Florida State first up as Cardinal pursue goal of title repeat
CARY, N.C. — The Stanford women’s soccer team might be the defending national champion, but that’s in name only as far as the Cardinal is concerned before this weekend’s Women’s College Cup.
“Something that’s so special about this team is that we acknowledge what we did last year, but it’s a new team, a new season,” said senior midfielder Jordan DiBiasi, the team’s second-leading scorer with 30 points (10 goals, 10 assists). Sophomore forward Catarina Macario is the top point-getter with 36 points on 14 goals and eight assists.
“We enjoyed last season until the new year, then starting in January it was, ‘Here we go. We have something to prove,’ ” DiBiasi said. “In spite of all the injuries and adversity we’ve faced, through our chemistry and our depth of talent we’ve been able to persevere.”
Even though Stanford has extended its school-record unbeaten streak to 45 games and earned a return trip to the national semifinals, where it will take on Florida State on Friday, things haven’t come easy for coach Paul Ratcliffe’s team.
The Cardinal (21-0-2) has overcome a number of major obstacles, not the least of which are season-ending injuries to U.S. National Team defender Tierna Davidson and freshman forward Sophia Smith.
Stanford has also had to play through national team call-ups and the distraction of having to move its second-round NCAA tournament game against Ole Miss to Salinas because of smoke from the Camp Fire.
Through it all, the team has grown closer and gained motivation to become the second school in the 37-year history of the Women’s College Cup to win back-to-back national titles.
“This might be the most adversity I’ve personally faced on a team,” DiBiasi said. “With the injuries, it’s given other people opportunities and they’re stepping up huge for us. With the wildfires, we can’t control that so we just go with the flow … stay focused and stay committed to our goals.”
Florida State (18-4-3) may have to play a backup goalkeeper, with starter Brooke Bollinger listed as a game-time decision because of an injury. Her replacement, Caroline Jeffers, has yet to lose a game while allowing just two goals in four NCAA tournament victories.
But like the Cardinal, the ACC champions were the top seed in their region, and the Seminoles have lost just once in their past 12 games. Among their victories during that stretch is a 3-2 triumph against fellow national semifinalist North Carolina three weeks ago.
“All the teams that have gotten to this point, each one has something special about us,” said Stanford senior defender Alana Cook. “We’re excited to find out what that really is with Florida State. They’ve got a talented lineup. They play good solid soccer. It’s going to be a fun challenge for both of us to try and negate what the other one does and what makes that team so special.”
Although the teams play on opposite coasts, Stanford and Florida State are no strangers when it comes NCAA tournament play.
They played one another a year ago in a third-round game at Stanford. It took a 60-yard run by Davidson to produce the game’s only goal in a 1-0 Cardinal victory.
“It was a hard game last year,” Ratcliffe said. “Alana said it really well, when you get to this point every team has some special group. So then it’s on the day, who’s going to take those moments and separate themselves as the best team.”