COMING UP:San Francisco Dons (6-2-3, 0-0-0) at No. 19 Santa Clara (7-3-0, 0-0-0)Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m. | Buck Shaw Stadium (6,800)Series Record: Santa Clara leads, 30-0-1Last Meeting: Santa Clara won, 1-0 (2OT); Oct. 12, 2014 at USFCoverage: Live Stats | VideoSAN FRANCISCO -- The Dons (6-2-3) wrap up a 13-day layoff when they travel south to open up West Coast Conference action at No. 19 Santa Clara on Sunday with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. from Buck Shaw Stadium. This will be the only match of the weekend for USF, but the Dons will then turn their attention to a pair of home WCC contests the following week against Pepperdine (Oct. 9) and Loyola Marymount (Oct. 11). LAST TIME OUT: The Dons last played nearly two weeks ago - suffering a 2-0 loss at home to No. 13 Cal (Sept. 18) and settling for a scoreless draw with Boise State (Sept. 20). Cal scored in the 29th and 76th minutes to snap USF's five-match unbeaten streak. The Bears held a commanding 20-6 advantage in shots on the night, while Madalyn Schiffel collected three saves in goal for the Dons. The following Sunday, USF and Boise State locked horns in a stalemate that saw the Broncos carry a 12-9 edge in shots and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Schiffel picked up another five saves in goal as she tallied her WCC-best seventh shutout of the season. NOTES AND TIDBITS• The Dons have three ties so far this year; the team record is five, set by the 2009 team• The Dons have never defeated Santa Clara (0-30-1); in 2014, USF lost to SCU 1-0 in double overtime; in 2012, USF tied then-No. 17 SCU for the first time in program history (2-2) • The last time USF entered WCC play with at least six wins was in 2004• Samantha Jehnings scored all of her team-leading three goals in the span of back-to-back matches; one in a 2-0 win at Oakland (Sept. 13) and two in a 3-1 win at San Jose State two days later (Sept. 15) • The Dons' 15 goals have been scored by 10 different players• Amanda Whittle has tied her career high with four assists so far; she also had four in 2014• Amanda Whittle is tied for the WCC lead with four assists• Sonja Giraud leads the team with 11 shots on goal; the next highest is Alex Alugas with eight• Madalyn Schiffel holds the USF record for most career shuouts (23) • USF is outscoring opponents 15-6 this season, with a 60-57 edge in shots on goal
• Of the 11 players that have appeared in all 11 matches, six are seniorsÂ
IN BRIEF: SANTA CLARA (7-3-0)
The Broncos have won six of their last seven...they come into the weekend ranked No. 19 in the latest NSCAA poll...SCU was slotted at No. 6 in the first NCAA RPI rankings this week...all three of their losses have been against teams ranked among the top-17...the Broncos are outscoring opponents 16-6, but are being outshot 124-100...Grace Cutler leads the team with four goals.
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.
STEADY AS SHE GOES
Rochelle Weerackoon is approaching the USF record for career games played. The senior has appeared in 70 contests during her career, making 24 starts. The program record was set by Kelli Bryant (1992-95) and Jaciara Mello (2011-14) who each appeared in 79 matches for the Dons. Sydnie Telson (69 matches) and Alex Alugas (69) are right behind Weerackoon.
TWICE IS NICE
Samantha Jehnings enjoyed a hot streak earlier this season, scoring three goals in wo contests. Jehnings netted a pair of goals in USF's 3-1 win over San Jose State (Sept. 15), making her the first Don to score multiple goals since Mackenzie Krieser scored two in a 4-1 win over Sacramento State on Aug. 31, 2012. Jehnings scored her first goal of the season at Oakland on Sept. 13.
ONE FOR THE AGES
Senior Madalyn Schiffel became the USF career leader in shutouts in goal with the Dons' 2-0 win at Oakland on Sept. 13. Schiffel surpassed Amy Voiland (1994-98) with her 22nd-career shutout. Schiffel now has 23 total shutouts to her credit, 20 of which are solo shutouts.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
The Dons feature two players who have earned national team caps - senior Leticia Torres made four appearances with the Chilean national team last fall; sophomore Camille Wilson made four appearances as the youngest (17 years-old) member of the Phillippine national team in 2013, scoring her first international goal against Indonesia.
PUTTING UP ZEROS
The Dons' 2-0 shutout at Oakland on Sept. 13 gave USF their sixth clean sheet of the year. The last time USF started a season with such a stingy defense was in 2009 when the Dons also opened the year with six shutouts in their first eight contests.
EARLY AND OFTEN
USF has outscored opponents 15-6 so far this season, including a 9-3 advantage in first-half scoring. The Dons are also outshooting opponents 141-137.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
USF's 15 goals so far this season have been scored by 10 different players. Sonja Giraud (3) and Samantha Jehnings (3) are currently leading the team.
PILE IT ON
When USF defeated Denver 4-0 on Sept. 4, the Dons enjoyed their highest single-game goal total since a 4-1 win over Sacramento State on Aug. 31, 2013.
BACK IN THE MIX
The Dons bring back four All-WCC performers from 2014. Leading the way is junior Jessica Nakae (3 goals/3 assists), who became the first Don to earn first team All-WCC honors since 1997. Senior goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel (1.25 GAA) was a second team selection, while junior Amanda Whittle was named honorable mention and sophomore Sonja Giraud earned a spot on the all-freshman team.
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