SAN FRANCISCO – Season five episode two of USF's cable television show, "Behind the Mask," will debut tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 3 at 10:30 p.m. on NBC Sports California. The five part show will debut with a very special episode featuring women's soccer's redshirt junior
Autumn Smithers and how she turned to soccer to help her cope with the passing of her sister.
Smithers is enjoying another fantastic season. The redshirt junior from Modesto, Calif., is coming off her best season in the green and gold, a year in which she earned All-WCC Honorable Mention honors and was one of two Dons to play in every minute of every game.
This year, she has been even better. Taking on an additional leadership role, Smithers owns the middle of the field. She has once again played every minute of every contest and has helped guide the Dons to one of their best seasons in program history.
In this segment of "Behind the Mask," Smithers sat down and discussed the tragedy of losing her older sister, who suddenly passed away while Smithers and the team were in Tahoe for the annual team bonding trip prior to the start of her freshman year. Smithers discusses how she used playing to help her with the grieving process and how the team became her family in a difficult time.
Smithers and the Dons return to the pitch one final time in 2018 tomorrow afternoon when they host cross bay rival Saint Mary's at 4:30 p.m. at Negoesco Stadium.
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The episode will also feature a segment on the "Battle of the Bay" one of the nation's most prestigious tennis tournaments hosted by the Dons and the California Tennis Club. The episode will also feature a segment on the Dons' new look cross country program as they prepare for the regionals. As always, the episode will conclude with "Playmakers," highlighting top team and individual performances from USF athletes. In this edition, you will relive a very successful start to the fall for the Dons.
Check local listings for your cable provider's station guide and additional air dates and times each month. Segments from the show, as well as past seasons of "Behind the Mask" can also be found on-demand on USF Athletics' Youtube channel.
To tune in to the show in the San Francisco Bay Area, NBC Sports California can typically be found on channel 698 for DirecTV customers, 438 on the Dish Network, 412-01 on Dish Hopper packages, 767 on U-Verse and 41 on most Comcast packages. CSN Bay Area can be generally be accessed at channel 40 on Comcast, 41 on the Dish Network, 696 for DirecTV subscribers, and at 770 on U-Verse.
