Sept. 25, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

UP NEXT FOR THE DONS: USF closes out the 2008 non-conference schedule when it travels across the Bay Bridge Friday, September 26 to Berkeley for a showdown with No. 6 Cal at Edwards Stadium. Last weekend the Dons won the 2008 BMW/Nike Soccer Challenge, deadlocking UNLV 1-1 on Friday, before posting their first victory of the season - a 2-0 shutout - against perennial national power Penn State on Sunday. San Francisco has won back-to-back matches against Cal, including a 2-1 triumph against the then No. 11 Bears September 14 of last season.

THREE DONS NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: USF placed three on the 2008 BMW/Nike Soccer Challenge all-tournament team, led by senior defender Jeff Russell, who captured MVP honors. Russell keyed a defensive unit that allowed just one goal in 200 minutes. In addition, the Novato native earned his first career assist on the Dons equalizer against UNLV - San Francisco's inaugural strike of the season. The Dons have given up just five goals in 574 minutes this season, good for a 0.78 GAA. Freshman defender Victor Wennberg and junior forward Conor Chinn also earned selection. Chinn scored the Dons first goal of the year against the Rebels and added the game-winner against Penn State.

QUOTING VISSER ON THE CAL MATCH: "During the Kevin Grimes regime, Cal is one of the powerhouses in college soccer. This year's version is very strong once again. For USF, we are finally hitting our stride. We finally have our whole team intact. Cal is a measuring stick for us as we prepare for the West Coast Conference schedule."

DONS DEFENSE STINGY: Although goals have been tough to come by for the USF offense this season, opponents have fared even worse. Through six matches, the Dons have given up a league-low six scoring strikes. San Francisco's senior goalkeeping tandem of Eric Conner and Jeremy Coupe lead the West Coast Conference in GAA at 0.93. Coupe, who collected his first career USF shutout with a 2-0 blanking of Penn State (9/21) in the BMW/Nike Soccer Challenge, ranks second in the league in GAA (0.68).

ROAD WARRIORS: San Francisco has proven tough on the road and since the start of the 2005 season own a 18-16-1 record in true away matches, while posting a 12-11-1 slate in West Coast Conference road tilts. The Dons are 3-2-2 at neutral sites during the same span.

SAN FRANCISCO VS. THE NATIONAL ELITE: USF will never be accused of playing a soft schedule and this season is no exception. San Francisco dropped a tough 1-0 decision at No. 20 Northwestern in its 2008 debut. Last season the Dons tackled five top-25 opponents and posted a 1-4-0 record against the national elite. San Francisco claimed a satisfying 2-0 blanking of No. 11 Cal (9/14/07) and fought No. 5 UCLA (9/20) to a standstill, before falling 1-0 in the 88th minute. Since the start of the 2004 campaign, San Francisco owns a 6-12-2 record against top-25 foes.

USF AT NO. 6 CAL ON THE INTERNET: No internet coverage will be provided.

PLENTY OF BONUS SOCCER: Sometimes 90 minutes is not enough action for USF soccer. So far in 2008 San Francisco is 0-1-1 in extra time after posting a draw last week against UNLV (9/19) and dropped a 1-0 loss in double overtime at San Jose State (9/10). Last season the Dons played three "bonus" soccer contests and went 2-0-1, highlighted by a 2-1 double overtime decision at Stanford (9/16) and a scoreless draw at San Diego (10/21), continuing a trend of extra session success. San Francisco played four matches requiring an additional period in 2006 and posted a 2-1-1 overall record and went 1-1-1 in matches needing both overtime sessions. This was in sharp contrast to the 2005 season when the Dons played a remarkable seven matches that reached double overtime and registered a 2-1-4 overall record, 1-1-3 during West Coast Conference play. Since the start of the 2004 season, USF owns a 7-5-8 slate during "bonus soccer" matches.

WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: San Francisco has been tough in matches decided by one goal the last four seasons and 2008 looks like it will prove to be no exception. The Dons posted a 6-8-0 record in tight matches last year and already have played four decided by a one goal margin this season. San Francisco played 13 matches in 2006 decided by one goal, posting an 8-5 record in those contests. The Dons defense allowed a maximum of two goals only five times in 2006. Dating back to October of the 2003 campaign, USF owns a 33-27 ledger in one goal matches, including a 5-4-0 mark during the 2005 campaign.

CHINN AMONG WCC SCORING LEADERS: Junior forward Conor Chinn led USF in goals (6) and points (17) and ranked second in assists (5) during a solid sophomore campaign. Chinn ranked fourth among West Coast Conference leaders in goals, sixth in points and rated third in shots (44). Chinn scored four goals against nationally elite teams last season, scoring two goals to lead the Dons to a 2-1 victory against No. 11 Cal (9/14) and struck for a goal at No. 4 Santa Clara (10/12/07) and added another against the No. 3 Broncos (11/9/07) at home. Chinn scored twice last weekend with the equalizer against UNLV (9/19) and added the game-winner against Penn State (9/21).

SENIORS SHINE IN GOAL FOR THE DONS: Senior goalkeepers Eric Conner and Jeremy Coupe have done a solid job for USF this season. The tandem has combined to lead the West Coast Conference in GAA (0.78) and have allowed a league-low five goals so far in 2008. Conner collected his first career shutout in the Green and Gold in a scoreless double overtime deadlock at San Diego (10/21). Coupe, who secured USF's 2-1 victory against No. 11 Cal last season and the Dons inaugural win with his first career shutout against Penn State (9/21), currently ranks second among WCC GAA (0.68) and is sixth in saves (11).

USF ONCE AGAIN FEATURES THE UNITED NATIONS LINEUP: USF men's soccer boasts a long and distinguished history of drawing outstanding players from throughout the world and the 2008 squad is no exception. This year's features players from no fewer than six countries and three continents. The country roll call features 30 players from the United States, two Dons from Sweden, and one each from Canada, Jamaica, Japan and Spain.

GAME TIME CHANGES: USF's contest at Portland (10/5) has been changed to a 1:30 start (originally 2:30) and the Dons regular season finale at Loyola Marymount (11/16) (originally 2:00) has shifted to a 1:00 PM start.