No. 13 Stanford on Deck for Buffs

BOULDER—There's a first time for everything, and the Colorado soccer team hopes that to be true when it hosts No. 13 Stanford on Sunday (Noon, Pac-12 Networks).

Colorado (6-6-1, 1-3-1 Pac-12) is batting 0-for against the Cardinal in the all-time series, dating back to 2007. The series has been one-sided pretty one-sided, tilting towards the Cardinal. Last season's contest was as close as the Buffs have come in upsetting Stanford, falling 2-1 at The Farm. 

Sunday will be CU's third consecutive match against a top 15 team, previously going up against No. 11 USC and No. 3 UCLA.

"We know what we are getting with Stanford," head coach Danny Sanchez explained after last Sunday's match at UCLA. "Stanford has kind of hit its stride over the last couple of weeks. We're back at home. It's a single-game weekend. I think there will be a huge crowd and that gives us energy. They [Stanford] is a top-five team when it's all said and done. We're going to have to match its energy and be more efficient in the final third."

Colorado has scored just four times, in the previous 12 meetings. Hannah Sharts got CU's lone tally last season, bring CU back to even after falling down 1-0 in the 4th minute. The game was tied at the half and the Buffs were two minutes from getting to overtime, but Stanford's Civana Kuhlmann put the game-winner past Dani Hansen in the 88th minute. 

Stanford (10-3-0, 4-1-0 Pac-12) has worked its way up the rankings this season, starting the year at 24. The Cardinal have been as high as No. 7 this season and have won their last three matches against Oregon, Washington State and Washington. Stanford has an aggressive offense this season, ranking fifth in the NCAA with its 21.5 shots per game. They have been pretty accurate this season as well, entering the weekend 10th in the nation with 9.9 shots on goal per game. 

"Stanford is doing a great job [right now]," Sanchez added. "We know that battle. It's going to be a great weekend. The weather, as it always is this time of the year, looks perfect. We're hoping for a big crowd to help give us that energy."

Thad Anderson will have the call on the Pac-12 Network. Fans in attendance will receive a CU Soctoberfest mug (while supplies last).