Aug. 22, 2008

Final Stats

(San Francisco) - Senior forward Katherine Kimure scored on a breakaway in the 88th minute lifting USF to a 1-0 non-conference victory against Fresno State Friday night at Negoesco Stadium in the season opener for both teams. The Dons (1-0-0) collect their first win in a debut since 2003 and avenge a shutout loss to the Bulldogs (0-1-0) last season.

San Francisco dominated play for most of the first half with three strong scoring chances turned away by the Fresno State defense. The Bulldogs controlled play for portions of the second half before freshman forward Kelli Woodard found and fed a streaking Kimure for the only tally of the match.

"I think tonight it was a great collective team effort," USF head coach Mark Carr said. "I thought we dominated for a large period of the game and had some good chances. Fresno State caused some problems in the second half, but I'm so proud of my players and how they hung around and just got the job done. Overall it was a great team effort."

Senior goalkeeper Anika Steig (1-0-0) recorded her first career shutout for the Dons and finished with six saves. Sophomore keeper Kaitlyn Revel (0-1-0) enjoyed a solid match for the Bulldogs and also registered six saves.

USF started six freshmen and two sophomores in the contest. The Dons held an 11-6 advantage in shots and attempted eight corner kicks, compared to five for the Bulldogs. Kimure led the way for San Francisco with four shots, three on goal, while Woodard added three with one on frame. Sophomore defender Lauren Maris added two shots, while freshman forward Nicole Moore and junior midfielder Kristina Hall each tallied one.

Nicole Guttierez recorded a match-high five shots for Fresno State, four of them on target.

USF returns to action when it travels to Colorado for a pair of matches, beginning Friday, August 29 at Northern Colorado. Kick off against the Bears is set for 6:00 PM (PT) in Greeley, CO.

NOTES: USF owns a 4-3-0 advantage in the all-time series dating to 1995 and snaps a two-match winning streak by Fresno State... The Dons last win in a season opener came in a 1-0 shutout against Rice in the 2003 Oregon Duck Invitational... The goal was the first game-winner for Kimure and fifth of her career.