Video: post-game presser
SAN FRANCISCO - A pair of freshman goals from Nicole Kelsey and Melissa Ellis set the Dons up for a 2-1 win over conference foe Gonzaga Sunday afternoon at Negoesco Stadium.

Coming off a three game losing streak, the Dons (7-11-0) looked to be aggressive early in the game as Amanda Whittle placed a beautiful corner kick into the far left post to set up a perfect header for the midfielder Kelsey to put USF on the board in just the second minute of the match.

The Bulldogs (6-9-2) looked to answer back from the Kelsey goal with a shot by McKenna Ferrera that got saved with a spectacular sprawling catch for USF goalkeeper Olivia Camera. Gonzaga outshot USF 6-4 in the first half, but could not manage a single goal past goalkeeper Camera, who managed to come up with five saves throughout the match to lead the Dons' defense.

The Bulldogs came out firing in the second half, with a five shot to none advantage until the Dons changed the tone in the 75th minute of the match. A gorgeous shot by the Dons' senior Rosie Kerstetter was saved by Gonzaga's goalkeeper Sarah Swanson, but the ball ricocheted into the right wing where Ellis was in perfect position to score and give the Dons their second goal of the match.

The Bulldogs did not go down quietly as Gonzaga forward Karley Baggerly dribbled down the field from a perfect pass by Aliyah Miller into the far right wing where Baggerly shot the ball into the far right corner to trim the Dons' lead to 2-1. This was not Gonzaga's only chance as Baggerly managed to get another shot off that was miraculously saved by Camera in the 89th minute to secure the win for the Dons.

The Bulldogs outshot the Dons by a large margin of 17-6 but could only produce a score once throughout the 90-minute tussle.

Next up, the Dons will honor their senior class in the final contest of the season against long-time rival Santa Clara on Saturday. Kickoff under the lights of Negoesco is slated for 7 p.m.