USF Men's Soccer Closes 2009 Regular Season in the Pacific Northwest

Nov. 12, 2009

UP NEXT FOR THE DONS: San Francisco closes the 2009 regular season when it travels to the Pacific Northwest for a pair of matches beginning Friday, November 13 in Spokane against Gonzaga. The Dons look to avenge a 2-0 decision to the Bulldogs suffered October 18, but must do so on a pitch where the Zags own a 4-2-2 record. USF wraps up the regular season at Portland on Sunday at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. The Dons seized a 1-0 victory at home against the then No. 22 Pilots October 16.

CHINN NAMED TO PRESEASON HERMANN AWARD WATCH LIST: After turning in one of the most prolific offensive seasons in USF history, senior striker Conor Chinn was named to the 2009 Hermann Trophy Watch List presented annually to the top player in collegiate soccer. The reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Year and 2009 Preseason All-American enjoyed a record-setting 2008 campaign, scoring 17 goals, including six game-winners, propelling the Dons to the 2008 WCC Championship. A 2008 All-Far West Region selection, Chinn ranked No. 8 among national Division I leaders in goals per game (0.81) and was No. 17 in points (1.67). His 17 tallies were the most by a USF player since Tor Sveen recorded 17 in 1982 and tied for second on the single season list with Sveen, Dag Olavsen (1978) and Alex Nwosu (1977). Chinn enters the final week of his senior season with 36 goals, 11 game-winners, 12 assists and 84 points in 73 career matches.

HOW SWEDE IT IS: Three Swedish players are making a big impact for USF this season on the Dons' "United Nations" roster. Senior midfielder Jonathan Levi (Varberg) rates second in points with 11 (three goals, five assists). A 2008 All-West Coast Conference Second Team selection, Levi scored the game-winner for the Dons against No. 22 Portland (10/16/09). A two-year starter, sophomore defender Victor Wennberg (Boras) has started all 15 matches for the Dons in 2009. Freshman forward Oscar Englund (Enskede) provided the game-winner for San Francisco in the season-opening 4-1 triumph against UMKC (9/1/09).

Bryan Burke ON A ROLL: Junior forward Bryan Burke has continued to develop as a dynamic playmaker for USF and leads the team with a career-high seven assists on the season, good for second place among West Coast Conference leaders. The 2009 All-WCC preseason selection turned in his second multi-assist match of the season with a pair against Loyola Marymount (11/1). On the year, Burke shares second place on the team with 11 points (two goals and seven assists).

USF HEAD COACH Erik Visser: USF head coach Erik Visser took a young, inexperienced team featuring just five seniors and 11 upperclassmen to the 2008 West Coast Conference Championship. The conference crown is the third for the Dons in the last five seasons under Visser and the NCAA Tournament berth was the fourth for the Green and Gold in five campaigns. After guiding San Francisco to consecutive West Coast Conference titles (2004-05), Visser and the Dons secured a runner-up finish in 2006 with a 12-7-1 overall record, while playing a schedule rated in the top-10 nationally. From 2004-06, USF recorded a 37-17-6 record and recorded the most league victories (22) during the span.

VISSER'S CHAMPIONSHIP CREDENTIALS: A three-time WCC Coach of the Year (2004-05, 2008), Visser owns deep ties to the soccer program at the University of San Francisco. A defender on two USF NCAA Championship teams (1978, 1980), Visser spent 19 seasons as an assistant coach under soccer legend Steve Negoesco before taking the reigns as head coach for the 2001 campaign. Along the way, Visser also started the women's soccer program on the Hilltop in 1985 and served as head coach for six years. Visser is active in the USA National Team program and served as the top assistant for the U-20 team that finished 13th in the 2001 Youth World Cup in Argentina. Visser recorded his 50th career victory at Portland (11/10/05) and owns an overall mark of 85-74-13. Former Dons standout Josh McKay is in his seventh season as top assistant coach and fourth as an associate head coach, while Tyler Gottschalk is in his sixth campaign as an assistant. Chris Carniato enters his third season on the coaching staff.

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 2009 squad is no exception. This year's squad features players from no fewer than seven countries and four continents. The country roll call features 27 players from the United States, three Dons from Sweden, and one each from Canada, Colombia, Holland, Jamaica and Japan.

NON-CONFERENCE REVIEW: USF posted a 3-3-1 overall record during the non-conference schedule and after scoring just three goals during the non-conference schedule a year ago en route to a 2-5-1 record, the Dons have rebounded for eight goals in 2009 pre-conference play. San Francisco achieved a ranking as high as No. 16 after posting an impressive 1-0 road triumph at New Mexico (9/5). The Dons capped the pre-conference slate with a 1-1 home deadlock against No. 25 Brown (9/27).

PLENTY OF BONUS SOCCER: Sometimes 90 minutes is not enough action for USF soccer. San Francisco finally broke through for its first overtime victory of the 2009 campaign with a dramatic 2-1 double-overtime victory against San Jose State (9/25)After collecting a 110 minute deadlock against Bay Area rival Saint Mary's (11/8) the Dons imporved to 1-2-2 in extra time this season. San Francisco posted a 1-4-2 slate in "bonus soccer" matches last season. In 2007, the Dons played three extra session 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). 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 2004, USF owns a 9-8-11 slate during "bonus soccer" matches.

WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: San Francisco has been tough in matches decided by one goal the last four-plus seasons and 2009 is proving no exception. The Dons own a 3-6 record in matches with a one-goal margin. USF played a whopping 12 contests decided by a one goal margin in 2008 and posted a 5-7 slate, but won five of its last eight to end the season. The Dons posted a 6-8 record in tight matches in 2007. USF 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 39-35 ledger in one goal matches, including a 5-4 mark in 2005.

ROAD WARRIORS: San Francisco has proven tough on the road and since the start of the 2005 season owns a 23-21-2 record in true away matches, while posting a 16-14-2 slate in West Coast Conference road tilts since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Dons are 3-2-2 at neutral sites during the same span. USF posted a sparkling 4-1-1 WCC road record in 2008.

ERIK LEMOINE SERVICE SATURDAY: USF Athletics and Dons soccer lost a beloved member of its extended family with the passing of Erik Lemoine, who lost his courageous battle with cancer Tuesday, November 2. He was 36. A native of Pleasanton, Lemoine enjoyed a strong three-year career in the Green and Gold from 1994-96 and left an indelible impression on teammates and the coaching staff. A two-time All-West Coast Conference First Team selection and a two-time team MVP, Lemoine helped the Dons to a league title and an NCAA berth in 1995. Remembered for his powerful left foot, Lemoine finished his career on the Hilltop with four goals and 16 assists, including nine as a Dons senior.
BAY AREA SERVICE: A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Valley Community Church, 4455 Del Valle Pkwy, Pleasanton, CA immediately followed by a reception to celebrate his life. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Valley Community Church, 4455 Del Valle Pkwy, Pleasanton, CA immediately followed by a reception to celebrate his life. USF head coach Erik Visser and Dons legend Steve Negoesco, who coached Lemoine in the Green & Gold will speak at the service.