Stanford secures Pac-12 title after 1-1 draw against Cal, while No. 1 UCLA falls to USC

BERKELEY, Calif. – No. 7 Stanford (16-2-2, 9-1-1 Pac-12) played to a 1-1 draw at California (10-4-6, 5-3-3 Pac-12) on Friday to earn sole possession of the Pac-12 championship and punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

The Pac-12 title is the 15^th in program history, including the first since 2019. The championship is also the 10^th in 20 seasons under Knowles Family Director of Women’s Soccer Paul Ratcliffe.

Stanford, which will make its 31^st NCAA Tournament appearance next week, was picked to win the Pac-12 in the annual preseason coaches poll.

While the draw with California clinched sole possession of the conference crown, Stanford played the second half of the match with at least a share of the title in hand after No. 14 USC defeated No. 1 UCLA 2-0 in Los Angeles earlier in the day.

After a scoreless first half, junior Samantha Williams put the Cardinal on top with her seventh goal of the season in the 60^th minute. Williams dribbled past her defender on the right wing before sending a cross into the box where it deflected off a California defender and into the back of the net.

Watching @Samanth52372985 score goals never gets old. ?#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/npJFBtS668

— Stanford Women's Soccer (@StanfordWSoccer) November 5, 2022

California’s Karli Lema equalized for the Bears in the 74^th minute, snapping a string of five consecutive shutouts for the Cardinal. Stanford did not allow a goal over 572:30 from a match against No. 21 Washington State on October 9 through the Cal goal on Friday.

Junior goalkeeper Ryan Campbell recorded five saves in net for the Cardinal, helping to run Stanford’s unbeaten streak to 10 contests (9-0-1).

The Cardinal will now await the announcement of the NCAA Tournament field on Monday at 12:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.