Four teams in the hunt for Pac-12 women's soccer crown
• Four teams are vying for the Pac-12 women’s soccer regular season title with just two weeks remaining. No. 1 STANFORD leads a tight race with 24 points and a perfect 8-0-0 league record, followed by fifth-ranked USC in second (21 points) with No. 6 UCLA and No. 16 CALIFORNIA tied for third (19 points) in the Conference standings.
• The four teams still in the Pac-12 hunt play each other this week and will have a large impact determining the Pac-12 Champion. This California coast showdown starts Thursday with No. 16 California at No. 5 USC and then Pac-12 Network’s Thursday Goals airs No.1 Stanford at No. 6 UCLA.
• On Sunday, No. 16 California flips with its travel partner to take on No. 6 UCLA, while No. 1 Stanford faces No. 6 USC. Both matches will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.
• Stanford owns a 14-12-3 (.534) all-time record against the Bruins (6-1-1) and has won the last two meetings. USC gave the Cardinal its only loss during the 2016 regular season. UCLA and Cal tied 1-1 last season as the Bruins hold a 3-1-1 record over the past five seasons.
• Defending national champion USC (7-0-1) breaks into the top-five of the United Soccer Coaches poll for the first time since week one after wins against Washington, 2-0, and Washington State, 2-1. The Trojans moved into second in the Pac-12 and joins Stanford (8-0-0) as the only two teams with out a loss in Conference play.
• ARIZONA looks to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing last year as the squad has gained momentum over the past four games (2-0-2), including a tie against then-No.1 UCLA. The Wildcats are fourth in the league (14) with their only losses coming from Stanford and USC, both 1-0 matches. The team has received votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll for four straight week.
• WASHINGTON STATE earned its biggest upset of the season last week, defeating UCLA, 1-0, on home turf. The Cougars are now 3-3-1 against ranked opponents this year. Other significant matches include a tie versus No.19 Minnesota, 0-0, and then knocking off No 14. Nebraska, 1-0, and No. 24 UTAH, 3-0.
• The Pac-12 has four teams ranked in the top 15 in national win-loss-tie percentage; second Stanford (0.938), fifth USC (0.900), tied seventh UCLA (0.875), tied eleventh California (0.844). 11 Pac-12 teams appear in the top 100 of the NCAA RPI, including five teams in the top 25, led by Stanford with a No. 2 RPI.
• Stanford is on a 13-game win streak and has 13 shutouts, which leads the Conference and ranks second nationally. Stanford leads the nation in goals per game (4.06), total assists (62), total points (192), shots per game (25.50) and shots on goal per game (11.69) The Cardinal’s 65 goals through 16 games leads the country and is more than any Division I team scored all last season.
• In the national stats, UCLA is tied for seventh in total points (126) tied or eighth in total goals (41) and tied for sixth in total assists (44).
• Stanford’s Catarina Macario picked up her first Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honor, collecting nine points last week with three goals and three assists in two matches. The freshman’s sensational season continues to gain national recognition with 12 goals and nine assists for the lead in the Conference, en route to being selected for TopDrawerSoccer’s Best IX weekly team
• USC’s Ally Prisock earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week helping the Trojans walk away with two wins last week. Colorado’s Jalen Tompkins earns her third-career Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week honor thanks to a season-high 11 saves against Arizona, 0-0, and recording another clean sheet against Arizona State, 3-0.
• Colorado, WASHINGTON and Washington State are looking to boost their postseason profile this week, hoping to get an invitation to the NCAA Tournament. The 2017 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship bracket will be announced Nov. 6, the Monday prior to the first-round of competition.
• Three Pac-12 student-athletes appear on the 2017 Senior CLASS Award candidate list: Andi Sullivan, Stanford; Zoey Goralski, UCLA; and Alex Anthony, USC. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, honors the attributes of NCAA Division I senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season to determine an official ballot and the winner will be announced during the College Cup in December.
• The Pac-12 has the most representatives on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List with seven student-athletes, the most from the Conference since seven in 2010. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer, presented annually to one male and one female athlete. The Conference is represented by Jemma Purfield, Arizona State; Taylor Kornieck, COLORADO; Andi Sullivan and Tierna Davidson, Stanford; Jessie Fleming, UCLA; Ally Prisock, USC; and Hailey Skolmoski, Utah
• On TopDrawerSoccer 2017 Preseason Women’s DI Best XI teams, the Pac-12 tied for the most selections with seven student-athletes and had the most of any league with five on the Freshmen Best XI. UCLA’s First Team selection: Jessie Fleming, UCLA and Andi Sullivan, Stanford. Second Team: Jemma Purfield, ASU; Tierna Davidson, Stanford; Taylor Kornieck, Colorado. Third Team: Emily Boyd, California; Ally Prisock, USC. Freshmen: Emily Smith, California; Kennedy Faulnor, UCLA; Savannah DeMelo, USC; Ashley Sanchez, UCLA; Catarina Macario, Stanford.
CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded standings)
| Teams | Points | Pac-12 Record | Overall Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford | 24 | 8-0-0 | 15-1-0 |
| USC | 21 | 7-0-1 | 13-1-1 |
| UCLA | 19 | 6-1-1 | 13-1-2 |
| California | 19 | 6-1-1 | 13-2-1 |
| Arizona | 14 | 4-2-2 | 7-4-4 |
| Washington State | 9 | 3-5-0 | 8-6-2 |
| Washington | 8 | 2-4-2 | 9-6-2 |
| Colorado | 8 | 2-4-2 | 8-5-4 |
| Arizona State | 5 | 1-5-2 | 4-9-3 |
| Oregon State | 4 | 1-6-1 | 4-9-3 |
| Oregon | 3 | 1-7-0 | 7-9-0 |
| Utah | 2 | 0-6-2 | 5-8-3 |
UPCOMING SCHEDULE (Times local to site)
| Thursday, Oct. 26 | ||
| #16 California at #5 USC | P12N | 2:30 p.m. PT |
| Colorado at Oregon State | 3 p.m. PT | |
| Washington at Arizona | 7 p.m. PT | |
| Washington State at Arizona State | 7 p.m. PT | |
| Utah at Oregon | 7 p.m. PT | |
| #1 Stanford at #6 UCLA | P12N | 7:30 p.m. PT |
| Sunday, Oct. 29 | ||
| Colorado at Oregon | P12N | 11 a.m. PT |
| Utah at Oregon State | P12N | 11 p.m. PT |
| Washington State at Arizona | 12 p.m. PT | |
| Washington at Arizona State | 1 p.m. PT | |
| #16 California at #6 UCLA | P12N | 1 p.m. PT |
| #1 Stanford at #5 USC | P12N | 3 p.m.PT |
P12N/P12A/P12BA/P12LA/P12M/P12O/P12W - Indicates live broadcast on Pac-12 Network. MWN - Indicates live broadcast on Mountain West Network.
PAC-12 WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
THIS WEEK
Offensive: Catarina Macario, Stanford
Defensive: Ally Prisock, USC
Goalkeeper: Jalen Tompkins, COLO
ALSO NOMINATED
Offensive:
Cali Crisler, ARIZ; Abigail Kim, CAL; Marty Puketapu, COLO; Ashley Sanchez, UCLA; Alex Anthony, USC.
Defensive: Sabrina Enciso, ARIZ; Joss Orejel, COLO; Indigo Gibson, CAL; Tegan McGrady, STAN; Grace Hancock, WSU.
Goalkeeper: Lainey Burdett, ARIZ; Emily Boyd, CAL; Ella Teagan Micah, UCLA; Kaylie Collins, USC; Sarah Shimer, WASH; Dederick, WSU.
2017 PAC-12 WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
NATIONAL HONORS
MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List:
Andi Sullivan, Tierna Davidson Stanford; Jemma Purfield; Arizona State, Taylor Kornieck; Colorado, Ally Prisock; USC, Jessie Fleming; UCLA, Hailey Skolmoski; Utah
TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Week
Ashley Sanchez, UCLA, Sept. 12; Jessie Fleming, UCLA, Aug. 22
2017 Senior CLASS Award
Andi Sullivan, STAN; Zoey Goralski, UCLA; Alex Anthony, USC
IN THE PRESEASON
Pac-12 Preseason Poll | NSCAA Preseason Poll | Soccer America Preseason Poll unavailable as of 8/23