1977 Pacific Soccer Conference Champions
Head Coach: Steve Negoesco
Overall Record: 25-3-1 PSC Record: 5-0-0
All-PSC Team: Andy Atuegbu, John Brooks, Bjorn Dahl (POY), Alex Nwosu
Most Goals: Alex Nwosu (16) Most Assists: Andy Atuegbu (8)
Most Points: Alex Nwosu (38 – 16 goals, 6 assists) Goals Against Average: Peter Arnautoff (1.17)
USF Hall-of-Famers: Peter Arnautoff, Andy Atuegbu, Bjorn Dahl, Anthony Gray, Dag Olavson, Misak Pirinjian, Kjell Tvedt, Steve Negoesco
1977 was the year of the ‘near-miss’ at an unprecedented third straight national championship game as USF came up just short in the title game falling 2-1 to Hartwick. The talent-laden Dons put together another exciting regular season, finishing 22-2-1 scoring 87 goals while only allowing 27.
USF was perfect in five games in the Pacific Soccer Conference, Bjorn Dahl was voted league MVP and Andy Atuegbu was chosen as a second-team All-American. Scoring leaders were Alex Nwosu with 16 goals and six assists and Atuegbu with 13 goals and eight assists. Goalie Peter Arnautoff gave up 1.17 goals per game with seven shutouts.
The Dons started slowly with a 5-2-1 record, and then went on a 20 game winning streak until the loss to Hartwick in the national championship game. To reach the final USF won the NCAA Western regional with a 2-1 win over Air Force and a 4-1 victory over UCLA. In the semifinals the Dons beat a physical Southern Illinois team 2-1, a battle that sent Dahl, Nwosu and Kjell Tvedt to the hospital for a brief stay.
Did You Know? Controversy surrounded the Dons season ending loss in the national championship game against Hartwick. Two referee calls altered the outcome of the game. In the second half with the score tied, USF forward Andy Atuegbu was tripped in the penalty area as he was about to pass to a wide open Alex Nwosu in front of the goal, but the referee failed to call a penalty kick. Just moments later, USF was again driving to the goal when a Hartwick fullback misplayed the ball to the Dons Dag Olavson, who then passed to an open Nwosu in front of the goal, this time he pounced and scored. The referee however, called offside and disallowed the goal.
They said It: “Wrong judgment call,” that’s what the head referee said when Dag Olavson asked how offside could be called when the Hartwick player had touched the ball first. The referee admitted an error had been made and gave a dropped kick in the penalty area. But the damage had already been done as a key USF goal was taken off the scoreboard.
