1957 Northern California Intercollegiate Soccer Conference Champions
Head Coach: Gus Donoghue
Overall Record: 8-0-1 NCISC Record: 6-0-1
All-NCISC Team: Tony Njoku, Wayne Saindon
Most Goals: Wayne Saindon
USF Hall-of-Famers: Serge Burenin, Gus Donaghue
The 1957 Dons were not expected to win the Northern California Intercollegiate Soccer Conference title due to their youth and inexperience. Of the 11 starters from 1956 – only four starters returned. They had to replace the vast majority of their scoring punch from the prior year – as the whole front line had graduated, including two-time All-American goal scorer Joe Njoku-obi.
Yet, the Dons still managed to come together and amass a 6-0-1 record, and in the process grabbed their tenth consecutive conference title. Victories over Stanford (2-1), UC Davis (3-1), San Francisco State (7-1), San Jose State (4-1), Santa Clara (8-1) and California (1-0) earned the Dons soccermen national recognition as the best team on the Pacific Coast. The Dons were also rated the fifth best team in the country. Only City College of San Francisco managed a tie with the powerful Dons, 2-2.
Besides team recognition, many individual Dons were also honored for their outstanding play. Wayne Saindon was named honorable mention All-American. The brilliant high-scoring forward also earned All-Conference first time honors along with freshman Tony Nyoku.
Did You Know: Freshman Tony Njoku earned the nickname “Freshman Flash” for his outstanding defensive play at center halfback. He also was named first team All-Conference.
They Said It? “Wayne Saindon is deceptive for his size, and extremely quick and agile. He is very dangerous in open space with the ball,” noted USF Head Coach Gus Donoghue. Saindon was listed at only 5’-6” and 140 pounds, yet still managed to top the Dons in goals scored. Saindon was named honorable mention All-American and first team All-Conference despite his small frame.
