The Dons will kick off the 2017 regular season at home against UCLA on Aug. 26.
Top Competition Awaits Dons in 2017
5/22/2017 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
USF head men's soccer coach Eddie Soto has never shied away from a challenge when building out his team's schedule, and this fall's lineup proves that. Soto and the Dons have announced a 2017 slate that will pit USF against seven of the nation's top-40 teams in the final RPI rankings, including a rematch with two-time defending national champion Stanford and home dates with UCLA and Cal on the docket.
"I have always used our nonconference schedule as an opportunity to challenge our guys," Soto said. "This year will be no different. As we continue to build this program it's vital to present our guys with as much adversity as possible so that it will benefit in WCC play. Our strength of schedule continues to help us land top recruits as well as position us to fight for an at-large bid if that came down to it. For as long as I'm here, USF will never shy away from top competition."
The Dons kick off the regular season at home on Aug. 26 when they host UCLA, who finished No. 23 in the final RPI last year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. USF and UCLA last met in the regular season back in 2006 and 2007 when the two teams played a home-and-home series.
The Dons will then set out on the road for a stretch of six consecutive contests away from Negoesco Stadium, starting with an Aug. 28 match at UC Davis before traveling to Bloomington, Ind. for a pair of top-tier matchups in the IU Credit Union/Adidas Classic. USF will play at the eight-time national champion Indiana Hoosiers on Sept. 1. Indiana is coming off a round of 16 appearance in last year's NCAA Tournament and a No. 16 RPI ranking. Indiana and USF last met at Negoesco Stadium in 1992 with the Dons posting a 4-0 win. The Dons will then play Butler in Bloomington two days later. The Bulldogs captured a No. 15 national seed in last year's NCAA Tournament, losing in their first matchup, and finished the year with a No. 14 RPI ranking. It will be the Dons' first meeting with Butler.
USF will return to the West Coast to play at San Diego State on Sept. 8 and against Cal State Fullerton in San Diego on Sept. 10. The Aztecs were No. 34 in last year's RPI and made an NCAA appearance, while Fullerton finished in second place in the Big West south division.
A road showdown with two-time defending national champion Stanford on Sept. 15 will await the Dons on their return to the Bay Area. USF topped then-No. 12 Stanford, 2-1, at Negoesco Stadium this past season.
The Dons have another Pac-12 opponent lined up when Cal comes to the Hilltop on Sept. 17.
USF rounds out the nonconference schedule on Sept. 22 and 24 with a home contest against San Jose State and a road match at UC Irvine.
West Coast Conference play will kick off at Santa Clara on Oct. 8, followed by back-to-back home tilts against Pacific on Oct. 13 and Saint Mary's on Oct. 21. Pacific will be coming off a second-round appearance in last year's tournament and a No. 27 RPI ranking.
Three road contests in a row will send the Dons to Gonzaga (Oct. 27), Portland (Oct. 30) and San Diego (Nov. 5). Portland was the other WCC representative in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, dropping their first-round game.
USF wraps up the regular season at home against Loyola Marymount on Nov. 11.
2017 USF Men's Soccer Schedule
Aug. 18 Stanislaus State #, 6 p.m.
Aug. 20 at Sacramento State #, 3 p.m.
Aug. 26 UCLA, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 at UC Davis, 5 p.m.
Sept. 1 at Indiana, 6 p.m.
Sept. 3 vs. Butler (in Bloomington, Ind.), 3 p.m.
Sept. 8 at San Diego State, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. Cal State Fullerton (in San Diego, Calif.), 3 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Stanford, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 California, 7 p.m.
Sept 22 San Jose State, 7 p.m.
Sept 24 at UC Irvine, 4 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Santa Clara*, TBD
Oct. 13 Pacific*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 Saint Mary's*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 at Gonzaga*, 6 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Portland*, 3 p.m.
Nov. 5 at San Diego*, TBD
Nov.11 Loyola Marymount*, 7 p.m.
Home matches are in BOLD
All times listed in Pacific Time
# Exhibition
*West Coast Conference Matches
"I have always used our nonconference schedule as an opportunity to challenge our guys," Soto said. "This year will be no different. As we continue to build this program it's vital to present our guys with as much adversity as possible so that it will benefit in WCC play. Our strength of schedule continues to help us land top recruits as well as position us to fight for an at-large bid if that came down to it. For as long as I'm here, USF will never shy away from top competition."
The Dons kick off the regular season at home on Aug. 26 when they host UCLA, who finished No. 23 in the final RPI last year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. USF and UCLA last met in the regular season back in 2006 and 2007 when the two teams played a home-and-home series.
The Dons will then set out on the road for a stretch of six consecutive contests away from Negoesco Stadium, starting with an Aug. 28 match at UC Davis before traveling to Bloomington, Ind. for a pair of top-tier matchups in the IU Credit Union/Adidas Classic. USF will play at the eight-time national champion Indiana Hoosiers on Sept. 1. Indiana is coming off a round of 16 appearance in last year's NCAA Tournament and a No. 16 RPI ranking. Indiana and USF last met at Negoesco Stadium in 1992 with the Dons posting a 4-0 win. The Dons will then play Butler in Bloomington two days later. The Bulldogs captured a No. 15 national seed in last year's NCAA Tournament, losing in their first matchup, and finished the year with a No. 14 RPI ranking. It will be the Dons' first meeting with Butler.
USF will return to the West Coast to play at San Diego State on Sept. 8 and against Cal State Fullerton in San Diego on Sept. 10. The Aztecs were No. 34 in last year's RPI and made an NCAA appearance, while Fullerton finished in second place in the Big West south division.
A road showdown with two-time defending national champion Stanford on Sept. 15 will await the Dons on their return to the Bay Area. USF topped then-No. 12 Stanford, 2-1, at Negoesco Stadium this past season.
The Dons have another Pac-12 opponent lined up when Cal comes to the Hilltop on Sept. 17.
USF rounds out the nonconference schedule on Sept. 22 and 24 with a home contest against San Jose State and a road match at UC Irvine.
West Coast Conference play will kick off at Santa Clara on Oct. 8, followed by back-to-back home tilts against Pacific on Oct. 13 and Saint Mary's on Oct. 21. Pacific will be coming off a second-round appearance in last year's tournament and a No. 27 RPI ranking.
Three road contests in a row will send the Dons to Gonzaga (Oct. 27), Portland (Oct. 30) and San Diego (Nov. 5). Portland was the other WCC representative in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, dropping their first-round game.
USF wraps up the regular season at home against Loyola Marymount on Nov. 11.
2017 USF Men's Soccer Schedule
Aug. 18 Stanislaus State #, 6 p.m.
Aug. 20 at Sacramento State #, 3 p.m.
Aug. 26 UCLA, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 at UC Davis, 5 p.m.
Sept. 1 at Indiana, 6 p.m.
Sept. 3 vs. Butler (in Bloomington, Ind.), 3 p.m.
Sept. 8 at San Diego State, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. Cal State Fullerton (in San Diego, Calif.), 3 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Stanford, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 California, 7 p.m.
Sept 22 San Jose State, 7 p.m.
Sept 24 at UC Irvine, 4 p.m.
Oct. 8 at Santa Clara*, TBD
Oct. 13 Pacific*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 Saint Mary's*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 at Gonzaga*, 6 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Portland*, 3 p.m.
Nov. 5 at San Diego*, TBD
Nov.11 Loyola Marymount*, 7 p.m.
Home matches are in BOLD
All times listed in Pacific Time
# Exhibition
*West Coast Conference Matches
MSOC | USF Defeats Cal Poly 6-0
Wednesday, September 14
MSOC | USF vs. Cal Poly Highlights
Wednesday, September 14
MSOC | USF vs. Cal Poly Postgame w/ Arjan Dosanjh
Wednesday, September 14
MSOC | USF vs. Cal Poly Postgame w/ Zane Alafranji
Wednesday, September 14
