Eight teams remain in what was once a field of 64, four games will decide who ends the journey here, and who gets to make their way to Cary for the College Cup. In this NCAA Women’s Soccer Quarterfinals Preview series, we’re going to look at who’s made it and how they got here. Today, we’re starting off with the University of Nebraska and Stanford University.
Nebraska vs Stanford
The first match of the weekend is Nebraska (17-3-3) vs Stanford (18-0-4).
Stanford are three-time national champions with home-field advantage, most recently winning in 2019. However, this is their deepest run in the tournament since that title.
Nebraska has never been to a College Cup, making only their third-ever quarterfinals appearance. The last time they made it this far in the NCAA Women’s Soccer tournament? 1999.
How they got here:
While Stanford hasn’t allowed a single goal against, Nebraska loves scoring them.
Stanford defeated Pepperdine 3-0, South Carolina 3-0, and Mississippi State 1-0 to make it this far.
Nebraska defeated South Dakota State 5-2, Tennessee 2-1, and UC Irvine 4-0.
What will it take to win?
Stanford’s defense will have their work cut out for them, as Nebraska will take full advantage of any chance they get to slip in behind. If you make a mistake, you’re going to pay when you come up against the best offense in the country, with the nation’s top goalscorer.
Nebraska senior forward Eleanor Dale has 28 goals on the season, with eight game-winning goals (second in the country), while Stanford senior goalkeeper Ryan Campbell has a goals-against average of .380 – the best in the country, with only seven goals against.
Player to Watch
We’d be remiss not to mention Nebraska junior midfielder Florence Belzile, whose 17 assists in 23 games places her third in the country in assists per game. Belzile is comfortable on the ball and unafraid to beat an opponent on the dribble. After Nebraska’s 3-2 win against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal on October 29 in which she had three assists, Belzile spoke with media, sharing “I take assists pretty seriously, I like feeding the ball to people.”
An athlete in the Canadian youth national system, Belzile is a playmaker worth keeping an eye on.
The series between these teams is tied.
In four meetings, each have two wins.
The last time Stanford and Nebraska met on the soccer field, it was September 12, 2004, and the Cardinal won it 1-0. A highlight of the post-match recap from Stanford included this gem:
Senior Nicole Barnhart (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) posted her second-straight shutout of the season and picked up five saves in goal.
Stanford Athletics
Will the Cardinal uphold their clean sheet stretch and continue their winning ways? Or will they meet their match with the Cornhuskers?
Who will take the lead in this series, for the chance to meet BYU or UNC in Cary on December 1st?
Only time will tell.