THIS WEEK:
San Francisco vs. Santa Clara
Sunday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. | Negoesco Stadium
Audio/Video: TheW.tv
LIVE STATS | WATCH
The USF men's soccer team returns to action after a 13-day break to host Santa Clara in both teams' West Coast Conference opener on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. at Negoesco Stadium. The Dons are riding a modest two-match winning streak after posting a 2-1 upset over then-No. 12 Stanford on Sept. 23, followed by a 3-2 double overtime win over UC Riverside on Sept. 25 and are looking to get off to a strong start in conference play, much the way they did last year against these same Santa Clara Broncos.
USF was 2-9 heading into WCC play last year before a wild 2-1 victory at Santa Clara – where all three goals were scored in the final eight minutes – helped propel them to a resurgence in conference action. With a 4-5 overall record, the Dons have found more success at the midway point this year - especially at home, where they are 3-2 – but are still aiming to build momentum heading to the most crucial part of their schedule.
"We had a good weekend leading up to our break," third-year head coach
Eddie Soto said. "Santa Clara is doing well; the whole conference is doing well. It's going to be tough; it's going to be a battle every game."
The Dons come into the week leading the conference with 15.67 shots per game and rank 5th in goals with 14, with senior
David Garrett leading the way with four.
"We've been scoring a lot of goals," Soto said. "We've been good going forward. For us it's a collective work. David [Garrett] has been scoring some goals, but he's been getting a lot of good service, good assistance from his midfielders.
"It's been good performance. With three home games coming up, we've really got to work hard and take care of that advantage."
The Broncos will arrive at Negoesco Stadium sporting a 5-4-0 record and are coming off a 1-0 loss at UAB on Tuesday. However, Santa Clara but had won four of their last five prior to that. The Broncos' winning record comes in spite of a conference-low seven goals on the year, led by Satoshi Chaffin and Carlos Delgadillo, who share the team lead with two goals apiece. SCU is used to tight matches as every one of their contests this season has been decided by one goal.
USF will be looking for its third consecutive win over the Broncos, with the Dons leading the all-time series by a 30-26-11 margin. Altogether, USF has won or tied four of the last five meetings.
In honor of Pink Weekend on the Hilltop, USF will be partnering with Bay Area non-profit HERS Breast Cancer Foundation to help raise support and awareness for breast cancer. Fans wearing pink to the match will receive free entry and USF Athletics will be collecting donations for HERS during the match.
Sunday's match will be streamed live on TheW.tv, the West Coast Conference's digital platform. USF's broadcasting tandem of Charles Wollin (play-by-play) and Joe Dugan (analyst) will be on the call.
Adult single-game tickets are available to see the Dons on the newly renovated pitch at Negoesco Stadium for just $10. Seniors and recent alumni who have graduated from USF within the past 10 years can acquire seats for $5 per seat. Back by popular demand, USF faculty, staff and students and youth 12 and under enter Negoesco Stadium free all fall. Fans wishing to secure a season ticket can do so at an affordable price of $40 per fall sport.
Returning for the 2016-17 season, fans can acquire an All-Sports Pass, which includes general admission access to over 90 USF sporting events throughout the athletic calendar spanning not only the men's and women's soccer and volleyball seasons but also men's and women's basketball and baseball in the spring at the brand new Benedetti Diamond.
Single-game and season ticket options are available online, or patrons can call the ticket office at 415.422.2USF (2873) for questions or to secure your All-Sports Pass today.
