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SAN JOSE, Calif.—After a tough and exhausting match against UC Davis on Friday, the Dons showed early life with two first goals and a solid defensive performance as they Dons won their fourth game in their last six with the 3-0 victory over local rival San Jose State on Sunday afternoon.
 
"I'm really proud of the group from Friday night's match," San Francisco head coach Eddie Soto said. "It took a lot out of us physically, mentally, emotionally. For them to come out and have a good start the way they did and get a couple of goals really shows the maturity of this team."
 
The Dons (5-2-1) hit the pitch again on Friday when they begin their non-league matches against league opponents by taking on San Diego.
 
In the 17th minute, Danny Kirkland picked off a pass and dumped it off to Manny Padilla in the right flat who dribbled to the end line and cross it in to find a streaking Davi Ramos for the tap in goal, which gave USF a 1-0 lead.
 
"He's a guy that we look for to make plays in the final third," Soto said of Ramos. "That's what we brought him here to do and the composure he had on the goal was great. He made a smart run, got himself at the end of the cross.
 
"His commitment is something this team needs more of."
 
The Dons continued to put the pressure on San Jose State and in the 30th minute David Romney floated a pass aiming for Bryce Kaminski over the heads of the Spartan defenders but it skipped by and found the foot of Miguel Aguilar, who angled back to the middle and drilled it off his left foot and over the outstretched arm of Felix Petermann for the team's second goal of the match.
 
It was Aguilar's fourth goal of the season.
 
USF got another chance in the 37th minute when Danny Kirkland delivered a corner kick into the box and Romney leaped for the header but his attempt was blocked.
 
The Dons controlled the second half and limited San Jose State's chances and was able to put the match away in the 71st minute, Ramos delivered a free kick to the far post and it was hit in by a sliding Jonathan Fabulich for his first career goal.
 
"We couldn't rely on the two goals," Soto said. "We knew they were coming to come and press and fight and show some grit, which they did. I'm happy the group responded the way that they did and never gave up."
 
Behind a back line that has been anchored by Joshua Smith, Chase Hauser, Padilla and Romney, the Dons put together their second straight clean sheet and have not allowed a goal in their last 220 minutes of play.
 
"Our whole back line is defending well," Soto said. "It's very positive when you get clean sheets. Guys are taking a lot of pride in trying to have that happen."