SANTA CLARA/SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Back at it for two more important matches this week, the University of San Francisco men's soccer team (7-2-4, 1-1-1 WCC) will wrap up their three-game road stretch with a 7:00 pm matchup at Santa Clara (5-6-2, 3-0 WCC) on Wednesday, Oct. 25 before returning home to the Hilltop to host Saint Mary's (5-6-2-0-3 WCC) on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:00 pm.
 
MATCH 14 INFORMATION:
Opponent: Santa Clara (5-6-2, 3-0 WCC)
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Santa Clara, Calif. | Stevens Stadium – Buck Shaw Field
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
MATCH 15 INFORMATION:
Opponent: Saint Mary's  (5-6-2, 0-3 WCC)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: San Francisco, Calif. | Negoesco Stadium
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
DONS AT A GLANCE: 

• Last time out, San Francisco picked up their first conference win since March 2021 as the Dons downed Pacific, 1-0, at Knoles Field on Saturday, Oct. 21. After a handful of shots in the first half, USF took the lead early in the second half as Gabriel Bracken Serra set up Max Hamelink for his second goal of the year, which would prove to be the game winner. Through the rest of the match, San Francisco kept Pacific from tallying the equalizer as the green and gold recorded their fifth blank sheet of the year with a shutout of the Tigers.
• Following a win at Pacific last Saturday, San Francisco won back-to-back matches for the second time this season. With a win at Santa Clara on Wednesday night, the Dons could take down the defending conference champions in addition to picking up their first three game win streak since Sept. 2022. Overall, USF has already tied as many overall wins (7) as they had last fall.
•  Through 13 matches played, Olivier Sylvain is currently tied for the conference lead with 34 shots on the year. Additionally, he also has 12 shots on goal, which currently ties him for sixth among his WCC peers.

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS:

• In their last time on the pitch, Santa Clara defeated LMU, 2-0, on the road in Los Angeles as two early goals propelled the Broncos over the Lions. Notably, Adem Hamdaoua and Caden Buckley found the back of the net for SCU as they remain atop the WCC standings as of Oct. 24.
• Leading the offense for the Broncos, Hamdaoua has been dangerous offensively as his five goals currently leads the team while tying for sixth within the WCC.
• In addition to Hamdaoua, Buckley also has tallied three goals so far this fall while Jack Civitts and Joshua Dabora have each contributed two goals apiece.

SCOUTING THE GAELS:

• Traveling to Spokane last week, Saint Mary's put up a fight on the road against Gonzaga, but the Bulldogs ultimately squeezed out a win at Luger Field, 3-2.
• Tied with Sylvain for the conference lead in shots (34), Riley Lynch is also tied with Gabriel Bracken Serra as his six goals are tied for fourth in the WCC.
• Similar to the Dons, Saint Mary's will play two games this week as the Gaels will first host Pacific at home on Wednesday, Oct. 25 before crossing the Bay Bridge for a 7:00 pm matchup at Negoesco Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 28.  

SERIES HISTORY: 

• Dating back to 2005, the Dons and Broncos have met 28 times with the Broncos currently leading the head-to-head series 16-1-7. Notably, the Dons secured a win in the shortened 2021 season out by blanking the Broncos 2-0. However, Santa Clara has defeated USF 3-1 in their last two matchups (2021 + 2022).
• Having matched up 23 times since 2005, Saint Mary's currently holds a 13-6-4 lead over San Francisco during this stretch. Looking to get back on track, the Dons last defeated the Gaels in a 4-2 victory on the Hilltop on Oct. 21, 2017.

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's soccer program, be sure to follow @USFDonsMSoccer on Twitter, @USFDonsMenssoccer on Instagram and @USFDonsMSoccer on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor - Coca-Cola - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.