In the End, Cross Country Gets Edged Out
After sweeping the Pac-10 championships in October, the men’s and women’s cross country teams took second and fifth place, respectively, at the NCAAs in November. “For a young group of runners, we certainly did a great job,” coach Vin Lananna said after the meet, noting that the Stanford men finished only 1 point behind the Colorado champs. Junior Lauren Fleshman, one of the premier young middle-distance runners in the United States, was the top finisher for both teams, placing third in the women’s race. Going into the championships, both squads were unbeaten for the season.
Men’s Soccer Captures Its First Conference Crown
The men’s soccer team captured the Pac-10 title for the first time in November, with a conference record of 6-1-1 (16-1-1 overall). Junior Roger Levesque, who led the conference in goals scored—10—was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year. At press time, the third-seeded Cardinal had advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament, defeating Portland, 3-1, in front of a home crowd. In his first season on the Farm, coach Bret Simon has been handing out generous field time, using 27 of the 29 players on the roster in at least one game.
A Third-Round Exit for Women’s Soccer
Led by Pac-10 Coach of the Year Andy Nelson, who captured his 100th career win in his second year on the Farm, the women’s soccer team finished off the regular season 13-3-2, earning a fourth consecutive NCAA Women’s College Cup berth. The fifth-seeded Cardinal reached the third round of the NCAAs before losing to Texas A&M, 1-0. With eight returning starters bolstered by five freshmen and a sophomore walk-on, the squad has attracted a big, vocal following this year. The October 5 match against Santa Clara drew 2,103 fans to Maloney Field, the largest crowd ever to attend a Stanford women’s soccer game.
For Volleyball, Pac-10 Accolades All Around
Capping his first fall on the Farm with a Pac-10 championship—Stanford’s ninth—and a 27-2 regular-season record, women’s volleyball coach John Dunning was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year in November. Following his example, Olympian Logan Tom, who led the league in kills, points and service aces, was named Pac-10 Player of the Year; and freshman outside hitter Ogonna Nnamani walked away with Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors. By early December, the team had reached the third round of the NCAAs, but Dunning said getting to the Final Four would take perseverance: “The key will be to not believe we are good enough now, and work very hard to improve each day.”
