University of San Francisco Athletics

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2014 SCHEDULE | 2014 ROSTER | SEASON PREVIEW | GAME NOTES
 
Matches Nos. 1-2
San Francisco Dons (0-0-0) at No. 21 Wisconsin (0-0-0)
Friday, August 29, 2014 • 5:30 p.m.
McClimon Soccer Complex • Madison, Wis.
All-time record vs. Wisconsin: First meeting
Live Stats: GameTracker
Live Stream: Inside Badger Sports
 
San Francisco Dons at Illinois-Chicago (0-0-0)
Sunday, August 31, 2014 • 11 a.m.
Flames Field • Chicago, Ill.
All-time record vs. Illinois-Chicago: First meeting
Live Stats: GameTracker
 
SAN FRANCISCO—After a strong showing in their scrimmage against No. 7 California, new head coach Eddie Soto and the Dons are set to begin the season on the road where they will be met by No. 21 Wisconsin and Illinois-Chicago this weekend.
 
It will be the first ever meetings between the Dons and both opponents this weekend.
 
San Francisco's focus in the spring and preseason has been on the offense. Soto, who was an All-American striker at Cal State Fullerton, emphasized being on the attack in training after the Dons managed 17 goals in their 20 matches last season and were shutout eight times.
 
Leading goal scorers Miguel Aguilar and Jesus Del Toro return to the squad and aim to turn those fortunes around.
 
NEW REGIME AT HELM
New head coach Eddie Soto comes in with an impressive resume and aims to bring the USF program back to national prominence. Soto was an assistant coach at UCLA for eight seasons before coming to the Hilltop and his teams earned four Pac-12 championships, eight NCAA Tournament berths and made two trips to the College Cup (2006, 2011). He was also a two-time All-American while playing for Cal State Fullerton in the mid-1990s.
 
WAVE OF NEWCOMERS
The Dons welcome 12 newcomers to the squad and many of which look to make an immediate impact. North Carolina State transfer Davi Ramos has come in and quickly had a positive effect. He picked up three points in the Dons' 2-1 scrimmage win over No. 7 California last week. Freshman midfielder KJ Ahlo was one of the highest rated amateur players by Nike in 2013. Aaron Lombardi, Manny Padilla and Justin Schottenhammer each played for the Los Angeles Galaxy U-17 developmental academy.
 
SUMMER WITH MLS SQUADS
Miguel Aguilar was among a group of Dons who participated with various MLS developmental teams this summer. Aguilar spent the summer with the Portland Timbers developmental academy and played in eight games, recording a goal and an assist. Danny Kirkland and Joshua Smith were with the San Jose Earthquakes academy and gained valuable experience to bring back to the Dons this season.
 
AGUILAR NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-WCC TEAM
Senior Miguel Aguilar was named to the Preseason All-WCC Team by the 10 conference coaches last week. He scored three goals last season and has been named to the All-WCC Second Team twice. As a team, the Dons were picked to finish seventh in the conference after finishing in fifth last season.
 
ABOUT NO. 21 WISCONSIN
Last season, Wisconsin made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1995 and advanced to the third round before being knocked off by eventual national champion Notre Dame. Tomislav Zadro, the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year returns after leading the Badgers in assists (8), third in points (16) and goals (4).
 
ABOUT ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
The Flames ended the 2013 season in heartbreaking fashion. After finishing 7-0-0 in Horizon League play, UIC lost in the Horizon League championship match against Milwaukee and missed the NCAA Tournament. However, UIC appears to be one of the favorites in the Horizon League again. They were picked to finish second in the league, received three first place votes and return all-league performers Jesus Torres, Andrew Putna and Thomas Villamil.