COMING UP:
San Francisco Dons (9-3-3, 3-1-0) vs. No. 5 BYU Cougars (12-1-1, 4-0-0)
Thursday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. | Negoesco Stadium | San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: BYU leads, 5-0-0
Last Meeting: No. 17 BYU won, 3-0; Oct. 25, 2014 at BYU
Coverage: TheW.tv (Play-by-Play: George Devine) | Live Stats
San Francisco Dons (9-3-3, 3-1-0) vs. San Diego Toreros (3-10-2, 1-3-0)
Saturday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. | Negoesco Stadium | San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: San Diego leads, 19-4-0
Last Meeting: San Diego won, 1-0; Oct. 23, 2014 at San Diego
Coverage: TheW.tv (Play-by-Play: Pat Olson) | Live Stats
Complete Game Notes
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Dons (9-3-3, 3-1-0) return home to Negoesco Stadium this week to host WCC-leader and No. 5-ranked BYU on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. USF follows that up with Senior Day on Saturday evening when the Dons welcome San Diego for a 7 p.m. kickoff. USF will honor the Dons' seven seniors prior to the match on Saturday. Looking ahead, the Dons only have three more regular season matches on the slate, all on the road: at Pacific (Oct. 30), at Saint Mary's (Nov. 1) and at Portland (Nov. 7).
LAST TIME OUT: The Dons earned a 3-2 victory at Gonzaga this past Saturday in their only match of the week. Sonja Giraud netted the game winner for the Dons in the 71st minute with a nifty backwards deflection into the net off a pass from Rochelle Weerackoon. Samantha Jehnings put the Dons up early with a goal in the sixth minute, but Gonzaga answered with goals in the 13th and 17th minutes to take a 2-1 lead. Camille Wilson scored the equalizer when she converted a penalty kick in the 34th minute, setting up Giraud for the eventual game winner later on. The Dons outshot the Zags 19-12, while Madalyn Schiffel picked up five saves in goal.
NOTES AND TIDBITS
• Sonja Giraud earned her first-career WCC Player of the Week honor this week; she is the second Don to take home the award this year after Madalyn Schiffel (Oct. 5)
• With five matches remaining, the Dons have at least assured their first winning season since 2004 when they went 10-7-3 overall and 3-4-0 in WCC play under Pamela Kalinoski, finishing tied for fourth in the WCC
• The Dons have never defeated BYU in five matches; prior to BYU joining the WCC in 2011, USF and BYU had only met once with then-No. 14 BYU topping the Dons 1-0 on Sept. 30, 2006 in Provo, Utah
• At No. 5 in the NSCAA Top 25, BYU is the highest ranked opponent the Dons have faced since the last time USF faced BYU when they were ranked No. 5 on Oct. 11, 2012; BYU won by a score of 3-1 in Provo, Utah
• USF's seven seniors will be honored prior to Saturday's match against San Diego
• The last time the Dons defeated San Diego was Oct. 14, 2005 when USF pulled out a 2-1 double overtime victory in San Diego
• USF has outscored opponents 20-10 so far this season, including an 13-6 advantage in first-half scoring
• LMU snapped a 301-minute scoreless streak for the USF defense with the Lions' goal in the 17th minute in the Dons' 2-0 loss on Oct. 11
• Madalyn Schiffel was named WCC Player of the Week (Oct. 5) for the first time in her career
SNAPSHOT: BYU (12-1-1, 4-0-0)
The Cougars are coming off a 2-0 home win over Pacific this past Saturday...BYU's lone loss of the year came with a 1-0 defeat at No. 2 Stanford (Sept. 7)...they are outscoring opponents 21-4...leading the WCC in shots (321) and shutouts (10)...Nadia Gomes and Elena Medeiros lead the team with five goals apiece...BYU lost in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
SNAPSHOT: SAN DIEGO (3-10-2, 1-3-0)
The Toreros lost at home to Saint Mary's 2-1 this past Friday...riding a three-match losing streak...USD is being outscored 25-18 and outshot 267-117...Victoria Walker leads the team with four goals...Jacqueline Altschuld is tied for the WCC lead with five assists.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING
The Dons have won their past four road matches, establishing a new team record. USF's streak started with a road victory at Oakland on Sept. 13 and continued with their win at Gonzaga this past Saturday.
NO SOUP FOR YOU
Prior to allowing a goal to LMU in the 17th minute of their 2-0 loss to the Lions on Oct. 11, the USF defense had not allowed an opponent to score in 301 minutes. The last goal USF keeper Madalyn Schiffel had allowed before that came when Cal scored in the 77th minute on Sept. 18.
REPEAT PERFORMANCE?
The last time the Dons opened WCC play with at least six wins was in 2004. That season, USF held a 6-3-3 nonconference record before going on to finish 10-7-3, which was good for a tie for fourth place in the WCC that year. That was also the last time the Dons posted a double-digit win total. This season, USF was 6-2-3 heading into WCC action.
STEADY AS SHE GOES
Rochelle Weerackoon is approaching the USF record for career games played. The senior has appeared in 74 contests during her career, making 24 starts. The program record is held by Kelli Bryant (1992-95) and Jaciara Mello (2011-14) who each appeared in 79 matches for the Dons. Sydnie Telson (73 matches) and Alex Alugas (73) are right behind Weerackoon.
