Box Score (San Francisco) – San Francisco women's soccer got plenty of quality chances, but could not capitalize while UC Davis broke through late sending USF to a 2-0 setback Friday night at Negoesco Stadium in the 2011 opener for both teams. The Dons (0-1-0) seemed to take control in the middle of the second period, but simply could not find the back of the net against the Aggies (1-0-0).
Both teams started the match very tentative and neither squad attempted a shot until the 17th minute. Soon the jitters wore off and 15 combined shots were attempted after the intermission.
"This is our first game and we are still learning about playing together in the game environment," USF head coach Mark Carr said. "It's always going to be challengeing with a young team, but at the end of the day there were a lot of positive things from tonight."
San Francisco featured no fewer than seven underclassmen, including three true freshmen, while the Aggies boasted a much more experienced group with six seniors among the starting 11.
"Mackenzie (Krieser) was a constant threat, Jaciara (Mello) was solid in the middle and was non-stop and Abigail (Phillips) in the back did a nice job," Carr said. "Even Halle Bissin came on and could have scored the game-winner there. All in all we just need to improve and get better."
Krieser was extremely active for the Dons up top and the freshman unleashed a game-high five shots, while Mello and Megan Connor added a pair apiece.
After battling to a standstill for 80 minutes, UC Davis got on the board with a goal from freshman forward Lexi Poppoff from 15 yards off a breakaway feed from sophomore forward Mary Beth Mazurek at 80:10. The Aggies made it 2-0 in the 82nd minute on a brilliant, bending shot from junior Allison Kelly at a tough angle from the near side to the far post.
Maria Magana (1-0-0) earned the shutout win for the Aggies, while junior goalkeeper Gabby Guaiumi (0-1-0) suffered the loss in her USF debut. Magana collected five saves, while Guaiumi corralled three.
San Francisco returns to action when it travels to the Central Valley to take on Fresno State Friday, August 26. Match time against the Bulldogs is set for 7:00 PM.
