SAN FRANCISCO -- It's only fitting that a senior would net the game winner on Senior Night, and that's exactly what happened as
Sydnie Telson headed in the game winner in the 104th minute to lift the USF women's soccer team to a 3-2 double overtime victory over San Diego Saturday night at Negoesco Stadium.
"Our kids are just relentless," said head coach
Jim Millinder after the game. "They just keep playing and playing. The good Lord upstairs is looking after us I think."
Telson was setup just right of the goal where she took a long cross from
Amanda Whittle out on the left wing and redirected a pinpoint header from about 15 yards out that arched over the hands of USF keeper Michelle Craft and inside the back post for the winning score.
"It was a crazy game," said Telson. "We finally won a game in double overtime on a header I have practiced every practice. I've scored this goal multiple times every year and to get it on my senior day, I can't be happier. I'm the happiest kid in the entire world right now."
The victory gives the Dons (11-3-3, 5-1-0) sole possession of first place in the West Coast Conference for the time being. USF is trailed by BYU (4-1-1) and Santa Clara (4-1-1) - who tied each other on Saturday - while LMU (4-1-0) plays Gonzaga on Sunday afternoon.
The Toreros (3-12-2, 1-5-0) got on the board first when Victoria Walker scored on a cross into the box from Maggie Ghotbi to put USD up 1-0 in the 13th minute.
Soon after, the Dons had a chance to answer when the Toreros were whistled for a hand ball in the box, giving
Camille Wilson a chance to set up for the penalty kick. However, Wilson's try was saved by USD keeper Michelle Craft making the diving stop.
Wilson had a shot at redemption just a few minutes later when she was fouled in the box. Wilson converted her second try, tying up the score at 1-1 in the 23rd minute and notching her third goal of the season.
Outside of those two goals, the first half was largely uneventful with both teams only taking a combined four shots in the period.
San Diego then took a 2-1 lead in the 55th minute Ally Ocon tapped in a ball that had squirted past USF keeper
Madalyn Schiffel in heavy traffic and was slowly rolling toward the goal line.
It stood like that until the 80th minute when another USD penalty in the box resulted in
Samantha Jehnings converting the equalizing PK opportunity to even the score at 2-2. It was Jehnings' team-leading sixth goal of the season.
"Coach said it best," added Telson on the team's mindset as they continuing working toward the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament bid. "You can win every game if you just work on the details, go back to the basics and really just know what you're doing. It was the entire team that got us here today and we just finished it because of how badly we wanted it."
The Toreros nearly scored the game winner right at the end of regulation when Julia Sherwood delivered a cross into the box that somehow found the back of the net in heavy traffic, but the USD celebration was short-lived as the goal was immediately called off due to a Torero foul on the play.
In overtime, Whittle just about sealed the win for the Dons when her attempt in the 100th minute bounced off the crossbar.
Overall, USF outshot San Diego 12-6, but the Toreros held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks. Seven of the Dons' 12 shots were on frame, while three of the Toreros' shots were on goal.
Schiffel registered a single save in the win.
This was USF's first win over San Diego since Oct. 14, 2005.
"They're a terrific team," explained Millinder. "Their record doesn't indicate at all what type of team they are. They gave us all we could handle and then some. In the locker room right now, I just think our kids believe. They believe they can win every game and we've got to ride that as long as we can."
The Dons' final three regular season matches will be road tests as they look ahead to Pacific (Oct. 30), Saint Mary's (Nov. 1) and Portland (Nov. 7). Kickoff for the next match at Pacific on Oct. 30 is set for 7 p.m.
