Each week, USFDons.com will take a look back at the big takeaways that happened on and off the pitch for the Dons, and what they mean for the rest of the season.
 

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SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco women's soccer team is returning home after going 1-1 last week in Boston.
 
As we turn the page to this weekend's contests back home at Negoesco, let's take a look at the five takeaways from the Dons' trip to Beantown.
 

  – WE WENT ON THE ROAD AGAIN

"We handled Harvard. That's a really good team and they are going to win a lot of games this year. We've been good on the road this year," said head coach Jim Millinder. 
 
The Dons are 5-3 this season following their 1-1 road trip to the East Coast last weekend.  Including neutral site games, USF is 4-2 away from home. USF is averaging 1.83 goals per game while holding their opponents to 1.1 goals per game. Samantha Jehnings has been a beast on the road. The senior forward has scored five of her six goals on the road this season.
 

  – WE ARE STARTING TO GET MORE COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER
 
The Dons have used six different starting lineups so far this year. In the back the Dons have leaned heavily on new and young players with little experience. 
 
"There's a lot of new faces on the backline. We are starting to understand that, which is good," said Millinder. 
 
In front of the Dons' young defensive core has been senior keeper Olivia Camera. Camera has been brilliant through seven games this season, notching three shutouts and 31 saves. In front of her, USF has seen strong play from junior Halle Watson, Candace Hillegas and Jaeden Tamayo.  All three combined to start zero games for the Dons last season.


  – WE ARE ROAD TESTED
 
A nice bonus of USF's lengthy trips away from home, they've gained valuable experience playing away from the friendly confines.
 
"We've been on the road for three weeks. In different games and we've had success," said Millinder. "It teaches the kids that we can have success on the road and that's the hardest thing to do in college soccer is have success on the road." 
 
In the Dons' first three weeks, five of their seven contests have been away. That will come in handy in WCC play when USF will have tough matchups in Spokane, Portland and Santa Clara.   
 

  – WE KNOW WERE GOOD ENOUGH
 
"The biggest takeaway of all is we know we are good enough if everybody puts forth the effort necessary," said Millinder. "That means 100% for 90 minutes. I thought against Northeastern we didn't show up for the first 45 minutes and that hurt us."
 
Even in a loss, against a good team on the road, the Dons battled with less than their best effort. USF struck first and after a defensive miscue led to an own goal, still battled to two overtimes before falling to the Huskies with 1:30 left in the game.
 

  – THE DONS NEED A RESULT THIS WEEKEND
 
At 5-3 with two losses against top-5 teams, the Dons are sitting back and patting themselves on the back. Yet, there is still a lot of soccer to be played and USF looks to continue its strong start on Friday when the Dons host Montana.
 
"The takeaway, we know we need Ws.  That's the only result we are looking for."
 
COMING UP
The Dons return home this week when Montana comes to Negoesco Stadium for a match under the lights. USF and the Grizzlies are slated for a 7 p.m. start, the game will have live stats and video with Charles Wollin and Joe Dugan on the call.