Follow San Francisco Men's Soccer: FACEBOOK | TWITTER
 
MORAGA, Calif.—The Dons nearly had one slip away at Saint Mary's but freshman Jonathan Fabulich and senior Danny Kirkland made sure the team would not leave empty-handed.
 
After surrendering a game-tying goal to Riley Haney with 90 seconds remaining, San Francisco went on the attack and Fabulich had a strong diagonal run and was tripped up in the box, which gave them a penalty kick with 36 seconds left. Kirkland lined up for the kick and drilled it by Saint Mary's goalkeeper Andre Rawls for the game-winner to give the Dons the 2-1 win on Friday afternoon.
 
It snapped a short two-game skid against Saint Mary's and the Dons have won their first three conference games since 2011.
 
"We worked a little harder at the end and we pulled it off," San Francisco head coach Eddie Soto said. "We played well and the guys are excited. Our team is playing with confidence. They believe they're a good team."
 
Already leading 1-0 after the first half, the Dons tried to add on when in the 50th minute David Romney took a header off a set piece but had his attempt go high. Only minutes later Bryce Kaminski had a look of his own but it was saved by Rawls.
 
"We created a lot of good chances. We just couldn't put them away," Soto said.
 
With the San Francisco still leading the match 1-0 late in the second half, Saint Mary's put on a furious run at the end of regulation and was able to take advantage in the 89th minute when Christian De Luna stumbled and the shot from Haney went in for the game-tying goal.
 
Immediately after that, the Dons battled back and Fabulich set up the game-winning penalty kick with his diagonal run to the box.
 
"He had some really good plays before that," Soto said of Fabulich. "He created some chances and got the P.K."
 
With the win, San Francisco (9-4-2) continues to pace the West Coast Conference with a 3-0-0 record with four matches remaining. The Dons will take on conference newcomer and old rival Pacific on Sunday in Stockton.
 
The Dons got on the board early on against the Gaels when in the 12th minute Mitchell McPartland caught a deflected ball and one timed it into the net, putting USF up 1-0. It was the first career goal for the freshman midfielder.
 
"He was really composed," Soto said. "It was a good finish on his end from the top of the box."
 
Saint Mary's controlled much of the first half but the Dons were able to weather the storm and it was the role players who stepped up for the team.  
 
"Saint Mary's came out with huge energy and were the better team in the first half," Soto said. "It took us a little time to get a rhythm."
 
With Joshua Smith out for picking up a red card, the likes of Irving Ventura-Rafaela and Kevin Gould picked up the slack. On offense, it was players such as Fabulich and Mitchell McPartland.
 
"It's what a good team does," Soto said.  "Everyone contributes. It was a great team effort."