University of San Francisco Athletics

Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO—The Dons played possibly its most complete game of the year and used two second half goals to carry them to the 2-0 West Coast Conference win over Pepperdine on Friday night.
 
"That was a complete 90 minutes," San Francisco head coach Jim Millinder said. "That's something we got to strive to do every time we take the field. From start to finish we took them out of their environment. They've got to understand they can go out there and do that every game as long as they're committed to working hard and playing hard for each other."
 
What made the performance from San Francisco (6-8-3, 1-4-1 WCC) even more impressive is that it came one game after a 9-0 loss at rival Santa Clara last weekend.
 
"It shows their character," Millinder said. "I knew all along they had great character but sometimes you have to take a beating like that and being embarrassed to really figure out what you want to do, how competitive you want to play and how high a level you want to play at."
 
The Dons will play their final home game of the season on Sunday when they host Loyola Marymount on Senior Day.
 
USF maintained its intensity in the second half and in the first minute of the period Alex Alugas barreled her way down the field and took a shot from just inside the box but had her shot blocked. The sophomore striker has been active around the goal in the last couple of weeks.
 
That intense pressure finally paid off.
 
In the 52nd minute, Mackenzie Krieser cleaned up a ball that went off the hands of Pepperdine goalie Hannah Seabert and put it in to give the Dons the 1-0 lead. It was Krieser's second goal of the season.
 
"I was happy for Mack," Millinder said. "I think Mack has been playing better and better the last three or four outings and she deserved to get that one."
 
Pepperdine was able to turn that pressure against the Dons and in the 70th minute Sydnie Telson went for a tackle in the San Francisco half but missed and it gave the Waves a 2-on-1 scenario. Michelle Pao passed to a wide open Rylee Baisden inside of the box but her shot went wide right.
 
The Dons dodged a bullet and made good on its second life.
 
In the 74th minute, Alugas floated a shot just over the head of Seabert and it gave the Dons a commanding 2-0 lead.
 
"I though Alex was outstanding, did a great job posting up, did a great job turning," Millinder said.
 
It is the first time since August 30 that the Dons have scored two goals in one game.
 
The Waves had one final chance to get on the board and a header from Holtz in the 87th minute
 
The Dons were on the attack early and kept the ball on Pepperdine's end of the field for much of the first 10 minutes and got a couple of strong looks from Krieser and Alugas but both of their shots went wide.
 
Pepperdine had some solid looks of its own and in the 17th minute Holtz had a chance to get the Waves on the board on her shot from about 20 yards out but the outstretched arm of Madalyn Schiffel was able to tip it away.

Schiffel had six saves on the night.
 
With two minutes left in the half, Pepperdine had a surge and seemed primed to get on the board. Colby Carson danced through the Dons defense and had a brief opening but Halle Bissin was there to thwart her effort.
 
Next match
Sunday, Nov. 3
Opponent: Loyola Marymount (3-13-0, 0-6-0)
Location: Negoesco Stadium
Time: 12 p.m.
Coverage: USFDons.com/LIVE