SAN FRANCISCO – Squaring off against the No. 4 team in the country, the University of San Francisco women's soccer team battled visiting Santa Clara hard but ultimately came up short of the upset, falling 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Negoesco Stadium.
 
After 45 minutes the Broncos (10-1-1, 1-0-0 WCC) and Dons (7-5-0, 0-1-0 WCC) were tied 1-1.  The Broncos scored first on the first of two goals by Kelcie Hedge in the 17^th minute.  The Dons went into the locker room even, thanks to an own goal by the Broncos in the 31^st minute.
 
After the intermission, SCU scored twice in less than 10 minutes.  The first, Hedge's second goal of the game, came on a free kick 20 yards out in the 56^th minute.  The second came on a header by Maddy Gonzalez in the 63^rd minute. 
 
USF cut the deficit to one when Karley Weeks intercepted a back pass meant for the Broncos' keeper and scored her second career goal with an open net.  The goal came in the 67^th minute.  The Dons threatened down the stretch but an offside call on Miciah Madison whipped out the equalizer.
 
Olivia Camera (3-3) was tremendous in goal, she tallied eight saves on the afternoon. Weeks tallied two shots on goal for the Dons, and Izzie Lueken and Miciah Madison had the other shots for the Dons.
 
GAME NOTES

• The Dons once again used their bench with 20 players seeing the field for USF on the day; 14 played 40 or more minutes.
• With the loss, the Dons fall to 1-33-1 all-time against the Broncos in a series that dates back to the 1985 season. 
• With the help of the own goal, the Dons' offense has scored at least two goals for the ninth time in 12 games this season. The Dons scored two or more goals nine times all last season.

UP NEXT
USF will travel to Southern California next week when it takes on Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.  The Dons and Waves square off on Friday, Oct. 5 at 3:00 p.m. in Malibu.  On Sunday, the Dons wrap up the trip in Los Angeles at 1:00 p.m. against the Lions.