SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The University of San Francisco women's soccer program and head coach Jim Millinder have officially announced their schedule for their upcoming 2022 season on Monday afternoon.

"This year we have an outstanding schedule against some of the top teams in the country on the Hilltop!" Millinder said. "Getting some of these teams at home should be a huge help and great for our fans. We have many returning starters and some outstanding freshmen coming in this year. We are excited to get started." 

USF will feature nine new student-athletes as they embark on their first season on the Hilltop this fall. The newest Dons will include: Hannah Burns (Chula Vista, Calif.), Alex Carpio (Union City, Calif.), Lindsey Chau (Highland, Calif.), Ella Hwang (Seattle, Wash.), Nina Konidaris (San Bruno, Calif.), Lily Loughney (Camas, Wash.), Cade Mendoza (Long Beach, Calif.), Marie Ward (Seattle, Wash.) and Ellie Weissenberg (Hermosa Beach, Calif.). 

Returning to the pitch this season for the Dons includes last season's leading goal scorer and All-WCC Second Team selection Marissa Vasquez as the sophomore will aim to lead the offensive attack for USF. Joining Vasquez, reigning All-Freshman Team member Elle Soleau, who totaled five points in 1,200 minutes of game action last season, looks to continue her success into her sophomore season. Senior Samantha Curwood-Wagner will also fill a big role as a key upperclassmen and returning contributor in 2022 following her strong junior season as she also totaled five points and played in 1,242 minutes in fall of 2021. In the cage for the Dons this year, junior Megan Nail is slated to be the starting keeper as she aims to build off of her first career shutout at Pacific last season. 

Millinder is entering his 24th overall season as a Division I head coach and his 12th leading the program on the Hilltop. Associate head coach Pinder Nijjar begins his eighth year on the USF staff as well as his fifth serving as the associate head coach. New to the staff this season, but not unfamiliar to the USF program, is assistant coach Candance Hillegas, who wrapped up her last year playing for the Dons during the fall of 2021. Volunteer assistant coach Alejandro Munoz also returns for his second season working with the program. 

In total, the Dons are scheduled to play 19 matches this season, 10 of which encompass WCC play with the remaining nine as non-conference matchups. USF will begin their season on the road against Portland State on Aug. 18 followed by another road matchup at Oregon on Aug. 21 before coming home to Negoesco Stadium for their home opener on Thursday, Aug. 25 against Stanford at 7:00 pm.

Other notable home non-conference matchups include the Baylor Bears on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 4:00 p.m. and a Sunday matinee showdown with the SMU Mustangs on Sept. 11 at 1:00 p.m.

USF will open conference play at home on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7:00 p.m. as the Dons will host the Gonzaga Bulldogs on the Hilltop. The Dons will wrap up the 2022 regular season at home when they host fellow Bay Area school and conference rival Saint Mary's on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. 

Single game tickets for the upcoming 2022 women's soccer season are available now. All tickets are available via usfdons.com or by clicking here. The USF Box Office can also be reached at 415-422-2873.

The full 2022 USF women's soccer schedule can be viewed below:
 

DATE:	TIME (PST):	OPPONENT:	LOCATION:
Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022	12:00 p.m.	@ Sonoma State (Exh.)	Sonoma, Calif.
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022	4:00 p.m.	@ Portland State	Hillsboro, Ore.
Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022	2:00 p.m.	@ Oregon	Eugene, Ore.
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022	7:00 p.m.	Stanford	San Francisco, Calif.
Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022	5:00 p.m.	@ UC Davis	Davis, Calif.
Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022	7:00 p.m.	California	San Francisco, Calif.
Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022	4:00 p.m.	Baylor	San Francisco, Calif.
Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022	1:00 p.m.	SMU	San Francisco, Calif.
Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022	7:00 p.m.	@ UC San Diego	La Jolla, Calif.
Saturday Sept. 17, 2022	5:00 p.m.	@ Cal State Fullerton	Fullerton, Calif.
Thursday Sept, 22, 2022	7:00 p.m.	@ Santa Clara	Santa Clara, Calif.
Saturday Oct. 1, 2022	7:00 p.m.	*Gonzaga	San Francisco, Calif.
Wednesday Oct. 5, 2022	7:00 p.m.	*@ BYU	Provo, Utah
Saturday Oct. 8, 2022	4:00 p.m.	*Santa Clara	Santa Clara, Calif.
Saturday Oct. 15, 2022	3:00 p.m.	*@ Pepperdine	Malibu, Calif.
Wednesday Oct. 19, 2022	7:00 p.m.	*Pacific	San Francisco, Calif.
Saturday Oct. 22, 2022	7:00 p.m.	*@ Loyola Marymount	Los Angeles, Calif.
Saturday Oct. 29, 2022	7:00 p.m.	*@ San Diego	San Diego, Calif.
Wednesday Nov. 2, 2022	7:00 p.m.	*Portland	San Francisco, Calif.
Saturday Nov. 5, 2022	7:00 p.m.	*Saint Mary's	San Francisco, Calif.

*- denotes West Coast Conference match

For updates and more information on the USF women's soccer program, be sure to follow @USFDonsWSoccer on Twitter, @USFDonsWSoccer on Instagram and @USFDonsWSOC on Facebook.