The University of San Francisco women's soccer team begins its 2018 season on Friday when it takes on Drake at the Montana Cup hosted by Montana.  With the season three days away, let's take a look at what the Dons have on the attack this season.
 
USF finished 2017 ranked sixth in the conference in shots per game (12.95) and goals per game (1.25).  The Dons scored 25 goals on the year which was also sixth, but finished ninth in the WCC with just 10 assists. 
 
The big question for the Dons heading into 2018 is how will they replace Sonja Giraud, one of USF's all-time leading scorers.  Giraud, the sixth-leading goal scorer in USF history, earned Second Team All-WCC honors last season.
 
This year, the Dons boast a depth at forward and midfielder and expect to be much stronger on the attack.
 
Key returners up front include redshirt junior Samantha Jehnings, and juniors Izzie Lueken and Miciah Madison.  The trio combined to score 12 of the Dons' goals last season, and four of the Dons' 10 assists.  Jehnings, a two-time All-WCC honoree, has 13 career goals in two seasons on the Hilltop – just outside the career top-10.  She is also a great distributer with six career assists.
 
Madison is coming off a breakout season in which she earned All-WCC Honorable Mention honors.  She finished last year with nine points, scoring four goals and an assist.  She scored the game-winner in the Dons' win over the Sooners and got USF on the board in its win over Portland last season.
 
Lueken played in a career-best 20 contests last year, starting 13 games – also a career-best.  She finished the year with a pair of goals, none bigger than the game-winner in the 86^th minute in the victory over No. 6 Cal.
 
Adding to the Dons' depth are incoming freshman Sylvia Sloss, Kalena Teufel, and Samantha Curwood-Wagner. 
 
At the midfield, USF is moving Autumn Smithers up to the holding midfielder spot.  Smithers is very athletic and according to head coach Jim Millinder, is really good in the air and has seen her game improve year after year. 
 
Also, at midfielder is Micaela Mercado, a three-year letter-winner coming back for her senior season.  The Dons are particularly deep at midfield, with returners Kristina Krehbiel, Bianca Coad, and Lauren Marin, plus incoming freshmen Karley Weeks, Bethan Parry, and Mia Villegas, who played for the Mexican U-20 National Team.  Weeks and Parry both stood out in the preseason practices.
 
On Wednesday, we will dissect the defenders and goal keepers as we gear up for the Dons' season opener on Friday.