SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - The San Francisco men's soccer team heads to Southern California this weekend for two contests. The Dons visit the USD Toreros on Friday night for a 7 p.m., match. Then it is off to Los Angeles for a 2 p.m. game with the LMU Lions on Sunday.
At this point, the first half of West Coast Conference play is over. USF (5-5-2, 3-3-0 WCC) is tied with Portland and sits in fourth place in the conference standings with nine points thus far. Coming off a bye week, coach Erik Visser says the team is well rested and ready to go for the weekend and the second half of conference action.
The Dons have posted a 3-2 record in their last five games, but are coming off a 2-0 home loss to San Diego on Oct. 14. USF will look to even the score with the Toreros (7-6-0, 5-1-0 WCC) in Friday's action on the pitch. The Green and Gold are 2-3-1 on the road and the Toreros sport a 3-3-0 record at home.
For Game Two of its Southern California trip, the Dons will go for the sweep against the Lions (3-9-2, 1-4-1 WCC) on Sunday. The last time these two met, Oct. 12 in San Francisco, USF came up with the 2-0 victory thanks to goals by
Jacob Talarman and
Jesus Del Toro.
USF - BY THE NUMBERS:
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The Dons have been stingy on defense, allowing only 13 goals all season, good enough for second place in the WCC, behind only Saint Mary's. The Dons also rank second in the conference in goals-against average with a mark of 1.02 per contest, also behind the Gaels.
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Senior goalkeeper Brendan Roslund is third in the WCC in goals against average (1.02), save percentage (.764) and shutouts (3).
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Junior midfielder Mauricio Diaz De Leon leads the team in points (10) and goals (4). He is tied for fourth in the WCC in both categories, as well.
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Sophomore forward Miguel Aguilar leads the team in shots taken with 35 and is fifth in the conference in this category. He is tied for fifth on the team in points, with three on the season.
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Sophomore midfielder Taylor Krueger leads the team in assists with three. That puts Kuueger in a tie for fourth place in the conference.
FEARLESS LEADER: Visser is in his 35th season coaching with the Dons and 12th at the helm of the USF men's soccer team. He owns a career coaching record of 101-102-19. Visser earned his 100th coaching victory vs. Saint Mary's on Oct. 5, in a 2-1 overtime affair.
QUOTABLE:
“They are tied for first place with Santa Clara with 15 points. They are a big target for us”. –
Visser on the USD Toreros
“On a Sunday afternoon in Southern California, with the warm weather usually around 75 or 80 degrees, it is always a tough match”. –
Visser on the LMU Lions
University of San Diego – BY THE NUMBERS:
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As a team, the Toreros are strong on both sides of the ball. USD ranks third in the WCC in goals and goals per game, at 19 and 1.46, respectively. On defense, USD is third in the conference in saves (56) and tied for second in shutouts with four.
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Senior forward Patrick Wallen is second in the WCC in shots taken (49) and tied for fourth in points with 10 on the season.
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Senior midfielder Dan Delgado is tied for eighth in the conference in shots taken with 22 and third in both points (12) and goals with five.
Loyola Marymount University – BY THE NUMBERS:
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Lions' goalkeepers have been tough this season, racking up 66 saves to top the WCC.
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Freshman forward Pedro Velazquez leads the team in goals with three, good enough for a ninth place tie in the conference standings. His six total points leads the Lions.
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Sophomore midfielder John McFarlin leads LMU with three assists on the season and is tied for fourth place in the WCC.
