University of San Francisco Athletics

Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO—The Dons rebounded from their crushing loss last Sunday and got a late goal from Rochelle Weerackoon to put them on top of UC Davis 1-0 on Friday night.
 
"Every game matters to us," Weerackoon said. "We want to go to the NCAA. We just need to do whatever it takes to win so when the ball came in and I saw the opportunity, I got on it."
 
The Dons (3-1-0) had few clear looks at the goal but kept up the intensity and finally broke through in the later stages of the second half. In the 72nd minute, Kelsey Moe delivered a cross to Weerackoon, who was about five feet from the net, and the sophomore connected on her first goal of the season to give USF the 1-0 lead.
 
"I said whoever is going to be the team that is more dangerous," Head Coach Jim Millinder said. "I said we got to get in early crosses and obviously a great cross by Kelsey and we were crashing the box and it was a tap-in. We've got to learn to be more dangerous."
 
It is USF's first victory against UC Davis (2-2-0) since 2004.
 
"This whole week we were taking about we just need to get our cross in and just end up finishing," Weerackoon said. "Like our last game against Detroit, we had so many shots and we couldn't finish. Like [Millinder] said, with our shots it's not just chance, we need to finish those. Today we were able to do that."
 
The Dons defense also performed at a high level. USF has allowed two goals through its first four matches and part of that has been the energy of Jessica Nakae.
 
"She's got a great engine," Millinder said. "We tried to rest her a little bit but you need her on the park. Her work rate alone creates opportunities for the rest of us."
 
UC Davis had one legitimate look in the first half and it came in the 17th minute when Lexi Poppoff took a shot from just inside of the box but Madayln Schiffel ate up the attempt.
 
It was one of two saves for Schiffel on the night.
 
In the 27th minute, Abigail Phillips lost her defender on the right wing and had time but her cross pass went long and gave possession back to UC Davis. USF had another brief opening in the 36th minute when Mackenzie Krieser tried to curve one past Jern but it deflected off a teammate in front of the goal.
 
Next match
Opponent: Harvard
Location: Negoesco Stadium
Time: 11 a.m.
Coverage: USFDons.com (Live Stats, Video)