10-12-2025, 01:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-12-2025, 03:32 PM by OCcardinal.)
(10-10-2025, 05:59 PM)BostonCard Wrote: Stanford has conceded just seven goals so far this season, has posted seven shutouts, including four straight, and has managed a clean sheet in 39 of its last 68 contests overall … Stanford is outscoring its opposition 17-0 over the four shutout winsStanford has the #7 defense per Massey and Top Drawer Soccer named Elise Evans the #1 defender (#2 player overall) and Lily Freer the #1 frosh defender (#2 frosh overall) in their midseason rankings.
https://gostanford.com/news/2025/10/9/ha...-0-shutout
Hard to think of the defense as weakness, but I get the drift.
BC
I think there are 2 reasons people are scared to be all in on this defense:
1) Stanford defense had not given up more than 1 goal in any game at all in the 2023 season until it gave up 5 in the championship match against Florida State.
2) Hailey Craig, though a first year starter last season, was really good. Her heroics are what got us to the College Cup last season.
That said, we are not as reliant on our defense to win games this season. We already have 49 goals (through 12 games) compared to 35 goals (in 23 total games) last season.
In any case, the next 2 games will tell us a lot. Go Card!