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The Stanford women's soccer team will be featured on the first live event broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks and appear on 12 televised contests throughout the Pac-12 Networks' debut season.

The television appearances highlight the 19-match schedule for the defending NCAA champion Cardinal, which plays host to local rival Santa Clara in the televised inaugural match on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. It is one of 58 women's matches the Networks will televise.

"We are very excited to be featured on the Pac-12 Networks as the first-ever game broadcast," said Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe, 2011 Pac-12 Coach of the Year. "It's a historic day for the Pac-12 Conference and a great opportunity for women's soccer to gain national exposure."

Stanford returns seven starters, three NSCAA first-team All-Americans and six All-Pac-12 selections, including four first-team all-conference choices, from a 25-0-1 team that beat Duke, 1-0, in the NCAA College Cup final. The Cardinal will be aiming for its fifth consecutive College Cup appearance under Ratcliffe, a three-time national coach of the year, and fourth consecutive Pac-12 title.

Going into the 2012 season Stanford will put these streaks on the line: a 62-match regular-season unbeaten streak, a 54-match home unbeaten streak, and 31-match conference winning streak.

Four of Stanford's nonconference matches and eight of its 11 Pac-12 contests will be televised, included showdowns against UCLA and Cal.

The schedule overall includes contests against nine 2011 NCAA tournament teams, of which six advancing beyond the first round, and two - Penn State and Boston College - advanced to the third. Stanford will play Boston College at home in a televised match Aug. 31.

Other notable characteristics of the schedule for Stanford: the annual Pac-12 showdown with UCLA will take place on Oct. 28 in Los Angeles; and only two of its final eight regular-season matches are at home.

Boston College will attempt to gain a measure of revenge after being knocked out of the NCAA tournament by Stanford each of the past three years, including a 2-0 result last season at Stanford. It is one of nine home dates, not including an exhibition against Fresno State on Aug. 10 (7 p.m.), at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.

Santa Clara, fittingly, will be the official season opener, as well as the historic first live contest for the Pac-12 Networks, which launches Aug. 15. The Pac-12 Networks will consist of one national and six regional networks devoted solely to the Pac-12. One of those regional networks will be focused on Stanford and Cal.

"We are excited about the opportunity to deliver the kind of exposure to women's soccer that it richly deserves," said Gary Stevenson, President of Pac-12 Enterprises. "Year after year, the Pac-12 produces some of the very best teams and most prolific women's soccer players in the country, including last year's national champion Stanford."

Fans can find out if they can get Pac-12 Networks by visiting www.Pac-12.org or by contacting their television provider.

— Stanford Sports Information

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