The No. 1 Stanford women’s soccer team may have tackled one of this year’s biggest challenges when it swept a talented pair of Los Angeles schools on the road last weekend, but it will have its hands full once again as it hosts its first set of conference games against Washington State and Washington. For as much as Stanford (11-0-2, 2-0 Pac-10) has accomplished in its undefeated season, the Cougars (6-7, 1-1) and Huskies (9-3-1, 2-0) are formidable teams in their own right, and have impressed in their recent outings.

The duo of Northwestern squads each hosted the Arizona schools last weekend, posting a combined record of 3-1. The Huskies, Stanford’s opponent in Sunday’s game, managed to sweep both teams–a particularly difficult feat against then-No. 25 Arizona State, who had just two losses on the year before its defeat in Washington. The Cougars, meanwhile, hung tough against ASU in a 1-0 loss and shut out Arizona two days later, 1-0.

The performance of the Washington schools on opening weekend, combined with Stanford’s victories over USC and No. 16 UCLA (both 1-1 in the conference), put them in position to gain an early edge in the Pac-10 standings. The Cougars and Huskies both advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, and would no doubt like to return.

“Washington and Washington State are both definite contenders,” said Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe. “So we have to play our best to beat them. We have to earn it.”

Despite having a less-than-stellar record on the year as a whole, the Cougars showed last year that they can push a team like Stanford to the limits. On a rainy afternoon last October, Washington State, ranked No. 14 at the time, forced the Cardinal into its only overtime game of the regular season. A goal from Christen Press tied it in the 87th minute, and Stanford barely maintained its perfect record with a golden goal from recent graduate Kelley O’Hara.

Of course, Washington State’s roster has changed since its thrilling meeting with the Cardinal last season. While it isn’t faring quite as well in the standings at the moment, Ratcliffe considers it a well-built team.

“I think Matt Potter’s a great coach at Washington State, he has a really solid team and they’re always tough to play against,” he said. “It’s always a hard game, so I expect it to be difficult and we’ve got to prepare for them, for sure.”

The Cougars and Huskies both had impressive weekends against the Arizona schools, but it’s hard to argue that they have more momentum then the Cardinal. Stanford has won its last 10 contests, including matches against then-No. 3 Portland and then-No. 13 Santa Clara. Over that stretch, the Cardinal has scored 33 goals while allowing only five. Stanford also boasts the nation’s co-leader in goals scored (Christen Press, with 16) and the Pac-10 leader in assists (midfielder Teresa Noyola, with nine).

Speaking of his recent victories over USC and UCLA in particular, Ratcliffe was quick to point out that the Cardinal can’t rest on its laurels, but acknowledged that success breeds confidence.

“It shows that we’re a really strong team and we have the character as well, because it’s difficult to win at home against two really strong opponents,” he said. “So it should give us a lot of self-confidence and self-relief.”

While the Cardinal has clearly found a formula for success in recent weeks, Ratcliffe also isn’t afraid to change up his team’s approach when necessary. Against USC last Friday, sophomore midfielder Marjani Hing-Glover got her first start of the year while junior Camille Levin, who has some experience at all areas of the field but has played mostly at forward this season, started as a defensive back.

The Cardinal could continue to change its lineup this weekend.

“We’re looking at different lineups against different teams, we have so many good players, so it’s just a matter of our mood and what we see tactically for each game,” Ratcliffe said. “Marjani did a tremendous job, Annie Case has been doing a tremendous job if we put her at back, and Cami’s a great forward and back, so it’s just a game-day decision that we’re looking at the opponents.”

The Cardinal will square off with the Cougars at 5 p.m. on Friday, then will face the Huskies at noon on Sunday. Both matches will be held at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.