Around the Corner
STANFORD, Calif. - No. 2 Stanford will compete in three tournaments and make three appearances on Pac-12 Networks, highlighting its 2022 schedule.
Ranked No. 2 in the CWPA Preseason poll, the Cardinal opens its season on Jan. 29, facing Marist and host Michigan in the first of two days at the Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is also the site of the NCAA Championships from May 6-8.
Stanford makes its Avery Aquatic Center debut the following week, hosting the Stanford Invitational from Feb. 5-6, in a field that includes Arizona State, California, Fresno Pacific and UC Davis.
After an appearance at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational (Feb. 25-27), Stanford hosts Arizona State on March 6 to begin conference play.
Stanford embarks on a SoCal road swing later in the month, squaring off against Harvard and Long Beach State before visiting UCLA on March 26 in the first of three showings on Pac-12 Networks.
The Cardinal will play five home games in April, leading off with defending NCAA champion USC visiting on April 2.
Home games against Santa Clara (April 6) and California (April 16) are also slated for television broadcasts.
The MPSF Championships are set for April 22-24 and will be hosted by USC.
Stanford finished 13-6 overall and 8-4 in MPSF play during a pandemic-shorted 2021 campaign which began on March 6, the latest start date in program history. Battling through a challenging schedule that included all top-16 opponents, Stanford swept the season series against California, produced an MPSF runner-up finish and fell 9-7 to UCLA in the NCAA semifinals.
The Cardinal should be a national contender once again, fueled by the return of All-American and Olympian standouts Aria Fischer and Makenzie Fischer. The sister duo is returning to the pool for the first time since 2019, along with fellow All-American and 2019 MPSF Newcomer of the Year Ryann Neushul.
Stanford also returns three of its top four scorers from last season in Jewel Roemer, Chloe Harbilas and Hannah Constandse. The Cardinal will be anchored in goal by Maya Avital and Thea Walsh.