Know Your Dons - Madalyn Schiffel
9/8/2015 2:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer
A championship-caliber baseball team needs a stalwart starting pitcher. A football team relies on an unflappable quarterback at the helm. Similarly, a successful soccer squad requires a field general in goal; one who can direct her teammates, anticipate the next shot, and most importantly, make the crucial save. The USF Dons' women's soccer team has had that luxury for most of the past three years in the form of senior keeper Madalyn Schiffel. The only negative in Schiffel's game is that she can't be around forever.
Schiffel (Roseville, Calif. / Cornerstone HS) jumped right into the starting lineup as a freshman in 2012, starting the first 10 matches of the season before an injury sidelined her for the remainder of her rookie season. Despite missing half the season, her performance was good enough to earn her an invite to the Team USA U-18 National Team tryouts that spring. Since healing, Schiffel has not left the starting lineup for fourth-year head coach Jim Millinder.
She went on to earn All-WCC honorable mention honors as a sophomore, establishing herself as an anchor for the Dons defense while she racked up six shutouts and 87 saves without ever leaving goal that season, and again earning national recognition as she was invited to participate in the Team USA U-20 tryouts.
Schiffel followed that up with a junior campaign in 2014 that saw her post five shutouts and earn second team All-WCC honors, resulting in her third consecutive invite to a Team USA camp, this time with the U-23 squad.
Only six matches into her final season on the Hilltop, Schiffel has already tied the career mark with 21 shutouts in goal. As she nears the end of her collegiate career, Schiffel has already established her legacy as one of the best keepers to ever grace Negoesco Stadium.
"Know Your Dons" is an on-going feature on USFDons.com designed to personalize the student-athletes of the University of San Francisco. Meet @madomotto, Madalyn Schiffel.
Student Life:
Favorite spot on campus (other than athletic facility): On top of the Koret parking lot at sunset
Favorite class (why): Hip-hop theater. This class creates a safe environment where we can express ourselves, and it gives me a chance to work on improving my hobby of freestyle/spoken word.
Favorite place to study on campus: "The bubble" top floor of Kalmanovitz
Keys to balancing the demands of school and your sport: After four years of school and soccer at USF, I have found a nice balance between the two and I even find time for extra activities.
What experience made the biggest impact on you in the classroom?: The biggest impact that I have had in the classroom is within my business classes, having to work within so many different groups of different people. Very practical to the real world.
The best thing about USF is: The small class sizes and the location.
Pop Culture
Favorite TV show: Masterchef
Last book you read: Mindset - Carol Dweck
Favorite singer or band: Beyonce
What's on your iPod: A little bit of everything (besides country)
Team
Top skill: Shot stopping
One thing you are always working on: My right foot
One skill of one of your teammates you wish you had: Halle Bissin's ability to win a header anywhere, anytime
Pregame rituals or superstitions before events: Pregame locker room dance party and I put on my left glove before my right glove.
Funniest teammate: I don't have a specific one. We have so many characters on our team this year, and to me everyone is hilarious in their own way.
Favorite Coach Millinder saying: "That's America girls."
Favorite bonding moment with your team: This past Tahoe preseason trip has probably been my favorite all around bonding moment with my team.
Sports
Sports teams I follow: Washington Spirit NWSL, Everton FC
Favorite athlete: Tim Howard and Ashlyn Harris
Favorite athletic memory: Growing up the only "vacations" my family took were to soccer tournaments, but it turns out those were the only vacations I needed.
Biggest sports thrill: Attending the Women's World Cup Finals
My second-best sport: Basketball: ball is life.
Sport I'm the worst at: Golf
Earliest sports memory: Attending every one of my brother's baseball and soccer practices waiting for my chance to be on a team.
First sport you ever played: Soccer
Food and Travel
Favorite meal: My Dad's steak, my Grammie/my Mom's rebaked potatoes, and MILK
Favorite ethnic cuisine: Eritrean
Guilty pleasure: Frozen Waffles
Least favorite food: Tomatoes
If I had to cook all of my meals, I'd survive on: Meat and potatoes
Who is the best cook on the team?: Halle is a masterchef, and she can make a really mean salad dressing.
If stranded on an island, what would you bring with you: Some friends and make it like a real life Survivor
Most interesting place you've ever visited: Barcelona
Place you'd most like to visit someday: Alaska!
Favorite place in San Francisco: Sutro Baths
This and That
Hobbies: Cooking, Photography/Videography, Skateboarding, Freestyle rapping, Watching YouTube Videos, Listening to music, Driving, exploring, aaaaaand playing soccer
Pick three words to describe yourself: Determined, hardworking, and loving
Something people would be surprised to know about me: I listen to a lot of podcasts, and I enjoy smelling things
Person I'd most like to meet: Michael Jordan
Talent I wish I had: Drawing
Role models: My brother and my grammie
My parents were right when they said: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.
In 10 years, I'd like to be: Playing professional soccer and playing for the U.S. Women's National Team and be in a committed, healthy, and happy relationship.
Pet peeves: When people chew with their mouth open
Cats or dogs: My dog, Dani
Best advice you've ever received and who was it from?: "Always be true to yourself, no matter what people say" - Dana, a wise older lady I met when I was in Canada for the Women's World Cup.
In your own words, describe the overall student-athlete experience at USF: My experience at USF has been far better than anything I could have ever imagined. Coming from a high school of 40 kids, I was open to being thrown into one of the most diverse cities in the world, and it has done wonders for me as a person. Being at USF has helped me find an identity for myself and to continue to grow and expand my mind. I could not be more thankful for this University, the City, and the friends I have made here.
