The record may not show it, but Stanford field hockey has held its own in the preseason. Stanford is 3-6 with NorPac Conference play on the horizon, but those losses have come at the hands of the nation’s best.

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Andrew Bruck

Senior Midfielder Julia Drewes will try to improve on a 3-6 preseason when the NorPac Conference season starts next week. The Card closed the preseason on a high note, defeating Yale, 2-0 .

The Cardinal scored commanding victories over UMass and Columbia, but has lost to four ranked teams, including the top two in the national polls. Stanford has added nine newcomers to a roster that includes five of last year’s seven top scorers, including 2005 NorPac Rookie of the Year and top scorer Caroline Hussey.

Kicking off the 2006 season at home, Stanford’s 2-1 win over Massachusetts featured goals by junior Jess Zutz and senior Aska Sturdevan.

With one win under its belt, Stanford wasted no time in going up against the big guns, dropping a 4-1 decision to top-ranked Maryland. Sturdevan scored Stanford’s lone goal and junior goalkeeper Madison Bell was named NorPac Defensive Player of the Week for her career-high 11 saves against the Terrapins. Only three teams have lost to the undefeated Terps by fewer goals.

Stanford faced a second consecutive ranked opponent in American University, ranked sixth at the time, losing a heartbreaker in overtime, 4-3. Sturdevan scored her third goal of the season and Zutz and senior Julia Drewes added one apiece.

Again facing a top team, this time No. 2 Wake Forest, Stanford was shutout for the first time in 2006 and yielded six goals. Bell tallied 16 saves, topping her previous career high.

The Cardinal took a break from Top Ten competition and recorded a 5-1 win over Columbia, with Drewes scoring twice and Zutz, senior Liz Robinson and sophomore Hillary Braun netting one each.

Playing on the road for the first time, Stanford lost a close 4-3 game to crossbay rival No. 15 California. Stanford took a 3-0 lead into halftime, but the Bears regrouped and scored four unanswered goals in the second half. Drewes, Zutz and Robinson scored Stanford’s three.

Stanford again lost by a single goal, visiting Iowa last week. Drewes scored the Card’s lone goal in the 2-1 loss. With victory within reach, the Cardinal lost in overtime for the second time this season, falling to Northwestern 3-2 on Friday. Freshman Rachel Mozenter scored the first goal of her career and Robinson made it two for Stanford.

In its last preseason tilt, Stanford beat Yale 2-0 Sunday.

Stanford will look to reverse its fortunes in the NorPac season where California is the only ranked competitor. The Cardinal finished fourth in conference in 2005 but seem poised to improve that finish. The valuable experience of the preseason’s close calls and tough losses to top-ranked teams should serve the Card well as they look toward the conference and national championships.