University of San Francisco Athletics

Box Score

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—The Dons came into the contest desperately needing a conference win got exactly that in dramatic fashion. Brady Jimison scored from just outside of the box in the 94th minute to give San Francisco the 1-0 win at Santa Clara on Friday night.
 
"I'm extremely proud of our guys," San Francisco head coach Erik Visser said. "Losing at home 4-1 against Saint Mary's, we were shell shocked. The number one thing was we need to get back to defending. The first three games until Berkeley, that late goal, we didn't give up anything. We've kind of gone away from that and that's what we really urged the guys to do."
 
"You stay in the game, good things will happen and it happened today."
 
Jimison did not play in regulation and was inserted in for overtime much like he was against Gonzaga on Sunday, only this time he was able to put the Dons (4-5-2, 1-2-1 WCC) on top.
 
"Last time against Gonzaga, he came in overtime and he almost made the difference," Visser said. "We needed an extra spark in overtime and we felt he was ready."
 
The result gives San Francisco into the win column after dropping its first three West Coast Conference games at home. The Dons will remain on the road next week when they take on San Diego and Loyola Marymount.
 
"Going on the road here at Santa Clara and get a shutout, I can't give the guys enough credit because they were really down after the home loss against Saint Mary's," Visser said. "They wanted to prove today that they are a lot better team. I trust that this is the start of a good run."
 
It is the Dons' first win on the road this season and first overall win since Sept. 8 against San Jose State.
 
Santa Clara (4-7-0, 1-2-0) nearly ended it within seconds of the overtime period when Harrison Hanley found Edson Cardona streaking down the right side and his shot from the baseline was covered up by Connor Gaal.
 
Two minutes later, Carlos Montes wound up and fired a shot that went off the shoulder of Gaal, setting up a corner kick but the Broncos were unable to make anything of the opportunity.
 
The Dons battled back and Miguel Aguilar nearly found a cutting Jimison in front of the goal that would have ended it.
 
Santa Clara kept up the pressure in the second half and had a couple of chances to get on the board.
 
In the 61st minute, the Broncos had good ball movement that helped get Edson Cardona an opening about five yards from the goal but his shot was blocked by Kevin Gould. This came only minutes after Carlos Montes was able to dribble through traffic and had a brief look from about 10 yards out but was stopped on a tackle by San Francisco.
 
Santa Clara outshot San Francisco 19-10 and put six shots on goal.
 
In the 13th minute, the Dons had a chance to get on the board and Taylor Krueger made a diving attempt at a header from about five yards out but just missed knocking it in for what would have been his first goal of the season.
 
Krueger nearly did it again a minute later and his attempt was tipped straight into the air and recovered by McIntosh.
 
"Taylor has been good at training," Visser said. "He has been coming in as a sub and he showed more of a spark than early in the season. He did a really good job in the first half."
 
Next match
Friday, Oct. 18
Opponent: San Diego
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Time: 7 p.m.