SAN FRANCISCO — It came down to penalty kicks Friday night at Negoesco Stadium for the San Francisco women's soccer team, but not in the way one would usually think.
 
UC Irvine goalkeeper Maddie Newsom saved not one, but two USF penalty kicks, and in turn earned the Anteaters a 3-2 victory at Negoesco Stadium in a game that saw five second-half goals and the game-winner scored in the 83rd minute.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Dons' (7-4) first penalty kick opportunity came in the 41st minute of first half with the game still tied 0-0. Miciah Madison was charging after a ball at the top of the box and was hit by three UC Irvine players, including the 'keeper Newsom. That earned the Dons a shot at taking the lead, but Newsom stopped Ashley Humphrey's attempt to keep it scoreless.
   
• USF's second penalty kick attempt came when they needed it most – down 3-2 with just 2:22 to play in the game. Madison was fouled again in the box, this time right in the middle trying to score. Samantha Jehnings took the PK attempt this time, having already scored once and assisted on the Dons' other goal. But she, too, was thwarted by Newsom, keeping the Anteaters (3-5-1) ahead.
   
• Neither team scored for the first 59 minutes of the game, but San Francisco finally broke through in the 60th minute off a corner kick to take a 1-0 lead. Jehnings scored her team-leading ninth goal of the season with a header directly off a corner kick from Izzie Lueken, who sent it straight to Jehnings on the far side of the box.
   
• Not fazed by trailing all of a sudden, the Anteaters countered immediately off of the ensuing kickoff, and in a matter of 12 seconds, tied the game with a goal from Claire Grouwinkel. Jessica Miclat sent a long pass from the 35-yard mark to Grouwinkel, who was sprinting down the right side of the box. Grouwinkel tucked her shot inside the right corner to make it 1-1.
   
• Just three minutes later, Grouwinkel scored again to put UC Irvine up, 2-1. Grouwinkel was chasing a bouncing ball right alongside a USF defender, and as they ran into the penalty box, Grouwinkel beat her defender and got a shot off, putting it left past a diving Olivia Camera for her second goal of the game.
   
• But the Dons capitalized again by flooding the box. Cassidy George scored her second goal of the year much in the way she scored her first one, putting a foot on a loose ball just four yards out to tie the game at 2-2. Jehnings had fired a shot that Newsom dove to save, only to knock the ball right to George.
   
• UC Irvine's game-winner came in the 83rd minute directly off a free kick. USF was called for a foul directly in the middle of the half circle atop the penalty box. From there, Lili Andino was able to shoot high and right to put the Anteaters ahead for good.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 6: UC Irvine's Newsom made six saves on the night, three in each half. Those included two on penalty kicks.
• 9: Jehning's ninth goal of the season continued to keep her ahead of the entire West Coast Conference. The nearest WCC goal scorer to her entering Friday had five goals.
• 12: The Dons outshot the Anteaters 12-7 in the second half alone. For the game, they outshot UCI 18-14. 

COMING UP

• The Dons wrap up their home stand and kick off WCC play on Sept. 30 when they host rival and current No. 6-ranked Santa Clara. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SMCGaels.com.