This year in Pac-12 women’s soccer
• USC women’s soccer is the 2016 NCAA Champion for the second time in program history defeating West Virginia at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif. It is the Pac-12’s fourth title in the sport all-time.
• Six Pac-12 teams earned berths to the 2016 NCAA Championship. STANFORD earned the No. 1 seed for the third-straight year and was joined in the field by No. 2-seeded USC, No. 4-seeded UCLA, COLORADO, CALIFORNIA, and UTAH.
• Stanford’s Andi Sullivan was voted Pac-12 Player of the Year, while USC’s Mandy Freeman was tabbed Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Colorado’s Taylor Kornieck was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year while USC’s Sammy Jo Prudhomme was voted Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year. For the seventh time in nine years, Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year.
• The Pac-12 holds an all-time record of 184-121-28 (.595) in the NCAA Tournament with four national championships and five second-place finishes, including USC taking the national crown in 2016.
• The Pac-12 had six NSCAA/Continental Tire Division I All-America honorees, more than the last two years when there were five representatives. Stanford’s Maddie Bauer and Andi Sullivan were named to the first team, while their teammate Jane Campbell and USC’s Mandy Freeman and Morgan Andrews on the second team. Jessie Fleming of UCLA earned third-team honors.
• ARIZONA started out the season 5-2-1 in non-conference play, including tying then-No. 16 Texas Tech (2-2) in double overtime. The Wildcats totaled 13 wins on the season for a final record of 9-9-1 placing them seventh in the Pac-12.
• ARIZONA STATE started the season 5-2-1 in non-conference play. The Sun Devils suffered two very important losses to their offense due to injury in Jazmarie Mader and Aly Moon. Despite missing seven games, Mader still led the Pac-12 in goals per game (0.67).
• CALIFORNIA earned its 13th-straight NCAA Tournament berth and 24th all-time. The Bears fell to Pepperdine, tying 1-1 in double overtime, but ultimately losing in penalty kicks (3-2) in the first round. During the week of Oct. 3-9, Cal’s goalkeeper Emily Boyd received Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week, NSCAA Player of the Week, TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Week, and ESPNW Player of the Week honors. She is the only athlete this season to receive honors from all four entities in the same week.
• COLORADO dominated the Pac-12 season going 8-2-1, tying USC for second after finishing 12th in the Pac-12 last year. The Buffs earned a berth to its ninth NCAA Tournament all-time and third in the last four years. Taylor Kornieck was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. The team advanced through to the second round, losing to South Carolina (1-0). Colorado led the Conference in saves, averaging 5.05 per game.
• OREGON started the season strong going 6-2-1 in non-conference play, including beating Nebraska in their home opener, the first program win over a Big Ten opponent. The Ducks finished the year with a 8-10-2 (2-8-1 Pac-12 record), the program’s best record in four years. With 26 goals, the team tallied the most since the 2010 season (29).
• OREGON STATE ended its season with a win over Oregon, the first victory at Pape Field since 2010 and its first win over Oregon since 2013. Junior forward Nikki Faris was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention honoree and junior Bella Geist was once again a solid goalkeeper for the Beavers, averaging 4.30 saves per game, the No. 3 mark in the league.
• STANFORD, the 2016 Pac-12 Champions for the sixth time in the last eight years, earned the No. 1 seed for the third-straight year. The team earned its 25th all-time postseason appearance and 19th-consecutive bid. The Cardinal reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to Santa Clara in double overtime. Junior midfielder Andi Sullivan was tabbed Pac-12 Player of the Year.
• UCLA earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their 20th appearance all-time with three second place finishes, five ties for second, and one national championship in 2013. The team made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament but fell short to No. 1-seeded West Virginia in penalty kicks. The Bruins led the league in assist and assists per game with 48 and 2.18, respectively. Freshman Jessie Fleming received third team NSCAA All-America honors. Fleming led the Bruins in goals (11), points (27), and shots (42).
• USC won the NCAA Championship after taking their journey all the way to the College Cup final against West Viriginia, beating them 3-1. Katie Johnson was the College Cup’s most outstanding offensive player after scoring two goals in the last 16 minutes of the game. The Trojans joined North Carolina (21 titles), Notre Dame (3) and Portland (3) as the only multiple winners of the College Cup. The Trojans earned their third-straight NCAA Tournament berth and claimed a No. 2 seed, which ties the program high. The Trojans tied for second in the Pac-12. Senior midfielder Mandy Freeman was voted the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and redshirt senior Sammy Jo Prudhomme was selected Goalkeeper of the Year.
• UTAH made its seventh all-time NCAA Tournament appearance. From 2002-2006 the Utes made five-consecutive NCAA appearances under head coach Rich Manning, the best streak in program history. Utah looks to start another streak as it made its first appearance since 2013.The Utes advanced through the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history but fell to USC (1-0). The Utes nearly doubled their win total from last year (7) and had more Pac-12 wins. Hailey Skolmoski led the Pac-12 in points (29), goals (13), and game-winning goals (7). Her seven game-winning goals placed her seventh in the nation in the category. She was also named to the NSCAA All-Pacific Region first team.
• WASHINGTON started the season strong, going 5-3-1 in non-conference play. Junior forward Kimberly Keever received second team All-Pac-12 honors. In the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team’s match against Mexico, redshirt freshman Kelcie Hedge scored a game-winning goal in stoppage time to help the team advance to the semifinal at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 victory.
• WASHINGTON STATE went 8-9-2 (3-7-1 Pac-12) on the year, including going 5-2-1 in non-conferenc play. The Cougs were led by their two forwards, senior Kaitlyn Johnson (second-team All-Pac-12) and freshman Morgan Weaver (All-Freshman team). To end their season, the Cougars extend their unbeaten streak against Washington to 13 seasons, going 9-0-4 in that stretch.