STANFORD, Calif. – Senior Elise Evans has been named United Soccer Coaches National Scholar Player of the Year, headlining a trio of Cardinal named Scholar All-Americans by the organization on Thursday.
Evans and Jasmine Aikey were named Scholar All-America first team, while Andrea Kitahata earned a spot on the third team. The trio had previously been tabbed Scholar All-West Region first team.
Evans, a communications major, is the third Stanford player to earn National Scholar Player of the Year from United Soccer Coaches, joining Kelley O’Hara (2009) and Teresa Noyola (2011).
Evans, named College Sports Communicators Academic All-America first team this year, was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and a United Soccer Coaches All-America first team pick, while also being named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, All-ACC first team and ACC All-Tournament. A team captain and the team leader in minutes played with 2,156 at center back, Evans accumulated seven goals, including two game-winners, and six assists for 20 points. She recorded her first career multi-goal match on November 21 vs. Alabama in the NCAA Tournament second round, and managed a pair of assists in Stanford’s 7-0 victory vs. San Francisco to open the season. Evans was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week and helped the Cardinal limit opponents to 24 goals (0.96 per game) on 205 total shots - including just 80 on frame. Stanford managed nine shutouts this year with Evans directing the back line.
Aikey was named the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for Division I while also landing on the Academic All-America first team. A midfielder from Palo Alto, Calif., she recently helped lead Stanford to a national championship berth and made her third consecutive College Cup appearance. The senior carries a 3.97 GPA while pursuing a degree in computer science. She has been named a finalist for the 2025 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, the nation’s highest individual honor recognizing the National Player of the Year. Aikey was named the 2025 TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year and a United Soccer Coaches All-America first team selection. She was also named to the All-ACC First Team and was named the ACC Championship All-Tournament MVP. She led the Cardinal with 53 points, 21 goals, 11 assists, and seven game-winning goals. She also led Division I in points and ranked second nationally in game-winning goals and third in goals. Overall, she tallied at least one goal in 16 of her 25 matches to go along with five multi-goal games.
Kitahata, a College Sports Communicators Academic All-America second team selection this year, was named United Soccer Coaches All-Region second team, All-ACC first team, and was selected ACC Offensive Player of the Week on October 21. The native of Hillsborough, Calif. contributed at least one point in each of the first six matches this season and had a point in 19 of the 25 matches this year. Kitahata put together two different strings of four straight matches with a goal this year, and had a goal in 12 of the last 20 overall. She ranked second on the team in points with 44 (17 goals and 10 assists) and managed four game-winners.