1958 Northern California Intercollegiate Soccer Conference Champions
Head Coach: Gus Donoghue
Overall Record: 8-0-0 NCISC Record: 7-0-0
All-NCISC Team: Tony Njoku, Wayne Saindon, Ludwig Soddermann, Frank Suarez, George Tubman, Herb Weiss
Most Goals: Herb Weiss (17)
USF Hall-of-Famers: Serge Burenin, Gus Donaghue
The 1958 soccer team was one of the strongest ever fielded on the Hilltop. Under the direction of Head Coach Gus Donaghue, the Dons finished 8-0-0 and won their 11th straight Northern California Intercollegiate Soccer Conference championship. The Dons outscored their opponents by an amazing 65-2 goal difference.
Three pre-season practice games furnished the Dons with an opportunity to gear up for the season. A stunning 9-4 upset win over the always tough Alumni Team, and crushing victories over the strong San Francisco Scots and Tamoroc, a team of Filipino players set the stage for the season.
The Dons opened the season with a surprisingly easy 5-0 victory over California, the team that the media experts had predicted would be the Dons greatest threat. Gathering momentum – the Green and Gold posted wins over Stanford 8-0, UC Davis 9-2, Santa Clara 15-0, San Jose State 8-0, City College of San Francisco 2-0 and San Francisco State 10-0. Only in the City College contest were the Dons extended. After conference play, the Dons accepted an invitation by California Tech to play at Pasadena, winning 8-0 with ease and efficiency. The Dons finished the season ranked 5th in the final soccer polls.
Did You Know? 1958 was the final year of NCAA soccer without a playoff. The Intercollegiate Soccer Football Association of America except for the years 1950-1952, when non-official national Soccer Bowls were held for the title, declared the "mythical national champion" based on seasonal record and competition. This arbitrary system irked USF supporters in 1958 when the ISFAA declared Drexel, with a record of 12-0-0, as the national champion. Complaints came from USF (8-0-0 with 65 goals for and two against) and UCLA (with 13 straight wins). Because of this controversy, the concept of the NCAA designating a postseason winner from tournament play was welcomed by the collegiate soccer community the following year.
