Dons with chances, come up short at Harvard

Friday, September 5

Cambridge, Mass.

4 p.m.

University of San Francisco

2-2-1, 0-0-0

Harvard

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
San Francisco	0	0	0
Harvard	1	0	1

Photo by: David Bush

9/5/2014 9:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—The Dons began their first big road trip on fire but could not find the back of the net and fell to defending Ivy League champion Harvard 1-0 on Friday night.

The loss comes roughly one year after San Francisco (2-2-1) defeated Harvard at home 1-0 and in that match, the Dons were outshot 16-5. However, the Dons closed the competitive gap between the teams.

"We beat them 1-0 last year but they were better than us," San Francisco head coach Jim Millinder said. "I'm proud of their effort. We closed the gap. We played well and we just didn't win tonight.

"We've got to learn from it and go out and beat Boston on Sunday."

San Francisco got off eight shots, including three on goal to Harvard's 14.

The Dons were on the attack against Harvard early and threatened on a few straight possessions with their bets chance coming in the ninth minute when Rochelle Weerackoon sent a cross from the right wing and nearly found a streaking Amanda Whittle but that attempt was thwarted by Harvard goalie Lizzie Durack.

The Crimson quickly turned it around and shut down the Dons offense for much of the first half. It also allowed Harvard's offense to gain some momentum.

Harvard put up 10 shots in the first half and finally broke through on a set piece when in the 36th minute Dani Stollar caught the corner kick on the left side of the goal and drilled it past a diving Madalyn Schiffel to take a 1-0 lead.

"They're a good team, they're solid," Millinder said of Harvard. "I still think we need we need to be more dangerous in the final third. We had some good looks."

San Francisco played with some urgency to begin the second half and got off three shots within the first 10 minutes, including a shot from Jessica Nakae that went just over the crossbar.

"The energy level was very good in both halves," Millinder said. "We're getting there. Young talent. We're starting to come together."

San Francisco goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel had four saves on the night.