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Match Nos. 12-13
San Francisco Dons (6-3-2, 0-0-0 WCC) vs. Portland Pilots (4-5-3, 0-0-0 WCC)
Friday, October 17, 2014 • 7 p.m.
Negoesco Stadium • San Francisco, Calif.
All-time record vs. Portland: 21-19-4
Last meeting: Portland 0-1 (November 17, 2013)
Live Stream: TheW.tv
Live Stats: USFStats.com
 
San Francisco Dons vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (2-9-0, 0-0-0 WCC)
Sunday, October 19, 2014 • 2:30 p.m.
Negoesco Stadium • San Francisco, Calif.
All-time record vs. Gonzaga: 16-12-3
Last meeting: USF 1-0 (November 15, 2013)
Live Stream: TheW.tv
Live Stats: USFStats.com
 
SAN FRANCISCO—After an impressive preseason slate, the Dons return home to begin West Coast Conference play against their Pacific Northwest rivals Portland and Gonzaga beginning on Friday.
 
The Dons will host Portland on Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on Gonzaga on Sunday as part of a double header with the USF women's soccer team.
 
WRAPPING UP PRESEASON PLAY
The Dons finished the preseason with a 6-3-2 record, which included two wins over Top 25 teams and a tie against a top 30 team. It is the best start after 11 games since 2006 when the Dons reached the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with a 12-7-1 record.
 
CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS
San Francisco will begin West Coast Conference play on Friday against Portland. The Dons, who were picked to finish seventh by the coaches, will play a total of seven conference games with one game coming against each team, including WCC newcomer Pacific. USF enters conference play with the second best record in the preseason.
 
DOUBLE HEADER SUNDAY
Sunday's match against Gonzaga will be the finale of a double header, which will begin with the women's soccer team playing host to cross bay rival Saint Mary's at 12 p.m.
 
T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY FRIDAY
The Dons will be giving away t-shirts to the first 300 fans at Negoesco Stadium on Friday. Check USFDons.com under "Fan Central" for the full promotions schedule.
 
DEFENSE ON LOCKDOWN
While the Dons offense has come alive through the first six matches, their defense has been nearly as impressive. San Francisco has recorded five shutouts over their last eight matches and the back line of Joshua Smith, Manny Padilla, David Romney and goalkeeper Chase Hauser has been in the center of it. The Dons have a 0.79 goals against average, which is the 32nd best in the nation and tops in the WCC. The team has also recorded shutouts in 45 percent of their matches, good for 36th in the nation.
 
NEAR TOPS IN WCC
A number of Dons are near, if not at, the top of several WCC statistical categories. Chase Hauser leads the WCC with a 0.79 GAA and is third with a .786 save percentage. Miguel Aguilar is second in the conference in goals with four, two behind league leader Tristan Blackmon (Pacific). David Romney, Manny Padilla and Davi Ramos are tied for fourth in the conference with three assists, two behind the leader Michael Semenza (Saint Mary's).
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Dons jumped out to an early 1-0 lead against Santa Clara on a goal from Sixto Porras, his second of the season, but were unable to keep the Broncos off the board and had to settle for the 1-1 tie at Buckshaw Stadium. The Dons ended the preseason 6-3-2.
 
CLIMBING IN THE RPI
After finishing last season with an RPI of 123, the Dons have quickly moved up the ranks this preseason and currently sit with an RPI of 67, third in the WCC behind Saint Mary's and Loyola Marymount.
 
TAKING DOWN THE TOP 25
The Dons have posted wins over No. 21 Wisconsin to open the season and beat No. 24 Florida Gulf Coast on Friday night. The two wins over Top 25 teams marks the first time the program has accomplished the feat since 2011 when they beat No. 18 Santa Clara and No. 25 Portland in consecutive matches.
 
GROUNDING THE EAGLES
The Dons welcomed in No. 24 Florida Gulf Coast for the team's home opener on Friday night and controlled much of the match, wearing the Eagles down. Following an FGCU red card, the Dons finally scored on a 72nd minute penalty kick by Danny Kirkland to give them a 1-0 lead. It was his second game-winner of the season and gave the Dons their second win over a Top 25 team.
 
TAMING THE BADGERS
The Dons got a first half goal from newcomer Davi Ramos and another goal from Danny Kirkland to take a 2-0 lead against No. 21 Wisconsin. The Badgers scored in the 81st minute but that is as close as they would get. It was the first time since 2007 the Dons had defeated a ranked opponent (2-1 vs. No. 11 California) and is the first time since 2008 they had beaten a Big Ten opponent.
 
SUMMER WITH MLS SQUADS
Miguel Aguilar was among a group of Dons who participated with various MLS developmental teams this summer. Aguilar spent the summer with the Portland Timbers developmental academy and played in eight games, recording a goal and an assist. Danny Kirkland and Joshua Smith were with the San Jose Earthquakes academy and gained valuable experience to bring back to the Dons this season.
 
ABOUT PORTLAND
The Pilots started off sluggish but have caught fire of late. Portland started the season 1-5-3 but has won the last three matches and has scored 11 times in those games. Last season's leading scorer Eddie Sanchez missed the first six matches of the season but has come on strong and has scored four times, including a two-goal game against Pacific.
 
ABOUT GONZAGA
The Bulldogs' 2-9-0 record may be a misleading considering they have played an incredibly tough schedule that has included games against Washington, California and Stanford. Gonzaga has scored a mere nine goals through 11 games while allowing 22 without a shutout.  Conner Bevans leads the team in points with six.