Meianna Oeser
Contributing Writer
The Dons recorded their second 1-1 tie of the season at home against San Jose State on Sunday, two days after keeping alive a two-game road streak by shutting out UC Davis 1-0. USF’s overall record now stands at 4-2-2.
The Dons led for most of the game against the San Jose State Spartans, but they ceded a late goal and were unable to respond in their second overtime game of the season. The Dons looked sharp early on and started off in attack mode. Their offensive efforts were rewarded in the 40th minute, when senior forward Mackenzie Krieser gathered a deflected ball and drilled home her first goal of the season while falling to the ground. Krieser, who led the Dons with 60 shots last season, was playing in her second game of the year after missing the first six contests.
Leading 1-0, the Dons tried to hold on defensively after the break, but the Spartans fired an equalizer just out of reach in the 75th minute, tying the game. Though the Dons attempted five shots to the Spartans’ zero in the two 10-minute sudden death overtime periods, both teams were scoreless, keeping the 1-1 draw.
“I thought we let them dictate the final 15-20 minutes to get the equalizer,” head coach Jim Millinder told usfdons.com. “I don’t think we were consistent enough today.”
Things looked more normal for the Dons on Friday when they shut out the UC Davis Aggies. Both teams were at a disadvantage to kick off the game with temperatures reaching triple digits, and the blistering heat led to a defensive showdown in the first half.
The Dons took just five shots all game, but that was all they needed. Scrappy play by an Aggie defender led to a free kick in the 34th minute, which freshman forward Maddy Glaser used to score the only goal of the game. The free kick, taken from 10 yards out, was the freshman’s second goal of her young career.
The Aggies were held scoreless the entire game, as the Dons defense tightened up and junior goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel made two key saves on the way to her fourth shutout of the season.
The Dons will now embark on a lengthy five-game road trip, playing two teams in Colorado and three in Southern California. Their first stop is at University of Denver on Friday, Sept. 19 at 6:00 p.m., followed by University of Colorado-Boulder on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 12:00 p.m.
