SAN FRANCISCO -- The USF women's soccer team had no shortage of chances to score against WCC-foe Loyola Marymount on Sunday afternoon, but the Dons (8-3-3, 2-1-0) were unable to capitalize on their opportunities as the Lions captured the 2-0 victory at Negoesco Stadium.  

"It's one game," said head coach Jim Millinder. "They finished their chances today and we didn't. We can only be disappointed for a short period of time and then we have to get onto the next opponent. LMU is a very good team and we knew that coming in and they took their chances well."

LMU (9-4-1, 3-1-0) jumped out to an early lead when Shannon Kent sent an arcing cross into the box from the far left wing and found Sarah Sanger with a step advantage over the USF defender as Sanger redirected the pass with a right-footed volley that ricocheted right off USF keeper Madalyn Schiffel's gloves and bounced into the net to give the Lions a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.

The LMU goal snapped a 301-minute scoreless streak for the Dons' defense, which has been one of the stingiest in the West Coast Conference this season.

Despite allowing the goal, USF enjoyed most of the offensive momentum in the first half, they just weren't able to convert any of their chances into goals. The Dons spent a lot of time in the LMU defensive third, but couldn't seem to find an open look through the Lions' defense.

Meanwhile, LMU added another score in the 67th minute when Melissa Lewis took a pass from Morgan Hilby on the low right wing and was able to punch it past Schiffel inside the far post from the corner of the six-yard box.

Schiffel picked up three saves on the day and allowed her first goals since a 2-0 loss to then-No. 13 Cal on Sept. 18.

The Dons showed strong ball movement and had a few runs that looked like they would lead to an open chance, but the LMU defense was able to preserve the shutout with aggressive defense. The Dons forced LMU keeper Charlee Pruitt to make four saves and had five shots on goal as they held a 14-9 advantage in shots overall and an 8-3 edge in corner kicks.  

"I thought we had a enough chances, we just didn't finish them," added Millinder. "And that's soccer; sometimes that ball rolls over the line for you and some days it doesn't, and today it didn't go that way for us."

Sonja Giraud led the offensive charge with three shots, all of which were on goal, while Amanda Whittle added three shots, two on frame, and Jessica Nakae and Rochelle Weerackoon each tallied a pair of shots.

The Dons hit the road next when they head to Spokane, Wash. for an 11 a.m. kickoff at Gonzaga on Oct. 17.