Watch the video
Sitting pretty at No. 3 on the countdown of the top five moments in 2016-17 was a night to remember under the lights of Negoesco Stadium as
USF men's soccer took down the defending national champions on the Hilltop.
A capacity crowd was on hand to witness the Dons' 2-1 upset over No. 12 Stanford as 1,900 spectators packed every nook and cranny of the facility until even standing room only became exclusive real estate.
Jorge Ruiz netted his first career goal in the 37th minute followed by
David Garrett's score in the 56th that proved the difference.
After the game,
a 'pitch mob' ensued as the crowd rushed the field to celebrate the moment with the team and fellow revelers.
"It was a really special night for the fans, players, family, everybody who's a part of our program to see us not only compete but beat the defending national champs at home," recalled USF head coach
Eddie Soto. "It's just what I envisioned when I got hired."
"Obviously with the history of this program and all the success that they've had over the years, that's what I envisioned when I came here – winning big, meaningful games. We're striving to win conference championships to get into the tournament, and it was great to see the fans respond the way they did. As a staff we tell the players all the time that we can compete with the top teams and that night it showed. It proved that we're making strides forward and we're going to get there with hard work, commitment and sacrifice."
The Dons take to the field to begin the 2017 campaign in just over a month with a tune-up against Stanislaus State on Aug. 18. USF opens the season bringing in Pac-12 foe UCLA on Aug. 26 to start a stout slate that features not only the Bruins but also a home match against Cal. The Dons will play away games against teams including Indiana, Butler and San Diego State, and a Cardinal rematch is set for Sept. 15.
Get your tickets to see the Dons in action today:
single-game tickets are available for $10 apiece, or
secure your seat for the season for just $50!
