USF head women's soccer coach Jim Millinder announced his team's schedule for the 2017 season. The Dons have contests lined up with eight opponents who finished in the top-50 of last year's final RPI rankings and eight who participated in the NCAA Tournament.
 
"This schedule for the 2017 season will be the most difficult we've had during my time at USF," head coach Jim Millinder said. "By adding all these top-tier opponents, we're showing that we want to go out and compete against the best. I feel that's what will makes us better and help us get to next level, both in the West Coast Conference and nationally. We're excited about it and it should be exciting for our players."
 
The Dons kickoff the season with a pair of matchups in Albuquerque, NM. USF plays at New Mexico on Aug. 17, followed by a neutral showdown with Texas Tech on Aug. 20. The Red Raiders are coming off an NCAA first-round showing after finishing at No. 47 in the final RPI tally. This will be USF's first meeting with Texas Tech and the first against New Mexico since 1997. 
 
The Dons will then return to Negoesco Field on Aug. 25 to host Cal, who finished at No. 31 in last year's RPI rankings and made an NCAA Tournament appearance. That will be followed by another home date against Cal Poly on Aug. 27.
 
A road match at UC Davis on Sept. 1 precedes a Sept. 3 home contest against Oregon State.
 
A big road test awaits when the Dons travel down the peninsula to take on Stanford on Sept. 8. The Cardinal finished last year ranked No. 2 in the RPI after losing to Santa Clara in the second round of the tournament. USF and Stanford last met in the regular season in 2007.
 
Nonconference play continues on Sept. 15 and 17 with two home dates against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. Oklahoma State made an NCAA Tournament appearance last year, while Oklahoma advanced to the second round and finished at No. 14 in the RPI rankings. It will be the Dons' first meeting with either team.
 
A pair of Big West opponents in UC Riverside (Sept. 22) and UC Irvine (Sept. 24), both on the road, will round out the nonconference schedule before the Dons embark on the arduous West Coast Conference gauntlet.
 
WCC play begins at home against defending champion Pepperdine on Sept. 29. The Waves were one of three WCC teams who earned NCAA Tournament berths a year ago, advancing to the second round and finishing at No. 41 in the RPI.
 
USF will then host Loyola Marymount on Oct. 1. The Lions checked in at No. 50 in the final RPI rankings.
 
Road matches at Gonzaga (Oct. 6) and Portland (Oct. 8) come before another big home matchup on Oct. 14 against BYU, who advanced to the round of 16 and finished at No. 10 in the RPI.
 
The Dons will set out for a three-match road swing that begins at Pacific (Oct. 20) and Saint Mary's (Oct. 22) and concludes on Oct. 29 at Santa Clara, who advanced to the round of eight in last year's NCAA Tournament and boasted a No. 23 RPI ranking.  
 
USF will round out the regular season at home against San Diego on Nov. 4.    
 
 
2017 USF WOMEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 at New Mexico, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 20 vs. Texas Tech (Albuquerque, NM), 12 p.m.
Aug. 25 California, 7 p.m.
Aug. 27 Cal Poly, 1 p.m.
Sept. 1 at UC Davis, 4 p.m.
Sept. 3 Oregon State, 1 p.m.
Sept. 8 at Stanford, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 Oklahoma State, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 Oklahoma, 1 p.m.
Sept. 22 at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 at UC Irvine, 2 p.m.
Sept. 29 Pepperdine, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 1 Loyola Marymount, 1 p.m.*
Oct. 6 at Gonzaga, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 8 at Portland, 1 p.m.*
Oct. 14 BYU, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 20 at Pacific, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 22 at Saint Mary's, 3:30 p.m.*
Oct. 29 at Santa Clara, 1 p.m.*
Nov. 4 San Diego, 7 p.m.*
 
Home games are in bold
All times listed are Pacific
*West Coast Conference games