The Dons started their season in Connecticut at the UConn Umbro Classic, where they split the two matches they played. Their first meeting came against the University of Connecticut, which had been ranked #4 nationally, and where the Dons succumbed in a 4-1 loss. USF bounced back, though, and defeated Rutgers 1-0 for the team's first win of the season. The Dons then captured their second straight win, this time against Sacramento State. Erin Terbush and Heather Wigley, a sophomore transfer from Brown, each scored for USF in the 2-1 win, in which the Dons took 23 shots on goal. Anchored by 15 returning letter winners and 10 returning starters, the Dons are making no secret about their run at their first ever NCAA tournament appearance this season.
Helping the scoring aspect of things next season will be David (a "one-versus-one scoring artist" according to Verhees), Heather Wigley, a sophomore transfer from Brown, and Mollie Hautau, out of Navato, CA, who was also a regional player for 1996. The Dons played in a Spring league over the past couple of months to prepare for next season. They scrimmaged on Saturdays, playing two games per day against teams which included the University of Colorado, Portland, and St. Mary's. "We began to build our team early this year during the Spring program," said Verhees. "Everyone got nearly a game and a half of playing time each weekend (TheFoghorn)." (TheFoghorn).
