Hall of Fame
Position: Goalie
USF Career Years: 1975-1978
Hometown: San Francisco
Career Highlights: Four-time letter winner. Two-time NCAA champion, NCAA tournament record; zero goals against - 1976. 1975; Goals Against Average - .83, 1976; Goals Against Average - .89
Peter Arnautoff was born on December 29, 1951 in Oakland. He was the grandson of Victor Arnautoff, the Russian-American painter and Professor of Art. He began playing soccer as a junior at Galileo High School. In his senior year, he was a starter, leading the team to the City Championship. Following high school graduation, Arnautoff joined the Coast Guard for four years prior to enrolling at USF in 1975.
The USF path to the NCAA Championship started as Arnautoff posted 84 saves, a USF record at the time, including four shutouts, in 14 games as a freshman. Coach Negoesco had high expectations for this talented player. Assuming full-time goalie duties as a sophomore in 1976, Arnautoff set another USF seasonal record with nine shutouts, including four in NCAA Championships where the Dons defeated San Jose State and the undefeated Clemson and Indiana. As a result, USF set an NCAA tournament record of fewest goals (0) allowed per game in one tournament.
During his junior season, Arnautoff scored more USF records. He set a record of 102 saves in a single-season mark at USF. He played for the Dons 1975 to 1978. The Dons won the 1975, 1976 and 1978 NCAA Men’s Division 1 Soccer Championships.
He ranked second in the Pacific Soccer Conference with 1,625 minutes in 24 games. Because of an injury and his 1980 United States Olympic Team commitments, Arnautoff played only seven games for USF in 1978, but recorded five shutouts. The most important save was early in the second half in the NCAA title game against Indiana when he snagged a dead-on shot from the right corner by moving left and stopping the ball in midair. He finished his USF career with 288 saves and 0.75 goals against average.
In 1979, he signed with the Edmonton Drillers of the North American Soccer League. He then played the 1980 season with the Philadelphia Fury. He also played two seasons with the Philadelphia Fever of the Major Indoor Soccer League. Arnautoff was selected for the 1980 United States Olympic Team, but did not play because of the United States boycott. The 1980 Moscow Games were the first to be held in Eastern Europe and were boycotted by the United States and a number of other countries in reaction to the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan the previous year.
Why Arnautoff Chose USF: “The answer is simple - I was recruited by the legendary Steve Negoesco.”
Favorite USF Memories: “I was grateful to have been part of a truly international team. I now have friends all over the world, who were teammates. Because of my experience and exposure at USF, I was chosen to be a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team.”
The USF Student-Athlete Experience: “Attending USF was a wonderful learning opportunity and my USF education has helped me in all aspects of life.”
Life After USF: Arnautoff made the U.S. National Team and played in the 1978 World University Games in Mexico City, the 1978 Parks Cup in South Korea, and the 1982 US World Cup. From 1979 to 1982, Arnautoff played professional soccer in the United States and then joined the San Francisco Fire Department.
Photo courtesy of Rodney Lee, Class of 1980.
