SAN FRANCISCO - If you look at the box score, or witnessed the action live at Negoesco Field, you will come to the same conclusion: UC Davis dominated Sunday’s non-conference match. Not only did the Aggies out-shoot San Francisco 14-11, and record six shots on goal compared to the Dons' two, they also earned all but one of the nine corners taken throughout the afternoon. However, it was USF that scored early, and withstood one UC Davis scoring opportunity after another for more than 80 minutes to secure a 1-0 win.

UC Davis will head to Saint Mary’s on Saturday, the second of three consecutive road matches, with a 4-5-1 overall record, while the Dons improve their record to 4-6.

San Francisco scored on its first set of shots taken in the sixth minute when Amanda Whittle’s attempt, the first recorded by the host team on the day, bounced off the post directly to teammate Micaela Mercado, who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Once the balled rolled her way, Mercado’s one-time shot off the rebound ultimately became the only goal scored by either team.

But not for a lack of effort, or opportunities generated by UC Davis.

Midway through the first half, San Francisco somehow survived a four-minute block of action that took place in front of its goal. 

What began with a shot from Olivia Jones continued with another one from Mandy McKeegan, which drew a save. Another shot from Crystal Crump, which took place on the same Aggie possession, eventually turned into a corner kick. After inserting the ball back into play, McKeegan took another shot that bounced off the post towards the middle of the field.

Unlike USF’s fortunate situation, Celina Minissian’s follow-up attempt was blocked, and deflected towards Ari Zamora who immediately fired away at Don goalkeeper Olivia Camera, who made another save.

As the half continued, UC Davis earned its fourth, fifth and sixth penalty kicks (compared to zero earned by USF in the first half), and did everything but find the back of the net. With momentum firmly in its possession at halftime, a when, not if, situation was felt by the 324 fans in attendance since the Aggies came within inches, numerous times, from scoring the equalizer.

Shortly after the second half started, the action mirrored that of the first with McKeegan taking additional corners, Minissian, Nicole Carson, Zuzu Romano and Andi Damian continually testing Camera. Even though UC Davis ended up playing the better game, it was the home team that walked off the field with a positive result.

San Francisco’s best scoring opportunity of the match ended up being its inaugural one since UC Davis netminder Alexis Smith experienced a quiet day compared to her counterpart. Both USF saves recorded by Smith took place throughout the first half.

Minissian and Damian led the Aggies with three shots apiece; every attempt recorded by the latter was on goal.

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