Box Score WATCH VIDEO RECAP
SAN FRANCSICO – The San Francisco women's soccer team used a second-half rally and stout defense to push the No. 17 Santa Clara Broncos to a 2-2 tie at Negoesco Stadium on Friday night.
This marks the first time in nearly 30 meetings between the two Bay Area squads that USF has taken points from the Broncos. In fact, prior to tonight's darby, the series scoring favored Santa Clara 75-6.
However on senior night for the Dons, a different story would be etched in the record books.
“We're elated. It was a great result for our program and a real tribute to how hard the girls worked,” coach
Jim Millinder said of the hard-fought draw. “They could have quit when they were down two-nil and packed it in, but they didn't. I'm just so proud of the team.”
Honored prior to the match were the 2012 senior classes for both the Broncos and Dons. USF's
Barret Bestard,
Megan Connor and
Kelly Farrell all earned the start for their final home contest for the Green and Gold in appreciation for their dedication to the program.
After the exciting golden-goal double-overtime affair ended in a 2-2 deadlock, the Dons move to 7-7-4 (2-4-1 WCC) on the season and Santa Clara sits at 9-3-5 (2-1-2 WCC).
The offensive display from the Broncos was in full force from the opening whistle, with Santa Clara taking 30 shots in the contest. But Connor, playing at her repositioned post of goalkeeper, swatted away nine attempts from the visitors, all in regulation time. Santa Clara continued firing through both overtime periods, but none of the seven attempts in extra time were on target.
Almost immediately after the half with the score set at 2-1 in favor of Santa Clara, the Dons got the equalizer off the head of
Sydnie Telson on the attack. Assisted by
Abigail Phillips, Telson's on-target shot found its way past Santa Clara goalkeeper Andi Tostanoski to even the score and give the freshman her first collegiate goal.
“I have no words,” Telson told DonsTV after the match. “Just getting the header to tie up Santa Clara … is an amazing feeling. I'm on cloud one million.”
Right before the conclusion of the first period, the Dons earned an opportunity for a set piece from with less than three minutes to play in the half. On the rebound of the initial opportunity,
Kristen Vasquez whipped the ball into the box. USF's
Rochelle Weerackoon received the pass, and fired the ball into the back of the net for the Dons' first strike of the night to set the score at 2-1.
Santa Clara found the scoreboard early in the contest, with Paige Robertson receiving a cross from Sofia Huerta in the seventh minute that squeaked past Connor just inside the left post.
The Broncos next goal came off a cross from Huerta right to Allie Vernon immediately in front of the box and in for the score. Despite finding themselves down by two goals in the 31st minute, the Dons continued to battle and came out anew in the second period.
“Best senior day. I am so happy right now,” Connor said after the 110-minute match. “It's just amazing that the team worked so hard for the seniors today and they wanted it just as much as we did for our last game here. This is an amazing way to go out at Negoesco.”
While the home season is complete for the Dons, the team has a trip to Portland, Ore., on the docket to complete the regular season against the Pilots on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
