE

  • Stanford's 30 goals through 14 games were its most since scoring 32 goals in its first 13 games in 2002.
  • The Cardinal featured eight different goal scorers with 13 players owning at least one point.
  • Stanford scored three or more goals in seven games on the season, its most since 2017.

HEADED TO THE PROS

  • Prior to the start of the season, Logan Panchot was selected was selected in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft by DC United.
  • Stanford has featured at least one player drafted by the MLS in each of the last six years.

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