Top-Ranked Cardinal Hosts USC – Stanford Cardinal

MATCH NOTABLES

Stanford and USC competed against one another as members of the Pac-10/Pac-12 from 1995 through 2023 … the Cardinal is 0-2-2 against USC in the last four matches after going 5-1-0 over the previous six … each of the last six matches between the two teams have been decided by one goal or fewer … Stanford has not dropped a match to the Trojans at home since a 1-0 setback at Cagan on October 13, 2013

QUICK PASSES

• Stanford, ranked No. 2 in the nation to start the year, entered the week ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer polls after reaching the College Cup Final and closing the season ranked second in the nation a year ago … is the top-ranked team in the nation for the first time since finishing the 2019 season as the national champion
• The Cardinal is one of just 10 teams with a perfect 1.000 win percentage, joining Virginia from the ACC
• Stanford’s .167 goals against average if tops in the ACC and fifth nationally, trailing only Auburn, Harvard and Oklahoma State who have not allowed a goal … ranks first in the ACC and fifth nationally in shutout percentage (.833)
• The loss to Florida State in the 2023 national championship match snapped a string of 36 consecutive unbeaten matches (30-0-6), and Stanford is now unbeaten in 42 of its last 43
• Four of Stanford’s last seven goals have come within five minutes of either the start of the match or second-half kickoff
• Stanford made its 11th appearance in the College Cup, and its sixth appearance in the College Cup Final, last year … is 3-3 in national championship matches
• The Cardinal owns a 115-5-9 record at Cagan Stadium since the start of the 2014 season
• Stanford has posted a shutout in five of its first six matches of the season and has managed a clean sheet in 25 of its last 39 contests overall … is 3-0-0 in matches decided by one goal this season
• The Cardinal went 4-0 in the month of August – outscoring opponents 8-1
• With a 1-0 victory at San Francisco to start the season, Stanford extended its unbeaten streak to 18 straight matches in season openers (17-0-1) and has posted 10 shutouts over the string … the victory marked the fourth consecutive campaign that Stanford opened the year with a shutout (2-0 at Cal Poly in 2021, 5-0 vs. Sacramento State in 2022 and 4-0 vs. San Diego in 2023)
• The Cardinal has won two of the last seven College Cups – most recently capturing the title in 2019
• Jasmine Aikey is a preseason All-ACC selection and earned a spot on…