University of San Francisco Athletics

Head Coach: Steve Negoesco
Overall Record: 28-1   PSC Record: 5-0-0
All-PSC Team: Andy Atuegbu, Bjorn Dahl, Anthony Gray, Tony Igwe, Luis Magalhaes, Alex Nwosu
Most Goals:  Dag Olavson (17)    
Most Assists:  Felipe Magalhaes (11)
Most Points: Dag Olavson (40 – 17 goals, 6 assists)    
Goals Against Average:  Andy Fry (0.88)
USF Hall-of-Famers:  Peter Arnautoff , Andy Atuegbu, Bjorn Dahl, Anthony Gray,
Steve Negoesco

It was a year that records were broken and dreams realized as USF defeated Indiana 2-0 in the title game to grab their third NCAA championship in four seasons. The Dons roared through the regular season at 26-1, good enough for a No. 2 ranking in the national polls. In the NCAA tournament the seeds held as the top four teams in the country in the national rankings each advanced to the Final Four.

USF faced a tough and gritty Clemson squad in the national semi-finals and subdued the Tigers 2-1. Clemson scored first, then in the 43rd minute Tony Igwe tied the game on a penalty kick. Just one minute later Luis Felipe Magalhaes scored to give USF a 2-1 halftime lead. USF dominated the second half, playing tight defense on Clemson’s explosive center forwards.

In the NCAA championship game versus Indiana USF took a 1-0 lead just 14 minutes into the game. Jan Erik Shaug lofted a centering pass to Alex Nwosu in front of the Indiana goal. With a defender draped all over him, Nwosu passed the ball to Dag Olavson who with his back to the goal made the classic scissors kick and the ball hit the back of the net for the early lead. The Dons insurance goal was set up by Nick Lambridis, who blasted a long pass to Nwosu, who then beat the goalie to the ball and scored.

Highlights during the regular season included a 3-2 win over nationally ranked UCLA, a 2-0 blanking of California and a perfect 5-0-0 slate in the Pacific Soccer Conference. Forward Tony Gray received recognition in Soccer America magazine in October and Igwe the team captain was outstanding on defense and went six-for-six on penalty kicks. The 1978 season marked the end of the four year careers of USF Hall-of-Famers Peter Arnautoff, Bjorn Dahl, Gray and Igwe.