[fullmetal]

I wouldn’t call it flukey.  Anytime you have a strong centering pass and an unguarded player at the far side of the goal you are begging for trouble.  We’ve made a living off goals like this, so I don’t think we can discount FSU’s.

Sure, but the player wasn't exactly unguarded so much as a Stanford defender tried to deflect the crossing ball but did so straight to Hudson, probably six feet away, who had an uncontested, point-blank look at the goal from ~10 ft away.  The recognition of the Stanford player that she had essentially passed the ball to Hudson was immediate and full of regret :(

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/4...e-stanford

It's just tough that Stanford had some quality looks that were stopped by a quality GK, and Stanford also had a quality GK who played it right but just couldn't anticipate the way this goal happened.  FSU is a deserving team, but I wish Stanford had been able to convert just one of their many looks.

[fullmetal]

I wouldn’t call it flukey.  Anytime you have a strong centering pass and an unguarded player at the far side of the goal you are begging for trouble.  We’ve made a living off goals like this, so I don’t think we can discount FSU’s.

Sure, but the player wasn't exactly unguarded so much as a Stanford defender tried to deflect the crossing ball but did so straight to Hudson, probably six feet away, who had an uncontested, point-blank look at the goal from ~10 ft away.  The recognition of the Stanford player that she had essentially passed the ball to Hudson was immediate and full of regret :(

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/4...e-stanford

It's just tough that Stanford had some quality looks that were stopped by a quality GK, and Stanford also had a quality GK who played it right but just couldn't anticipate the way this goal happened.  FSU is a deserving team, but I wish Stanford had been able to convert just one of their many looks.

[Jamesy]

I’d say overall we gave ourselves a better chance to score over the course of the match, but the advantage wasn’t so overwhelming; both sides had some good chances, either side could have won, and they just got the one that we couldn’t stop.

NCAA - Stanford vs Florida State

xG (Post-Shot xG)

1.78 (2.03) - Stanford
1.60 (0.94) - Florida State

The post-shot xG differential shows that Stanford created and took shots from better and more dangerous positions than FSU (closer to goal, clearer sightlines, less pressure) and then executed the shots exceptionally well (much better than FSU executed). The FSU goalkeeper just had an all-time NCAA finals goalkeeping performance. Stanford's post-shot xG in the Michigan State, where it scored 5 goals, was only slightly higher at 2.37.  And last year, when we failed to score against Wake Forest in the semis, our post-shot xG was 0.43. This might hurt even more given how well the team actually played.

FSU had a higher xG than us in the regular season game we won handily. Wish the situations were reversed, but that's soccer for you.

[Jamesy]

I’d say overall we gave ourselves a better chance to score over the course of the match, but the advantage wasn’t so overwhelming; both sides had some good chances, either side could have won, and they just got the one that we couldn’t stop.

NCAA - Stanford vs Florida State

xG (Post-Shot xG)

1.78 (2.03) - Stanford
1.60 (0.94) - Florida State

The post-shot xG differential shows that Stanford created and took shots from better and more dangerous positions than FSU (closer to goal, clearer sightlines, less pressure) and then executed the shots exceptionally well (much better than FSU executed). The FSU goalkeeper just had an all-time NCAA finals goalkeeping performance. Stanford's post-shot xG in the Michigan State, where it scored 5 goals, was only slightly higher at 2.37.  And last year, when we failed to score against Wake Forest in the semis, our post-shot xG was 0.43. This might hurt even more given how well the team actually played.

FSU had a higher xG than us in the regular season game we won handily. Wish the situations were reversed, but that's soccer for you.

[Spiny_Norman]

Elise Evans is the national scholar player of the year. She and Jasmine Aikey are named 1st team Scholar All Americans while Andrea Kitahata is 3rd team. 

https://gostanford.com/news/2025/12/18/e...ecognition

[Spiny_Norman]

Elise Evans is the national scholar player of the year. She and Jasmine Aikey are named 1st team Scholar All Americans while Andrea Kitahata is 3rd team. 

https://gostanford.com/news/2025/12/18/e...ecognition

[PalmTree]

Elise Evans is the national scholar player of the year. She and Jasmine Aikey are named 1st team Scholar All Americans while Andrea Kitahata is 3rd team. 

https://gostanford.com/news/2025/12/18/e...ecognition

Wow - good for Evans - congrats to all 3!

[PalmTree]

Elise Evans is the national scholar player of the year. She and Jasmine Aikey are named 1st team Scholar All Americans while Andrea Kitahata is 3rd team. 

https://gostanford.com/news/2025/12/18/e...ecognition

Wow - good for Evans - congrats to all 3!

[OCcardinal]

Maryn Wolf has announced she is transferring to South Carolina.

[OCcardinal]

Maryn Wolf has announced she is transferring to South Carolina.

[OCcardinal]

Shae Harvey has announced she is leaving Stanford after 3 seasons. Not clear if she is graduating or whether she is transferring/turning pro.  Big loss in the midfield.

[OCcardinal]

Shae Harvey has announced she is leaving Stanford after 3 seasons. Not clear if she is graduating or whether she is transferring/turning pro.  Big loss in the midfield.

[BobK]

Harvey just announced that she signed with the Portland Thorns

[BobK]

Harvey just announced that she signed with the Portland Thorns

[OCcardinal]

Harvey just announced that she signed with the Portland Thorns

I haven't seen any of our 3 top players without remaining eligibility (Aikey, Evans and Kitahata) sign with anyone.  If there were still an NWSL draft, they would surely all be first rounders (at least Evans and Aikey). Anyone know what's going on?  Are they perhaps holding out for European club contracts?

[OCcardinal]

Harvey just announced that she signed with the Portland Thorns

I haven't seen any of our 3 top players without remaining eligibility (Aikey, Evans and Kitahata) sign with anyone.  If there were still an NWSL draft, they would surely all be first rounders (at least Evans and Aikey). Anyone know what's going on?  Are they perhaps holding out for European club contracts?

[BobK]

Kitahata signed with Gotham

[BobK]

Kitahata signed with Gotham

[Lorcan]

Jasmine Aikey to the Denver Summit!! I'm happy to have her in town here!

[Lorcan]

Jasmine Aikey to the Denver Summit!! I'm happy to have her in town here!

[BobK]

https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soc...winn/15321

Winn transferred to Stanford

---

https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soc...winn/15321

Winn transferred to Stanford

https://www.facebook.com/stories/1080878...tid=wwXIfr

[BobK]

https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soc...winn/15321

Winn transferred to Stanford

---

https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soc...winn/15321

Winn transferred to Stanford

https://www.facebook.com/stories/1080878...tid=wwXIfr

[Hieronymus]

1768001238[/url]']
https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soc...winn/15321

Winn transferred to Stanford

---

https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soc...winn/15321

Winn transferred to Stanford

https://www.facebook.com/stories/1080878...tid=wwXIfr

This seems very significant - forward has a lot of questions with Montoya, Aikey and Kitihata graduating. Wolf transferring hurts depth as well. I would expect that Winn will start next year.

Winn - Holden - Klinger next year? Though maybe Klinger will be needed in MF depending on Bhuta’s situation.

[Hieronymus]

1768001238[/url]']
https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soc...winn/15321

Winn transferred to Stanford

---

https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-soc...winn/15321

Winn transferred to Stanford

https://www.facebook.com/stories/1080878...tid=wwXIfr

This seems very significant - forward has a lot of questions with Montoya, Aikey and Kitihata graduating. Wolf transferring hurts depth as well. I would expect that Winn will start next year.

Winn - Holden - Klinger next year? Though maybe Klinger will be needed in MF depending on Bhuta’s situation.

[cardfan77]

Jasmine Aikey Mac Hermann winner. Very derserving and congrats to Aikey! 

https://gostanford.com/news/2026/01/9/ai...ann-trophy

[cardfan77]

Jasmine Aikey Mac Hermann winner. Very derserving and congrats to Aikey! 

https://gostanford.com/news/2026/01/9/ai...ann-trophy

[oldalum]

Winn - Holden - Klinger next year? Though maybe Klinger will be needed in MF depending on Bhuta’s situation.

Winn seems like a great catch for us, I assume thanks to UCLA head coach Aozasa departing for Texas and us graduating Aikey and Kitahata. But did you forget about Kohler, or did something unfortunate occur? Unless I missed something, I would think Kohler will be a clear starter at forward again next year.
-ds

[oldalum]

Winn - Holden - Klinger next year? Though maybe Klinger will be needed in MF depending on Bhuta’s situation.

Winn seems like a great catch for us, I assume thanks to UCLA head coach Aozasa departing for Texas and us graduating Aikey and Kitahata. But did you forget about Kohler, or did something unfortunate occur? Unless I missed something, I would think Kohler will be a clear starter at forward again next year.
-ds

[Sakibomb25]

Winn - Holden - Klinger next year? Though maybe Klinger will be needed in MF depending on Bhuta’s situation.

Winn seems like a great catch for us, I assume thanks to UCLA head coach Aozasa departing for Texas and us graduating Aikey and Kitahata. But did you forget about Kohler, or did something unfortunate occur? Unless I missed something, I would think Kohler will be a clear starter at forward again next year.
-ds

Kohler played mid for us last year. Klinger started most of the year at forward.

I am hoping Bhuta comes back because we’ll need her leadership… and I hope Emri is healthy… she showed promise as a freshman before she got injured.

[Sakibomb25]

Winn - Holden - Klinger next year? Though maybe Klinger will be needed in MF depending on Bhuta’s situation.

Winn seems like a great catch for us, I assume thanks to UCLA head coach Aozasa departing for Texas and us graduating Aikey and Kitahata. But did you forget about Kohler, or did something unfortunate occur? Unless I missed something, I would think Kohler will be a clear starter at forward again next year.
-ds

Kohler played mid for us last year. Klinger started most of the year at forward.

I am hoping Bhuta comes back because we’ll need her leadership… and I hope Emri is healthy… she showed promise as a freshman before she got injured.

[Hieronymus]

Kohler started maybe 2 games or so at forward - I believe when Kitahata and Montoya were both hurt. But yes the vast majority of the time Kohler was LM last year.

[Hieronymus]

Kohler started maybe 2 games or so at forward - I believe when Kitahata and Montoya were both hurt. But yes the vast majority of the time Kohler was LM last year.

[Hieronymus]

For the moment assuming no Bhuta, my estimated lineup next year looks like:

Winn - Holden - Klinger.  Subs: Thomas and maybe Harrison.
Kohler - Nguyen - Jung . Subs: maybe Johnson and maybe Bray.
Some 4 of Boamah, Freer, Emri, Murdock and Smith.  Subs: whoever doesn’t start. Maybe Tay.
Birkel. Sub: Jota

Not a lot of proven depth, but a decent though very young team with only 1 key senior. Losing a bunch of key players will do that. Not a lot of speed in the starting line up, but I don’t know how Winn profiles out. We will see what the incoming Frosh look like.

[Hieronymus]

For the moment assuming no Bhuta, my estimated lineup next year looks like:

Winn - Holden - Klinger.  Subs: Thomas and maybe Harrison.
Kohler - Nguyen - Jung . Subs: maybe Johnson and maybe Bray.
Some 4 of Boamah, Freer, Emri, Murdock and Smith.  Subs: whoever doesn’t start. Maybe Tay.
Birkel. Sub: Jota

Not a lot of proven depth, but a decent though very young team with only 1 key senior. Losing a bunch of key players will do that. Not a lot of speed in the starting line up, but I don’t know how Winn profiles out. We will see what the incoming Frosh look like.

[TheFarm07]

For the moment assuming no Bhuta, my estimated lineup next year looks like:

Winn - Holden - Klinger.  Subs: Thomas and maybe Harrison.
Kohler - Nguyen - Jung . Subs: maybe Johnson and maybe Bray.
Some 4 of Boamah, Freer, Emri, Murdock and Smith.  Subs: whoever doesn’t start. Maybe Tay.
Birkel. Sub: Jota

Not a lot of proven depth, but a decent though very young team with only 1 key senior. Losing a bunch of key players will do that. Not a lot of speed in the starting line up, but I don’t know how Winn profiles out. We will see what the incoming Frosh look like.

Not knowing too much about women's collegiate soccer what does that lineup translate to? A step back from national title contenders to a top-20 team? A more significant drop than that? Depends on how quickly the freshmen contribute?

[TheFarm07]

For the moment assuming no Bhuta, my estimated lineup next year looks like:

Winn - Holden - Klinger.  Subs: Thomas and maybe Harrison.
Kohler - Nguyen - Jung . Subs: maybe Johnson and maybe Bray.
Some 4 of Boamah, Freer, Emri, Murdock and Smith.  Subs: whoever doesn’t start. Maybe Tay.
Birkel. Sub: Jota

Not a lot of proven depth, but a decent though very young team with only 1 key senior. Losing a bunch of key players will do that. Not a lot of speed in the starting line up, but I don’t know how Winn profiles out. We will see what the incoming Frosh look like.

Not knowing too much about women's collegiate soccer what does that lineup translate to? A step back from national title contenders to a top-20 team? A more significant drop than that? Depends on how quickly the freshmen contribute?

[BostonCard]

I’ll defer to the more knowledgeable here, but I would guess top-10 but not top-5.  There’s still a lot of talent in the lineup, but we are losing a fair bit of offensive firepower.  I think getting back to the college cup would be a stretch, but in a single elimination soccer tournament, anything is possible.

Interested what others think.

BC

[BostonCard]

I’ll defer to the more knowledgeable here, but I would guess top-10 but not top-5.  There’s still a lot of talent in the lineup, but we are losing a fair bit of offensive firepower.  I think getting back to the college cup would be a stretch, but in a single elimination soccer tournament, anything is possible.

Interested what others think.

BC

[DenverCard]

I've long thought Boamah is best suited to forward.  She likes to take on her opponent with the ball and she's skilled.  She also has a strong leg for crosses.  I'd like to see her at left wing.

I am always reluctant to be critical of the student athletes with whom I still identify, even asI've already played out the 40-year decision, but I don't think Brooke Holden is ready to be a starter.  She racked up a bunch of goals early in the year in "garbage time," but against good teams she looked overmatched.


Stanford women's soccer is like Alabama football -- every year they're a threat.  I think the defense will remain solid without Elise Evans, the midfield is very strong, and among the forwards leaving this year, only Aikey will be hard to replace.  Potentially a brobdingnagian hole at center forward, to be sure, but I'm inclined to believe there will be someone on next year's roster who will be a pleasant surprise.  I don't know a thing about any of the incoming frosh, but every year it seems like 2-3 become starters, so I have to expect we'll see the same in 2026.

[DenverCard]

I've long thought Boamah is best suited to forward.  She likes to take on her opponent with the ball and she's skilled.  She also has a strong leg for crosses.  I'd like to see her at left wing.

I am always reluctant to be critical of the student athletes with whom I still identify, even asI've already played out the 40-year decision, but I don't think Brooke Holden is ready to be a starter.  She racked up a bunch of goals early in the year in "garbage time," but against good teams she looked overmatched.


Stanford women's soccer is like Alabama football -- every year they're a threat.  I think the defense will remain solid without Elise Evans, the midfield is very strong, and among the forwards leaving this year, only Aikey will be hard to replace.  Potentially a brobdingnagian hole at center forward, to be sure, but I'm inclined to believe there will be someone on next year's roster who will be a pleasant surprise.  I don't know a thing about any of the incoming frosh, but every year it seems like 2-3 become starters, so I have to expect we'll see the same in 2026.