Last week presented a dynamic series of events for Stanford athletics, featuring both triumphs and challenges across various sports. The week was highlighted by women’s soccer’s impressive victory in the ACC Championship, securing a No. 1 seed for the upcoming NCAA tournament, while field hockey faced a disappointing end to its season. Men’s and women’s tennis athletes qualified for upcoming NCAA tournaments, and home basketball games commenced, showcasing the depth and talent within Stanford’s athletic programs.
Field Hockey
Stanford’s field hockey team concluded its season with a hard-fought 3-4 loss to No. 2 Virginia in the ACC tournament. Goal-scoring contributions came from freshman Summer Knight-Thomas, fifth-year Maroussia Walckiers, and sophomore Nadine Brenninkmeyer. Despite their efforts, the Cardinal could not equalize in the final moments of the match.
Men’s Tennis
In Berkeley, graduate student Alex Chang and sophomore Alex Razeghi showcased their skills at the ITA sectional championships. As both individuals and doubles partners, they achieved a 3-1 record, successfully qualifying for the NCAA Doubles Championships in Orlando, Florida, scheduled for November 18-23.
Women’s Tennis
Showing exceptional talent, freshman Alyssa Ahn clinched the singles title at the same ITA sectional championships, going undefeated at 6-0. Her decisive victory over Naomi Xu of Cal, with a score of 6-0, 6-1, not only secured her championship but also qualified her for the NCAA Championships. This marks the second consecutive year a Stanford freshman has won the singles title, following Valerie Glozman’s success last year.
Women’s Soccer
Stanford’s No. 1 women’s soccer team excelled in the ACC tournament, beginning with a semifinal win against No. 7 Virginia, where they dominated the first half with three goals. Sophomore Charlotte Kohler scored two of those goals, with senior Jasmine Aikey adding another. They later triumphed over No. 2 Notre Dame in the championship match, sealing victory via a penalty shootout, with Kohler clinching the title with a decisive sixth-round kick. As a result, Stanford earned the top seed for the NCAA tournament and will host Cal Poly in the opening round.
Men’s Soccer
The No. 2 men’s soccer team faced an intense week, first achieving a 4-2 comeback win over No. 15 Boston College in the ACC tournament. However, they were eliminated in the following round, suffering a narrow 0-1 defeat against No. 7 SMU due to a second-half penalty kick. The NCAA Tournament seeding will be revealed on November 17, as the team prepares to regroup on The Farm.
Men’s Water Polo
No. 3 men’s water polo delivered strong performances, winning both of their matches last week. They defeated No. 17 Santa Clara with a decisive 17-9 victory, where redshirt freshman Max Zelikov and junior Alex Gheorghe scored hat tricks. Following this, the Cardinal overcame No. 6 Pacific with a score of 16-7, led by sophomore Botond Balogh’s four goals. They will face No. 4 Cal in a crucial matchup this weekend.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Ranked No. 8, the men’s swimming and diving team performed admirably at the annual Triple Distance Meet in Berkeley, achieving eight event victories from six different athletes. Key wins included junior Henry McFadden in the 200 fly and senior Andres Dupont Cabrera in both the 100 and 200 freestyle. The team is set to compete at the Texas Diving Invite next week.
Women’s Swimming and Diving
This week, the No. 3 women’s swimming and diving team dominated at the same Triple Distance Meet, winning ten events. Notable achievements included senior Gigi Johnson’s victory in the 200 freestyle and redshirt senior Torri Huske sweeping the IM events. The team will also head to Texas for the upcoming Texas swimming and diving invites.
Men’s Basketball
In men’s basketball, the Cardinal secured two home wins last week. They first defeated Portland State 89-79, with freshman Ebuka Okorie and senior Chisom Okpara scoring 26 and 21 points, respectively. Following that, they triumphed over Montana State, finishing at 91-68, with Okorie leading the charge with 29 points. The team is scheduled to face Montana this Wednesday at home.
Women’s Basketball
Stanford’s women’s basketball team swept their three home games last week, starting with an 87-42 rout of UNC Greensboro. The following games saw them defeat Santa Clara 79-58, and dominate Cal Poly 90-55, led by junior Nunu Agara’s notable 16-point performance. The team will travel for its first road game against Washington State on Friday.
Wrestling
The No. 19 wrestling team faced a tough challenge, meeting No. 5 Oklahoma State and falling 33-7. The only victories for Stanford came from redshirt sophomore Tyler Knox and redshirt freshman Aden Valencia. Knox is ranked No. 6 nationally in the 133-pound class, while Valencia, ranked No. 18, secured a significant win over the No. 2 contender.
Women’s Volleyball
Ranked No. 5, the women’s volleyball team delivered two convincing wins at Maples Pavilion, defeating both No. 15 North Carolina and Duke in straight sets. Junior Jordyn Harvey and senior Elia Rubin played pivotal roles in these victories. Rubin achieved a career-high against Duke, becoming Stanford’s all-time leader in service aces. The team is set to host No. 3 Pitt and No. 10 SMU this week.
Sailing
Sailing teams divided their efforts between the ICSA Singlehanded Championship and West Coast Championship, placing third in both events. Junior Thomas Sitzmann excelled with five top-five finishes at the ICSA Championship. Looking ahead, Stanford will compete in the ICSA Match Race Championship and the PCCSC Open Race Championship next weekend.
Football
In football, Stanford faced the University of North Carolina, where they ultimately lost 20-15. A slow start saw the match tied at 3-3 at halftime, but UNC pulled away in the second half, scoring 17 consecutive points. Stanford managed to score late in the fourth, but it was not enough to close the gap. The team will use the upcoming bye week to prepare for the 128th Big Game on November 22.
Women’s Rowing
Competing in the San Diego Fall Classic, the women’s rowing team excelled, sweeping the top four positions in the Open 8+ category and the top five in the Open 4+. All nine Stanford boats remained unbeaten against competitors from several local schools. They will return to competitive action in the spring.
