SAN FRANCISCO – Making its 2018 home debut, the University of San Francisco women's soccer team got back into the win column on Sunday thanks in part to a pair of impressive goals as the Dons took down visiting Harvard 2-1.
USF (3-1-0) struck first in the fourth minute of the contest, when
Miciah Madison floated a gem of a pass just out of reach of the Crimson keeper to
Izzie Lueken, who finished it off from the left side of the penalty box for her first goal of the season.
The Dons' defense did an exceptional job limiting the scoring chances by Harvard from there. The Crimson managed just seven shots, four of which were on goal. USF keeper
Olivia Camera was up to the task, recording four saves in the first period.
After the intermission, USF and Harvard played even soccer for the better part of the half. USF eventually figured out the Crimson defense when the Dons' youth provided the spark.
Kalena Teufel set up the scoring opportunity, feeding
Samantha Curwood-Wagner who sent a one touch pass to
Karley Weeks, who in turn found the back of the net. It is the first collegiate goal for Weeks and the first career assist for Teufel and Curwood-Wagner.
With less than five minutes in the contest and nursing a 2-0 advantage, the Dons could not record the clean sheet. On a scramble in front of the USF net, the Crimson notched their only score of the afternoon when Leah Mohammadi sent a header past Camera to cut the USF lead in half.
That was it for Harvard offensively, as the Dons' defense did not allow another opportunity and USF came away with the 2-1 win.
COACH'S QUOTE
GAME NOTES
- With the win the Dons have opened up the year 3-1 for the first time since the 2013 season. That year USF finished 6-10-4.
- USF loves the first half: Lueken's goal in the fourth minute was USF's sixth goal of the season before the intermission. Three of USF's goals have occurred before the fifth minute of the contest.
- The goal by Weeks was the first USF goal scored in the second half.
- Through four contests, USF has allowed 58 shots. With the exception of the Stanford game, the Dons' defense has held opponents to just 24 shots – averaging eight shots a game.
UP NEXT
USF will remain at home for two more games when it hosts UC Santa Barbara for a 7:00 p.m. game on Friday, Aug. 31. They wrap up the three game homestand on Sunday when New Mexico comes to Negoesco Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. tilt. Tickets for both contests are available at
Dons Ticket Central.