Box Score

THE RUNDOWN

IRVINE, Calif. – The University of San Francisco men's soccer team came back from a goal down to defeat UC Irvine, 2-1, to sweep the weekend and concluded its non-conference schedule on Sunday
 
Along with Friday's win over San José State coupled with Sunday's results, the Dons finished the non-conference slate with a 3-7-0 record before it opens conference play at Santa Clara on Sunday, October 8.  UC Irvine dropped its record to 5-3-1.
 
With the match tied at 1-1, Sean Bowman scored the game winner in the 58^th minute when his shot found the inside left post off a flick from Leon Schwarzer that he received from Jorge Ruiz on the right wing. 
 
For Bowman, it was his third goal of the weekend to take over the team lead in goals scored with five overall. 
 
The Anteaters scored the first goal of the match when Ivan Canales' shot found the back of the net in the 17^th minute but that's all UCI would score.  The Dons defense hunkered down the rest of the match, not allowing any more goals despite getting outshot 16-to-8. 
 
The score remained 1-0 in favor of UC Irvine until the 51^st minute when senior midfielder Aaron Lombardi chipped the ball over UCI goalkeeper Alex Waldron for the equalizer off a Schwarzer pass. 
 
It was Lombardi's second goal in as many games and his third goal of the season.

The Dons will look to carry the momentum set forth from the weekend when it plays Santa Clara in two weeks.  

STATS OF THE GAME

• San Francisco played its fifth one goal differential match this season, improving to 2-3-0 in those matches. 
• Sean Bowman scored three goals over the weekend and has five goals in total this season to lead the team.  Bowman is second on the team with 12 points (five goals, two assists).
• Not to be outdone, Leon Schwarzer's two assist game gives the senior midfielder with 13 points on the season (four goals, five assists) to maintain the team lead in points.    

COACH'S QUOTE
 
Dons head coach Eddie Soto on the defensive intensity even after giving up the early goal:
 
"This was a huge victory.  In the first half, we just came out flat and UC Irvine took advantage of it.  They spread the field and moved the ball nicely.  The best thing about the first half was that we were only down 1-0.  In the second half, we made some adjustments.  Our collective defense was the difference in the game." 
 
Soto on Bowman's play over the weekend: 
 
"Sean's been unbelievable.  His form is really sharp and he's talented.  Its great the way he's responding because that's the way the really good players do.  His play this weekend was a great response to the week of training."   
 
Soto on sweeping the weekend before entering conference play:
 
"I feel fantastic.  It was an incredible weekend to get the win on Friday night and fly down here to get another win against a very talented UC Irvine team.  The team collectively rolled their sleeves and played great team defense tonight."   
 
WHAT'S NEXT

USF will have 13 days until the next game, when it opens West Coast Conference play at Santa Clara on Sunday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m.