MORAGA, Calif. -- Returning to the road following the team's victory over Cal to wrap up non-conference action, the University of San Francisco men's soccer team (7-3-3, 0-2-1) battled hard for 90 minutes as they earned a 0-0 draw against Bay Area rival the Saint Mary's Gaels (5-6-3, 0-1-2) on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Eric Waltz earned his fifth shutout of the season as he recorded a pair of saves while facing 11 Gaels' shots. The Dons defense was intense and aggressive throughout as they worked hard to keep the home team off the board.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Both teams came out aggressive seeking to get on the scoreboard and to take the lead in a key conference battle. Both offenses were unable to find much success in the first half due to the stellar defensive play from both sides as USF recorded three shots in the first 45 minutes with the score tied at halftime.
• USF's defense continued their stellar play and elevated above it as they were able to keep the Gaels off the scoreboard with all eight of Saint Mary's' shots failing to find the back of the net with the game ending in a 0-0 tie.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Waltz continued his tremendous season in goal as he recorded his fifth clean sheet of the season while recording two saves on 11 shots faced.
• On the offensive side, Max Chretien and Omar Juarez led the way for USF as each recorded two shots in Saturday afternoon's match.
• Playing key minutes and leading the way for the Dons to secure the tie as Elias Thomas, Dominic Valdivia, Reid Roberts, Kevyn Lo, Max Hamelink and Easton Harryman each played the entire 90 minutes in Moraga. 

POST GAME WITH THE DONS:

Head Coach Chris Brown -- "It was a conference battle with our Bay Area rival. Both goal keepers and back lines did well. Our guys fought hard to get a shutout on the road and we are looking forward to get back home for two massive games Wednesday and Saturday."

UP NEXT:
USF will be back home on Wednesday evening as they host the Santa Clara Broncos (3-3-4, 0-0-2) at 7:00 p.m. from Negoesco Stadium. Live streaming and live statistics will be available via the team's schedule page. 
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF men's soccer program, be sure to follow @USFDonsMSoccer on Twitter, @USFDonsMenssoccer on Instagram and @USFDonsMSoccer on Facebook.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Provident Credit Union - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.