University of San Francisco Athletics

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore.—The match between San Francisco and Portland took on a completely different feel than the first meeting as neither team could get on the board until double overtime but ended in heartbreaking fashion when the Pilots' Matthew Coffey went top shelf for the goal and the 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon.
 
"Cleary, we were the superior team with more chances," San Francisco head coach Erik Visser said. "The first 10 minutes of overtime we dominated, [Coffey] took a great shot from 30 yards and it goes in."
 
"It was just one of those days when the ball just didn't want to go in [for us]."
 
The first meeting between the Dons and Pilots ended in disappointing fashion for San Francisco after they had erased a 2-0 deficit only to allow a goal in the closing minutes. Going into Sunday, the Dons (7-11-2, 4-7-1 WCC) were coming off their biggest win of the season at likely NCAA-bound Gonzaga and were riding that momentum.
 
The Dons were on the attack in the overtime period and had multiple chances to put the game away. In the 99th minute, Vegard Karlsen took a shot from the right wing only to have it go high. Only second later, Karlsen had another chance but his shot was saved by Portland goalie Justin Baarts.
 
In the second overtime, the Dons had pressure on Baarts again. Mauricio Diaz De Leon put on a shot less than aminute in but had it go wide left. Liam Kelly, who had scored the game-winner against Gonzaga on Friday, got a look in the 104th minute but it was slapped away by Baarts.
 
"The team played very well and we created chances but we got to score goal," Visser said. "We created ample opportunities."
 
The Pilots (9-11-0, 4-8-0 WCC) quickly turned that momentum around and in the 106th minute Coffey took a shot from the top of the box and got it past the leaping Connor Gaal for the game-winner.
 
Both teams had chances to break onto the board late in regulation but both attempts went astray. Jaime Velasco took a shot in the 83rd minute from the left wing but it went wide left. Brady Jimison came back in the 84th minute and had a look to untie it but his shot from the top of the box went just over the crossbar.
 
The match also marked the final contest for Diaz De Leon, Karlsen, Kelly, Michael Shaddock, Jimison, Tanner Smith and Gerry Vera.
 
"The seniors are extremely proud of their careers," Visser said. "They showed a lot of leadership, played to the last minute. This is a special group, great kids."
 
The tone was set early and both offenses seemed ready but could not find their ways onto the board.
 
Kelly led the charge again.
 
In the 13th minute, Kelly took a shot from the far right wing but it was wrapped up by Baarts. The senior forward had a better look early in the second half when he drilled a kick from the right wing but his shot was knocked away by Baarts again.
 
Dons goalie Connor Gaal faced a challenge of his own. Portland's Eddie Sanchez, who came into the match with 12 goals to lead the conference and scored in the first meeting, tried to make his presence felt early.
 
Sanchez put two shots on goal in the first half and the second was a shot in the 27th minute from the right wing which Gaal smothered to keep it a scoreless game.