University of San Francisco Athletics

USF Tournament at Negoesco Stadium
 
Friday's matches
Cal vs. Harvard                  USF vs. UC Davis
4:30 p.m.                             7 p.m.
 
Sunday's matches
USF vs. Harvard                Cal vs. UC Davis
11 a.m.                                1:30 p.m.
 
Tournament Program
 
SAN FRANCISCO—After a crushing loss on Sunday, the Dons return to the pitch on Friday as they play host to the USF Tournament, which begins on Friday.
 
The four-team tournament will feature USF, UC Davis, Cal, and Harvard with two matches on Friday and two matches on Sunday. The Dons (2-1) will face UC Davis on Friday and Harvard on Sunday.
 
The Dons dropped their match on Sunday in demoralizing fashion when Detroit's Alyssa Riley converted on a header for the goal with 47 seconds left in overtime. USF had its share of chances to win the match in regulation but was unable to capitalize and some of the players said it was about doing the little things properly.
 
"I think it's going back to the basics," junior Jaciara Mello said. "We worked on the simple things like defending. Sometimes we really get caught up in these big massive plans but at the end of the day it all boils down to doing the little things right and doing them right all the time."
 
Mackenzie Krieser said what the team needs to do is to parlay that loss into a positive.
 
"We're only looking to go forward from here," she said. "Sometimes you need those losses to motivate you even more. We're looking forward to coming out really hard this weekend and win both and show what we got."
 
The Dons last faced the Aggies in 2011 and dropped the contest 2-0. UC Davis (2-1) has had goals scored from four different players with no player having taken more than seven shots through the team's first three games.
 
"They definitely fight hard and they battle," senior Tyler Campagna said of UC Davis. "We need to bring that competition, focusing on and having composure."
 
USF received major contributions from the younger members of the team over its first two weekends. Lexie Krueger leads the team with two goals, Amanda Whittle collected three points in the win over San Jose State, and Madalyn Schiffel has recorded nine saves through three games.
 
The Dons welcome Harvard to the Hilltop and the Crimson come into San Francisco for its season debut. Harvard was 9-5-3 last season and finished with a 3-3-1 mark in the Ivy League. Following the match with Harvard, the Dons will hit the road for most of September before returning home on Sept. 30 to play Cal.