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USF will wrap up the 2016 season Saturday night when the Dons face Loyola Marymount beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Sullivan Field in Los Angeles.
The Dons (7-8-0) and Lions (9-8-0) are currently tied for fourth place in the WCC standings with identical 3-3-0 conference marks heading into the last weekend of play. USF leads the all-time series with LMU, 24-12-2 but the Lions are 8-2-1 against the Dons in the last 11 matchups, including last year at Negoesco Stadium, when LMU blanked USF, 2-0 to deny the Dons a chance at the WCC title.
USF snapped a two-match skid last Sunday with a thrilling, 4-3 victory over San Diego on Senior Day. A golden goal by
Joshua Smith's header off of a
Santiago Digiuseppe free kick as time expired provided for one of the most thrilling moments of the season for the Dons. The four goals were a season-high and the most in a match since the Dons defeated La Salle, 5-1 last season.
The Dons will face one of the WCC's stingiest teams on Saturday. The Lions have allowed just 19 goals on the season and has six shutouts, which ties Portland for the conference lead. Keeper Collin Partee ranks fifth in the WCC in goals against average at 1.19 and leads the conference in save percentage at 1.19 and shutouts with five. Partee gave way to Dante Pezzi in nets last Sunday and the third-year sophomore responded with a 2-0 shutout of Santa Clara in his first career start.
The Lions enter Saturday's match having won two straight and three of their last four matches to climb over the .500 mark on the season. LMU's only blemish in its last four matches was a 1-0 setback in Portland, where the Pilots used a late goal to escape with a victory.
Saturday will also bring down the curtain on the collegiate careers of USF seniors
David Garrett,
Ryan Buckingham,
Kevin De La Torre,
Ludwing Vargas,
Christian De Luna, Josh Smith and
Davi Ramos.