WSOC | Gaels Fall short to USF in First Conference Game

Saturday, September 30

San Francisco, CA

6:00 p.m.

Saint Mary's College of California

6-3-2, 0-1-0

USF

4-5-2, 1-0-0

Saint Mary's (CA)

San Francisco

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

WSOC | Gaels Fall short to USF in First Conference Game

9/30/2023 10:46:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO – SMC battled hard Saturday night against USF at Negoesco Stadium, where the Gaels lost 2-0 in their WCC opener.

Two first half goals were the difference in a physical contest that featured five yellow cards issued. The Dons outshot the Gales 9-3 in the first half before SMC outshot USF 9-2 in the second.

In the ninth minute, goalkeeper Taylor Poland made a big save where she dove to the bottom right side of the goal near the post. Of the Gaels three shots in the first half, the first belonged to Sydney Middaugh less than a minute after Poland's save, but USF made a save of their own. Later in the half, Gaels leading scorer Briana Salvetti took a shot to the bottom of the net that was saved by USF goalkeeper Kira Ybarra.

In a game where the refs let them play early on Dons Marissa Vazquez scored with her right-footed shot hitting the top right corner of the net getting past Poland. Makena Carr attempted the last shot of the half for the Gaels in the center of the net, where Ybarra saved another shot in the first half. A few minutes before the half ended, Vazquez scored the exact same way hitting the top right of the net.

With the Gaels trailing in the second half 2-0, Middaugh attempted another shot just seven minutes in, which was then followed by Emily Jensen taking her first shot of the game in the 54th minute. Between the 57th and 59th minute, Makena attempted another shot and Salvetti attempted another two shots for the Gaels which all happened to be off target. As the second half became more physical on both ends of the field, Alessandra Towle took a shot straight to the net where it was saved again by Ybarra.

In the 76th minute, Middaugh shot to the bottom left of the net just barely missing. With eight minutes remaining in the game, Jensen shot to the center of the net, where it was saved once again by Ybarra. Attempting for the fourth time, Middaugh shot the ball where it was blocked by a USF defender.

UP NEXT:
SMC will be back in Moraga and will take on No. 18 Santa Clara Wednesday October 4th at 3:00 P.M.