With Jasmine Aikey gone, the national runners-up lean on Sammy Smith, Caroline Birkel and a deep roster to chart a new path back to the title game.
The national runners-up are ready to take center stage. In just a few weeks, the Stanford Cardinal women's soccer program will begin its quest to return to the national championship, only this time to seal the deal.
While the Cardinal return several key players from last season and are expected to be a force once again, the departure of star Jasmine Aikey complicates matters. She was the bonafide focal point of the offense and star of the program, leaving the Cardinal needing to figure out a new identity this season.
Luckily, Stanford will have plenty of talent to utilize, boasting a deep and versatile roster. The Cardinal should be able to quickly figure out the type of team they will be this season and yet again be a difficult team to beat.
From the return of star goalie Caroline Birkel to Sammy Smith being freed from Olympic duty, soccer season on The Farm will be a fun one. Here are the five players to watch for Stanford women's soccer this season.
Defender/Forward Sammy Smith
Smith, arguably the most well-rounded athlete on the team, returns for another year, but is ready for an even bigger role this time around. A participant in this year's Winter Olympics as a cross-country skier, Smith's 2025 season was hampered by Olympic prep.
With no Olympics to worry about this time around and having the sting of losing in the national title game fresh on her mind, Smith will be hungry to make up for lost time and will head into the year firing on all cylinders.
Midfielder/Forward Charlotte Kohler
A standout at nearby Saint Francis High School, Kohler's college career so far has been more of the same, winning numerous accolades as a freshman after a stellar debut campaign saw her score five times and provide four assists.
Last season, Kohler became more of a focal point of the offense, finishing third on the team in points (41) with 12 goals and 17 assists. With Aikey turning pro, Kohler becomes the bonafide No. 1 for the Cardinal and is ready to unleash everything she has this season.
Midfielder Eleanor Klinger
While Klinger has been used as more of a super sub to start her career, her breakout campaign last year suggests that the program has her more involved in their plans heading into 2026.
Playing in 21 matches with 14 starts in 2025, Klinger proved to be a terrific midfielder, ending the year with eight goals and eight assists.
Klinger will be looking to firmly cement herself as a top player in collegiate soccer.
Goalie Caroline Birkel
Everything seemed to go right for Stanford last season, but at the end of the day, someone has to do the job of stopping the ball from going into the net. And Birkel's freshman campaign showed why the Cardinal went all-in trying to recruit her.
Earning ACC Goalkeeper of the Year, All-ACC First Team, and All-ACC Freshman Team honors, Birkel was the Cardinal's starting keeper all year in 2025, making 47 saves while allowing only 20 goals, ending with a 0.92 goals-against average.
Now with a season of experience under her belt, Birkel knows what to expect coming into the campaign and is not only a player to watch for Stanford, but a breakout player to watch in all of college soccer.
Defender Lizzie Boamah
Defending is an underrated part of soccer, and Stanford defender Boamah is a big name to watch.
Appearing in 24 matches with 18 starts this past season, Boamah was an anchor in the backline and had some very good moments, including providing the game-winning assist to help Stanford beat No. 1 Virginia in October while guiding the team into multiple shootouts that led to wins.
The Cardinal may be forced to rely more heavily on its defenders this year with Aikey having graduated, and having Boamah in the mix will be key to getting the most out of that defense.
