Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO—A solid defensive performance and a penalty goal from
Jaciara Mello in the second half lifted the Dons to the 1-0 victory over Harvard on Sunday afternoon.
"Once we got the goal, that's all we needed and we just needed," Head Coach
Jim Millinder said. "We just needed to manage the game and preserve it. They were more in our half of the park but that was by design. The girls did a great job managing the game."
The Dons had few attempts but was able to take advantage in the second half. In the 58th minute,
Mackenzie Krieser drove towards the goal but was tripped in the penalty box and USF was awarded a penalty kick. Mello took the kick and drilled it into the left side of the net to put USF up 1-0.
The win capped off the end of a five-game homestand for the Dons (4-1-0) and they will hit the road for the Kansas Invitational, which begins on Friday.
"We managed the game and that's what you're going to have to do when you play against good competition," Millinder said. "You get a goal and we're not going to play wide open football. We're going to have to sit in and manage it a bit."
Four minutes into the second half, Harvard (0-2-0) had three corner kicks on the same possession and nearly came away with a goal but Margaret Purce's header went just over the crossbar.
Harvard had been on the attack much of the match. The Crimson outshot the Dons 16-5 but only put three shots on goal. That was the work of the Dons' back line, which was anchored by
Halle Bissin and
Jessica Nakae.
"We came out in a 4-3-3 and they were playing a 4-4-2 and we struggled with it," Millinder said. "Their four central players, we were always a step behind so they had a lot of possession. At halftime we came out, just matched their 4-4-2 and we knew it was going to be a battle and we were going to get a chance or two and that's how the game was going to finish."
"Our whole back four was terrific today," he said.
Harvard had a couple of chances late in the first half. In the 31st minute, Harvard was awarded a free kick from the top of the box and Peyton Johnson had her shot deflected off a wall of Dons. The Crimson came away with nothing on the ensuing corner kick.
Next match
Friday, Sept. 13
Kansas Invitational
Opponent: Nebraska
Location: Lawrence, KS
Time: 11:30 a.m. PT
