SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco men's soccer team will take on Bay Area rivals Santa Clara and Saint Mary's this weekend, both at home and on the road. The Dons host the Broncos Friday at 7 p.m. as Rivalry Week continues between the two schools. Then on Sunday, the Dons travel to Moraga to take on the Gaels for a 2 p.m. match.
Santa Clara (8-6-0, 5-2-0 WCC) is in second place in the West Coast Conference with 15 points. USF (5-6-3, 3-4-1 WCC) is in fifth place in the conference with nine points. The Broncos sport a 4-2 road record and are 4-1 in their last five games. The Dons are 1-3-1 in their last five contests. The last time these two squads met, Oct. 7 at Santa Clara, the Broncos beat the Dons 2-1. So even though this is a home game for the Dons, it will be a tough matchup for Erik Visser's squad as they look to settle the season score.
Saint Mary's (8-3-3, 4-2-1 WCC) is in third place in the WCC with 13 points. The Gaels are 4-2-2 at home and are 4-1 in their last five games, and the defending WCC champions are riding a four-game win streak. The good news for USF is that they beat Saint Mary's earlier this month in San Francisco on Oct. 5 with a 2-1 final tally. The Green and Gold will try to get another win against the Gaels and go for the season sweep on Sunday.
Junior midfielder and Dons points leader Mauricio Diaz de Leon says both games should be good matches this weekend. “It's always a battle against the Bay Area teams. Santa Clara and Saint Mary's are both strong. We need to be at the top of our game!”
USF - BY THE NUMBERS:
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The Dons have been stingy on defense, allowing only 16 goals all season with a goals-against average of 1.07.
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Senior goalkeeper Brendan Roslund has been outstanding in the net for the Dons tallying 50 saves and three shutouts.
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Diaz de Leon leads the team in points (10) and goals (4). He also has two assists on the season.
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Sophomore forward Miguel Aguilar leads the team in shots taken with 44. He is fourth on the team in points with five.
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Sophomore midfielder Taylor Krueger and junior forward Liam Kelly are tied on the team for assists with three each.
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Sophomore defender David Romney (two goals and two assists) and junior forward Michael Shaddock (three goals) are tied for second place on the team with six points each.
FEARLESS LEADER: Visser is in his 35th season coaching with the Dons and 12th as head coach. He owns a career coaching record of 101-103-20. Visser earned his 100th coaching victory vs. Saint Mary's on Oct. 5, a 2-1 overtime affair.
Santa Clara – BY THE NUMBERS:
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Senior goalkeeper Larry Jackson has been stellar in the net. He has only allowed 14 goals on the season for a 0.97 goals-against average. He has posted 53 saves and four shutouts.
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Santa Clara senior forward Erik Hurtado leads the WCC in several offensive statistical categories, including shots (4.47 per game), points ( 2.13 per game), and goals (0.93 per game). Hurtado's 0.93 goals per match rank fourth in the NCAA.
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Senior forward Erik Hurtado leads the WCC in several offensive statistical categories, including shots (4.47 per game), points ( 2.13 per game), and goals (0.93 per game). Hurtado's 0.93 goals per match rank fourth in the NCAA. He also leads the Broncos with 32 points on the season, 14 goals, four assists and five game-winning goals.
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Freshman forward Ryan Masch has had a strong first season, second on the team with 12 points, five goals, two assists and three game-winning goals.
Saint Mary's – BY THE NUMBERS:
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Sophomore goalkeeper Andre Rawls is another stalwart netminder. He has allowed only 13 goals on the season for a 0.82 goals-against average. He also has tallied 53 saves and seven shutouts this season.
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The tandem of seniors, Nathan Arambula and Tariq Adam, have combined for 21 points, six goals and nine assists this year.
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Senior Trevor Newquist and freshman Gerardo Mendoza are tops on the team in goals scored, with four each.
