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MALIBU, Calif.—The Dons kept pace with No. 11 Pepperdine as they drew even in the second half and put together a late flurry but it was not enough as they dropped the contest 2-1 in West Coast Conference action Sunday afternoon.
 
"The kids did everything but win today," San Francisco head coach Jim Millinder said. "They played well, the effort was incredible. We had a lot of chances. It's a disappointing result."
 
The loss prevented the Dons (5-6-2, 1-1-0 WC) from getting a conference opening sweep but provided a solid beginning to league play. It was also the end of a five-game road trip and stretch of eight of nine away from home.
 
"I saw a team that wants to make a run at it in the WCC," Millinder said. "I think we're getting closer and closer…. They see the light at the end of the tunnel. They see what hard work accomplishes.
 
"I'm proud of the effort on the weekend."
 
Pepperdine got a corner kick in the 42nd minute and Kristine Hilliard pushed it forward with a header but it was saved by Madalyn Schiffel. The Dons played the highly-ranked Waves tight through the first half and kept the match scoreless.
 
"We really prevented them from doing a lot [in the first half]," Millinder said. "We got into the final third many, many times. There was a lot of pressure, a lot of tackling… It was an intense match."
 
Pepperdine got on the board in the 54th minute when the Waves got a penalty kick off a handball and Kristen Rodriguez found the back of the net for the go-ahead goal.
 
The Dons responded and forced a penalty kick of their own in the 63rd minute and this time it was Sonja Giraud who capitalized and scored her second of the season.
 
The Waves pulled ahead when Bri Visalli caught a pass from Ally Holtz at the top right of the box and found a gap in the upper left corner of the goal to give them a 2-1 lead.
 
San Francisco had one final flurry remaining and got shots from Mackenzie Krieser, Jaciara Mello and Alex Alugas in the final 10 minutes, including one from Alugas in the final minute that was saved by Pepperdine goalie Hannah Seabert.
 
"They've got great resiliency," Millinder said. "We pressed with four players up high. We were so close that final 10 or 12 minutes but that final pass, that final touch was just not good enough on the day."
 
The Dons will play five of their final seven matches at home and be back on the pitch at Negoesco Stadium on Sunday when they take on Santa Clara.