Box Score

SAN DIEGO – The University of San Francisco women's soccer team finally broke through late in the second half when Sydney Cooper notched her first collegiate goal on a penalty kick in the 80^th minute.  The lone goal by Cooper was more than enough for the Dons' (2-1-0) stellar defense who kept San Diego State (1-2-0) off the scoreboard for the first shutout of the season as the USF came away with the 1-0 victory in San Diego.
 
"Tonight's match was a tremendous team effort, we had a lot of really good performances tonight," said head coach Jim Millinder.  "Miciah was once again outstanding, Cassidy Helenihi had her best preface as a Don and Olivia was tremendous back in goal. We are learning as we go, our back four is young and learning with every match we play. It's all about wins and losses and we are out of the gate 2-1. I'm very happy with the effort, it's tough to win on the road and we've done it twice now.  Now we turn out attention to a very tough Illinois team on Sunday." 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• For the third consecutive contest neither side was able to break through with a goal in the opening half.  USF's defense stymied the host Aztecs to five shots in the opening half, none on goal.  On the flip side, USF was held to just three shots of their own with only two on target.
 
• In the second half the Dons attack had the edge.  Miciah Madison paced the Dons with four shots, two on goal.  None better than an open look in the Aztec box late in the second half that bounced off the crossbar.
 
• Not long after Madison's near goal, she once again broke through the Aztec defense only this time to be pulled down from behind in the box resulting in a penalty.  Cooper took the PK for the Dons and sent it to the low left portion of the goal past the diving keeper for her first career goal.
 
• The Aztecs had chances late in the contest, with USF nursing a 1-0 advantage senior keeper Olivia Camera (2-1-0) was up to the task collecting two of her three saves after the intermission.  Camera earned her second win of the season and collected her first shutout of the year.
 
NOTABLE NUMBERS
0: The shutout by USF on the road is the first since the Dons defeated LMU 1-0 at Sullivan Field on Oct. 7, 2018.  It is Camera's sixth career clean sheet.
2: The Dons have opened up the year with back-to-back road wins.  The last time USF won two true road games in a row came on Oct. 30 and Nov 1, 2015 when USF defeated Pacific 1-0 and followed that up with a 2-1 win over Saint Mary's.
3:  The three shots on goal against the Dons tonight are the fewest they have allowed this season.  No. 5 USC had 12, Hawaii had 7.
196: The three saves by Camera gives her 196 for her career, she surpasses Kelly Pohle (2006-09) for third all-time in USF history.
 
NEXT UP
The Dons will take on Illinois on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at Sullivan Field on the campus of Loyola Marymount as part of the WCC/Big Ten Challenge.  Live stats will be available and can be accessed on the women's soccer schedule page at USFDons.com