Difficult year, but Cardinal confident

Ryan Campbell faced one of the most difficult seasons imaginable, and she led the Stanford women’s soccer team in having a chance to win, anyway.

The goalie stepped in net following the loss of Katie Meyer, who died from suicide in March, and like the rest of the team, dedicated the season to her. The junior goalie finished the season with nine shutouts, including her first postseason start in the first round.

Stanford fell to BYU 2-1 in penalty kicks in the second round Thursday, ending its season at 17-2-3. The Cardinal, winners of the Pac-12, made their 31st NCAA tournament in a season in which they weren’t projected to get so far. Gone was defender Naomi Girma, the No. 1 overall

NWSL pick, and Stanford knew it would be reliant on its freshmen.

Campbell posted on her Instagram page after the match, “This season was equally joyful as it was difficult. This year tested me as well as my teammates in an unexpected and truly lamentable way. I am humbled and beyond proud of my teammates, myself, and the broader Stanford community for rallying together as a collective and making this season unforgettable.”

Campbell, who finished with a .836 save percentage and just 11 goals allowed, will return next season as the starter in net once more, with a season of challenges behind her that included a win over thenNo. 1 UCLA

“It was a breakout season for her,” head coach Paul Ratcliffe said. “She was a strong point for the team. I'm really proud of her.”

Freshmen Allie Montoya, Jasmine Aikey and Elise Evans left their marks as the new backbone of the program.

BYU had the 15thranked offense in the country, and the Cardinal held the Cougars to the single goal early, and didn't allow another until penalty kicks, in which BYU won 5-4.

Ratcliffe said, “We had a strong season. Obviously would have liked to have gone further, and losing in PKs can be tough. But I'm really proud of how this team has overcome challenges.”

Ratcliffe said Maya Doms and Kennedy Wesley have expressed their desire to return for fifth years, and Katie Duong has indicated that as well. Sierra Enge and Abby Grubel will depart after their fifth seasons, and Ratcliffe expects Emily Chiao and Paige Rubinstein will leave.

Montoya tore her ACL in the Cardinal's win over UCLA, cutting the freshman's season short. She already had surgery, according to Ratcliffe, and is projected to be back for the start of next season. She had five goals and four assists before she got injured, and still finished fourth on the team in scoring.

Aikey took her place up front and ended up tied with Lumi Kostmeyer for the team lead in goals with 10. Aikey had five in the postseason.

“She just exploded,” Ratcliffe said. “It's remarkable. You can put her anywhere on the field and she is going to be an impact player.”

Another player who dealt with injury was Evans, the defender who won the Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year award after being one of the top recruits in the nation. Evans missed the final regular-season game and didn't get any minutes in the first-round win over San Jose State, but started against BYU.

She was the lone player from Stanford or BYU to miss in penalties, and was dealing with the nagging ankle injury.

“She took on a lot of responsibility,” Ratcliffe said. “I thought she was really good. She's going to keep getting better and be a big part of our team.”

The Cardinal began the season ranked No. 21 and shot all the way up to seventh while dealing with the emotional difficulties of putting together the mental health game against the Bruins to honor Meyer and using their platform to promote Katie's Saves.

Enge could be an NWSL draft pick, and the co-captain will leave a hole in the leadership group, but retaining Wesley and Doms for another season while the sophomores-to-be develop as the core of the Cardinal leaves a bright future.

Stanford should be in position for another Pac-12 run.

“All the things we had to deal with this year, they really did an amazing job,” Ratcliffe said. “They came together as a group, were the Pac-12 champions, and it's because they faced everything together.”