1953 Northern California Intercollegiate Soccer Conference Champions
Head Coach: Gus Donoghue
Head Coach: Gus Donoghue
Overall Record: 11-0-2 NCISC Record: 10-0-0
All-NCISC Team: Maurice Beattie, Bill Cox, George Durschlag, Roberto Kellerman, Adrian Manzano, Manny Ortiz, Brian Pike
Most Goals: Manny Ortiz (11) Goals Against Average: Bill Cox (0.46)
USF Hall-of-Famers: Maurice Beatty, Bill Cox, Roberto Kellerman, Gus Donaghue
The 1953 Dons won 11 games with two ties and finished with a perfect 10-0-0 slate in league play to capture their sixth consecutive Northern California Intercollegiate Soccer Conference title. The Dons were so dominant that they scored 40 goals on offense, while allowing only six goals against in 13 games.
Three players were chosen as All-Americans. High scoring forward Manny Ortiz and goalie Bill Cox were both named first team All-Americans and midfielder Brian Pike earned honorable mention All-American honors.
Following the 1953 season there would be no chance at postseason play for USF. After 1952, the Intercollegiate Soccer Football Association of America had scrapped the idea of having a Soccer Bowl at the end of each season. The scheduled Soccer Bowl match-up between Temple and USF at the end of the 1952 season had never come off due to travel considerations. Thus, the Dons season ended at 11-0-2. Ortiz was the Dons top goal scorer and seven Dons were named to the All-Conference first team.
Did You Know? Dons goaltender Bill Cox allowed only one goal in 10 conference games. His goals against average in league play, was an unbelievable 0.10. Cox went through his entire four-year career on the Hilltop never playing in a losing game against a conference opponent.
