University of San Francisco Athletics

Box Score  
 
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BOSTON, Mass.—After getting an early first half goal from Jessica Nakae, the Dons found itself in a defensive battle against defending Patriot League champion Boston University but was able to fight them off as USF came away with the 1-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.
 
"It was like an NCAA Tournament game. It was a grind it out, midfield game," San Francisco head coach Jim Millinder said.
 
It was the second straight match against a 2013 NCAA Tournament team after dropping a 1-0 contest to Harvard on Friday night. Boston is one of eight 2013 NCAA Tournament teams the Dons (3-2-1) will have played this season.
 
Millinder said it was the best win in his tenure.
 
"I'm proud of the girls," Millinder said. "We had a team meeting last night and I told them we're close [to being a tournament team]. We have to believe in ourselves that's half of the process.
 
"It takes time but today was a great step forward for our program."
 
In the ninth minute, Sydnie Telson was dribbling down the left side when she crossed it to the center of the box to find Nakae who just beat Boston goalie Bridget Conway for the goal. Nakae put up three shots in the first half.
 
The Terriers put more pressure on the Dons late in the half but San Francisco's defense was able to limit the damage.
 
It was the team's first match without Leticia Torres, who left after Friday's match to join the Chilean National Team in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and it was senior Jaciara Mello who stepped in to take the lead in the back.
 
"Jaci Mello stepped in and did a great job." Millinder said. "She led us today."
 
Boston had what looked like a sure goal in the 36th minute when Erica Kosienski was part of a give-and-go play and it appeared that she had a clear look at the net from about five yards out but a sliding tackle by Ali Schaffer knocked it out of bounds, saving a potential goal.
 
"She's a great 1-v-1 defender, great closing speed," Millinder said of Schaffer. "The back four played very well."
 
Neither team could get much going offensively early in the second half until the 65th minute when after a corner kick the ball rolled out to McKenzi Hollenbaugh and she took a shot from about 25 yards out but it went wide.
 
With less than nine minutes to go, Boston's Ana Cuffia caught a cross near the left post but it went awkwardly off her foot and wide of the goal to keep it a one-goal lead.
 
The Dons will return to action on Friday when they travel to Davis to take on UC Davis.