2008 WCC Men's Soccer Champions
2008 West Coast Conference Champions
Head Coach: Erik Visser (WCC Coach of the Year)
Overall Record: 9-10-2 WCC Record: 7-4-1
All-WCC Team: Conor Chinn (Player of the Year), Jeff Russell
Most Goals: Conor Chinn (17) Most Assists: Leon Williams (4)
Most Points: Conor Chinn (35 – 17 goals, 1 assist) Goals Against Average: Jeremy Coupe (0.95)
The 2008 Dons surged to their third West Coast Conference Championship in five years and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time since 2004. It was the league leading 12th WCC title captured by the Dons and the 34th overall conference crown as USF advanced to its 31st NCAA Tournament appearance.
USF clearly peaked at the right time in 2008. After an 0-4 start the Dons bounced back and posted a 9-4-2 mark over their next 15 contests highlighted by eight shutout triumphs. The Hilltoppers led the WCC in fewest team goals allowed for the third time in four years thanks to the efforts of a pair of senior all-league selections in defender Jeff Russell (first team) and goalie Jeremy Coupe (honorable mention).
During the slow start that saw USF lose the first four games, the Dons failed to score even one goal in the process. USF finally ended the early season scoring drought against Penn State on September 21, as Conor Chinn scored the first Dons goal of the campaign, and USF settled for 1-1 tie with the Nitttany Lions. After a tough 2-0 loss in Berkeley versus No. 6 California, the Dons had completed the bulk of non-conference play standing at just 0-5-1.
The Dons opened up WCC play with back-to-back 1-0 wins in the Northwest versus Gonzaga and Portland with Chinn scoring the game decider in each contest. Following close loses to St. Mary’s and San Diego at home, the Dons season sprung to life as they went 6-1-1 over the next eight contests to emerge as the frontrunner in the WCC. The Dons then put themselves in the driver’s seat for the WCC title with a 2-1 win at San Diego on November 14. USF faced No. 9 California in the first round of the NCAA College Cup and the Bears ended the Dons season 3-0 in Berkeley.
Did You Know? Junior forward Conor Chinn went scoreless in his first four matches then came on like wildfire. He scored 17 goals over the next 14 games and led the entire WCC in goals (17), points (35), shots (72) and game-winners (6).
They Said It: "It's always exciting because it's confirmation that we've achieved one part of our goal, which is to make the NCAA playoffs. We talked to our players at the beginning of the year about the history and tradition USF and it's always a goal to get into the NCAA Playoff. This team is very hungry and wants to win. They're not satisfied just to be in it," USF Head Coach Erik Visser.
