KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — Top-ranked Stanford and No. 3 Duke have a lot in common. Each women’s soccer team is seeking its first title, and they have similar on-field styles.
They took separate roads to the NCAA championship, though.
Duke (22-3-1) was not only unranked before the season; the coaches in their own conference picked the Blue Devils to finish in the middle of the ACC. By contrast, Stanford (24-0-1) has been No. 1 for months and the Cardinal are trying to avoid losing the title game for the fourth straight year.
Nobody wants to reach the promised land four straight times, as Stanford seniors Teresa Noyola, Lindsay Taylor, Camille Levin and Kristy Zurmuhlen have in making it to four consecutive College Cups, without winning it all.
