Mitchell Lobetos
Staff Writer

Last weekend the Dons (5-1-2) took to Michigan to play against the Michigan State Spartans (4-1-2) and the University of Oakland Grizzlies (0-4-4). The Dons played to a 1-1 draw with the Spartans and beat the Grizzlies 2-0 in their Sunday tilt.

USF’s Sunday clash against Michigan State featured an exciting match with plenty of offensive chances. Within the first three minutes San Francisco had already fired three shots, although none managed to find the net. It wasn’t until USF’s fourth shot in the 12th minute that they claimed a 1-0 lead.

Junior midfielder Amanda Whittle picked up a loose ball in the box and let it fly from 15 yards out to score her second goal of the season. It wasn’t until the 75th minute before The Spartans found an equalizer. A pass found its way to the foot of a Michigan State player in the box, who then took advantage of USF’s lone crack of the game with a goal to tie the score 1-1.

After regulation time each team had fired 12 shots. State had a huge advantage in the corner kick count 8-3 but San Francisco proved to be up to the challenge each time. The first overtime half had five total chances by both teams, but neither capitalized on them. The Dons played on their heels and were mostly on the defensive the entire second overtime, taking no shots in comparison to The Spartans’ five. Even so, USF’s defense was stiff and earned the draw.

San Francisco’s Sunday victory was an efficient one. Five of the eight shots the team fired were on goal, two of which found the back of the net. Each of the five shots on target came from different players: senior defender Sydnie Telson, freshman forward Tiara Webb, sophomore midfielder Camille Wilson and the two goal scorers, freshman midfielder Samantha Jehnings and sophomore midfielder Sonja Giraud. It only took USF eight minutes to notch their first goal. A pass from junior midfielder Jessica Nakae found Jehnings who buried a shot into the bottom left corner for her first goal of the season. That was all the offense San Francisco would need for the rest of the game thanks to stingy defense and a solid game in front of the net by senior goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel. Schiffel saved all five on target shots that Oakland fired.

The Dons would score again a few minutes into the second half when second half substitute Giraud beautifully placed a shot inside the upper left corner to record the second goal of the game and her third of the season. Giraud had a second attempt a few minutes later in the 54th minute, but was unfortunately blocked.

This weekend come out to Negoesco Stadium to support the women’s team as they take on the visiting Cal Bears on Friday Sept. 18 at 7PM, followed by another match against the Boise State Broncos on Sunday Sept. 10 at 1PM.

Photo courtesy of Ashley Moffett/Foghorn