SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- UC Irvine women's soccer had an epic clash at Negoesco Stadium Friday night against the host San Francisco Dons emerging with a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

The Anteaters (3-5-1) ran out to an early offensive attack with the first three shots turning a pair on San Francisco (7-4-0) keeper Olivia Camera, and USF would respond evening the shots by the end of the half. The Dons came through with a big scoring chance in the waning minutes of the half earning a penalty in the 41st minute.

Maddie Newsom stood tall denying Alyssa Humphrey's attempt to keep the match scoreless heading into the half.

San Francisco turned on the offense to start the second half with four shots in the first 10 minutes, but could not turn any on frame until the 60th minute. That shot got by Newsom as Izzie Lueken hooked a corner kick to Samantha Jehnings who would head home the opening goal to make it 1-0, USF.

UC Irvine came right back just 12 seconds after the USF goal sprinting from the midfield kick with Jessica Miclat setting up Claire Grouwinkel who put away the breakaway goal for the second goal in the 60th minute and tie things, 1-1.

Grouwinkel wasn't done as she found the back of the net just over three minutes later depositing another breakaway chance to suddenly put UCI in front, 2-1, in the 63rd minute.

The Dons struck back nearly scoring once again from Jehnings who nailed the crossbar, and directing another shot on frame, but Newsom's save rebounding to Cassidy George returning it past her and tying the match again, 2-2, in the 69th minute.

Each side sprinkled in some more chances, but the defenses turned it up including Maddie Newsom in net boosting her save total to five on the night.

The Anteaters finally made the breakthrough in dramatic fashion. Lili Andino blasted a free kick in from the top of the box past a sprawling Camera to put UCI back ahead, 3-2, in the 83rd minute.
 

Lili's winner!! ??

Shoutout the camerawork by @CoachYossi and the @UCImsoc cheering section ???????? pic.twitter.com/8RqGeLvg0L

— UCI W Soccer (@UCIwsoc) September 22, 2018

Newsom and the defense needed to make one final stand as USF got another chance from the penalty spot with just over two minutes to go in the match. Newsom remarkably stopped another penalty shot, this time denying Jehnings in the 88th minute, to amazingly preserve the lead and send UC Irvine on to the 3-2 victory.

Newsom finished the night with six saves, and stopped the second and third penalty shots in her career. Her other came last season on October 12 against UC Davis.

Grouwinkel takes over the team lead with her second and third goals of the season posting her first career multi-goal game. Her six points also lead the team.

Lili Andino knocked in her second goal of the season, both now have accounted as game-winners.

The Anteaters complete their five-match road trip with a record of 2-3-0, and return to Anteater Stadium Sunday, Sep. 23, for a 1:00 p.m. match against San Diego.

NOTES: Both of Andino's game-winners have come in the 83rd minute or later, the first coming in the 87th minute against LMU...Maddie Newsom climbed into 7th in the all-time saves leaders in UCI history now with 171 surpassing Janice Taft and Allison Merrick in the match...UC Irvine's winning streak against San Francisco grows to six with Friday's win...Shelby Lee played in her 60th career match Friday, Lili Andino and Jessica Miclat each made their 40th career starts...UCI won its first match when allowing the first goal this season (1-5-0)