Sameer Bhutani

Staff Writer

For their season finale, the Dons faced off against the Santa Clara Broncos (9-6-4, 6-2-1 WCC). Unfortunately for San Francisco, they were on the wrong end of a golden goal, as the Broncos were able to edge out a 2-1 victory in the 96th minute.

Though Santa Clara controlled the offensive flow for most of the game, senior Amanda Whittle broke the 0-0 deadlock in the 24th minute. Freshman Miciah Madison sent in a cross that Whittle was able to head in from six yards out for the 1-0 lead, making it Whittle’s sixth goal of the season.

The pressure from the Broncos kept coming for the Dons back-four, but they were able to hold strong for the rest of the first half. After 45 minutes of play, SCU took 10 shots while USF took four. Freshman goalkeeper Olivia Camera racked up six saves.

In the second half of play, Santa Clara came out firing as they reeled off 11 more shots, one of which was able to find the back of the net in the 81st minute. With the game tied up 1-1 at the end of regulation, the Broncos and Dons headed into overtime. To San Francisco’s dismay, overtime only lasted five minutes and 22 seconds as SCU was able to latch onto a short cross into the box from 12 yards out, to send in the golden goal winner. The Dons fell victim to a golden goal heartbreaker during senior night.

As San Francisco ends their 2016 season, they’ll also be saying their farewells to their seniors: Rosie Kerstetter, Amanda Whittle, Ali Schaffer, Jessica Nakae and Charlee Garcia. Now heading into the off-season, the Dons will look into building off of this past season in hopes of coming back stronger for the 2017 season.

Photo Credit: Dons Athletics/ Flickr