9/8/22: USF MSOC vs Seattle U at Negoesco Stadium in San Francisco, CA. Image by Chris M. Leung for USF Dons Athletics
It was another busy week for USF athletics, with cross country, volleyball, and men’s soccer all competing. The men and women’s cross country teams raced in the WCC Championship this week, along with women’s volleyball defeating Loyola Marymount University, and men’s soccer falling to Santa Clara.
The women’s cross country team performed well in the conference championship, placing second overall behind Brigham Young University. Third-year Ruby Smee placed highest for the team, coming in third place out of the 95 runners with a time of 19:51:1. With such a performance, Smee was named to the All-WCC Cross Country Team for the second year in a row. Next best for the team was graduate student Zoe Wassell who placed 14th overall with a time of 20:40.6. Second-year Grace Copeland and fourth-year Baneet Bains were not too far behind Wassell in 15th and 16th place.
The men’s cross country also had an impressive performance in the WCC championship, finishing sixth overall. Graduate student Ed Buck finished highest for the team, coming in 21st place out of the 84 runners with a 22:53.7 time. There was a significant gap between Buck and the rest of his teammates. First-year Daniel Abramowicz was second best on the team with a 52nd place finish, with third-year Ben Preddy finishing right behind in 53rd place to round off the top three USF runners.
The Dons also found success on the volleyball court this past week. The team traveled to Los Angeles to face off against LMU, in a game that USF won in four sets. LMU secured an early lead, winning the tightly contested first set 25-22. The Dons responded in dominant fashion, controlling all of the next set, winning 25-18. The third set was a back and forth battle that had USF down 24-21 at set point. But the Dons were able to hold on and regain the lead, winning the set 28-26. USF was in complete control in the fourth set, dominating LMU 25-14, and took home the victory. Graduate student Claire Crijns and second-year Maria Petkova both played pivotal roles in capturing the win for the Dons. Crijns finished the game with a team high 13 kills and five blocks and Petkova finished with 11 kills, five blocks, and two aces.
The men’s soccer team did not have the same results as volleyball, losing 3-1 at home against Santa Clara. Despite leading the game in total shots 16-9 and corner kicks 10-0, the Dons were unable to capitalize on the chances they created. Santa Clara scored their three goals all in the first half, the first coming in the 18th minute by fourth-year Oladayo Thomas. Santa Clara’s second and third goals came in quick succession in the 33rd and 36th minute. The Dons did their best to battle back but fell short. Third-year midfielder Max Hamelink managed to get the ball past Santa Clara’s third-year goalkeeper, Felix Schaefer, in the 60th minute to decrease the lead by only two, but Santa Clara was able to hold on and preserve their lead for the remainder of the game.
Men’s soccer hopes to bounce back in Spokane, Washington against Gonzaga this upcoming Saturday, Nov. 5. Two days prior, on the release day of this issue Nov. 3, the volleyball team hopes to continue their six game winning streak against a top 25 ranked BYU team at home on the Hilltop.
Students can attend all campus games for free with the use of their One Card.
