SAN JOSE, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's soccer team scored a pair of first half goals and the defense did the rest as USF defeated host San Jose State 2-0 on Thursday night at Spartan Soccer Complex.
 
Goals by Marissa Vasquez and Gabby Rizzo gave USF (1-0-1) a 2-0 cushion before intermission and it was all the Dons needed. USF outshot the Spartans 16-6 on the evening, including a 6-3 shots on goal advantage.
 
"Great first goal by Marissa, fantastic finish," said associate head coach Pinder Nijjar. "We started the game with the early offensive momentum, we put the pressure on their defense and that set the tone of the rest of the match. The second goal by Gabby Rizzo was tremendous. Brilliant composure by Jamesen Ward, with the touch pass. A lot of people would not have tried to take a contested shot there, but she found a wide open Gabby for the easy goal. Defensively, We limited their counter attacks. In the second half got a little more chaotic, we knew San Jose State was going to come after us, but a win is a win, especially away from home."  
 
In the opening half, USF dominated possession. Vasquez broke the early scoreless tie when she blasted a shot from well outside the penalty box with her right foot past the diving keeper to the lower left corner of the goal in the 11^th minute.
 
Later in the half Rizzo notched her first collegiate goal when Ward sent a pass to Rizzo who was all alone in the box and chipped a shot past Spartans' keeper Shayla Sugai (0-1-0). The goal was created by fast break counter by USF that was started along the far sideline Vasquez.
 
In the second half the Dons continued to attack. USF finished the period with 10 shots compared to four by the Spartans after the intermission. USF's Catherine Hill, Elle Soleau, and Sydney Cooper all finished the evening with three shots, with Cooper putting two on goal.
 
Defensively, the Dons back row made it a very quiet night for Molly Eby (1-0-1). The Dons' keeper faced just six shots total, with three on goal. The Portland native was up to the task on all three attempts and earned her first clean sheet of the year.
 
USF will return to action on Thursday, August 2 when they make the short trip across the Bay Bridge to Berkeley, Calif., to take on the Golden Bears. Thursday's contest against Cal is slated for a 3:00 p.m. start time.