Post-match presser with Coach Millinder
SAN FRANCISCO -- It was literally the biggest win in program history as the USF women's soccer team knocked off No. 5 BYU by a 2-1 tally on Thursday night at Negoesco Stadium behind Jessica Nakae's game winner in the 82nd minute. The Dons (10-3-3, 4-1-0) used a mix of timely offense paired with a stout defense to hand the Cougars (12-2-1, 4-1-0) their first WCC loss of the season, and just their second loss overall.
"Too many thoughts," reflected fourth-year head coach Jim Millinder after the game. "Just a tremendous effort by the team. We talked about it at halftime, but we went down a goal and we just wanted it more than they did tonight. It was a team effort and a tremendous result for our university."
The victory gives the Dons their first-ever win over a top-10 team and their second win over a top-20 opponent this season after USF topped then-No. 19 Santa Clara 1-0 on Oct. 4. Previously, the highest-ranked opponent USF had defeated came in 1993 when the Dons earned a 3-1 victory then-No. 11 Washington State on the road. And in 2001, USF tied then-No. 6 Cal 3-3.
BYU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute when Madie Lyons delivered a chip shot from 15 yards out that sailed just over USF keeper Madalyn Schiffel's hands for the goal.
USF answered by ramping up its offensive pressure, a move that helped keep the Cougars off balance.
"We came out and played them 4-3-3 against their 4-3-3," explained Millinder on his team's formation. "We pressed them with four the final 75 minutes and made it chaotic for them and they struggled with our pressure. In the second half we took it to another level with our pressure. It was an outstanding effort."
With BYU clinging to their 1-0 lead late in the second half, Carissa Martine was fouled in the penalty box giving the Dons an opportunity to line up for a penalty kick in the 71st minute. Micaela Mercado converted the chance for the Dons with a low shot that slipped into the right corner just out of reach of the diving BYU keeper, Rachel Boaz, tying the contest at 1-1 and giving Mercado her second goal of the year.
"We just needed that first one," added Millinder. "I thought if we got that first one, the momentum would swing our way and it did."
The Dons kept their foot on the pedal, outshooting BYU 10-2 in the second half, until Nakae delivered the game winner in the 82nd minute. Sonja Giraud had dribbled into the box on the attack, but was unable to get a clean shot off. Instead, Giraud's attempt deflected off a BYU defender and was bouncing around in the box when Nakae streaked in from the left wing and delivered the laser inside the far post to put USF up 2-1.
"I'm so excited right now," said Nakae. "I think everyone is just over the moon. This was our most important game and we practiced hard all week and were super focused in, so to get the win is a great feeling."
From there it just a matter of absorbing the frantic BYU attack as time expired.
Despite only recording two saves on the night, Schiffel helped direct the USF defense as they limited one of the most potent offenses in the WCC to just six shots overall. BYU came into the match having taken 321 shots on the year - over 100 more than the next-best team in the WCC (Gonzaga, 195).
Altogether, USF outshot BYU 15-6, while both teams registered three corner kicks apiece.
Nakae led the Dons with five shots, two of which were on goal, while Halle Bissin offered a backfield attack with three shots of her own, including one chance in the 52nd minute where Bissin fired off a long try from around 30 yards out that Boaz was just able to deflect away for the save.
Giraud nearly tied the match in the 47th minute when her line drive from the edge of the penalty box ricocheted off the crossbar.
Prior to Thursday night, BYU's lone blemish was a 1-0 loss to then-No. 2 Stanford on Sept. 7. Now the Dons have inserted themselves in the WCC title race as they eye their final four regular season contests. Coming into the night, USF was tied in second place with LMU and Santa Clara, each with 3-1-0 records.
"Enjoy tonight and tomorrow we're back at practice," added Nakae. "We're going to be preparing the next game just like we did this game. The rankings don't matter; every game is just as important because anyone can beat anyone.
The Dons will host San Diego on Saturday for Senior Night with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. from Negoesco Stadium.
