SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Portland's Taryn Ries scored her 15th goal of the season and the Pilots nearly completed the comeback at San Francisco, but in the end the Dons escaped Negoesco Stadium with a 3-2 win in a West Coast Conference women's soccer game played on Sunday afternoon. All five goals were scored in the second half as the Pilots and Dons entered the break tied 0-0.
 
Ries' goal came in the 63rd minute with the Pilots (10-7-0, 3-3-0 WCC) trailing 2-0. She controlled a ball sent in from the right, made a brilliant turn to create some space inside the area, and finished into the corner of the net to pull one back for the visiting side. Ries entered the match tops in the WCC and No. 6 nationally in goals scored.
 
The Dons (10-5-2, 3-1-2 WCC) responded with another goal to push their advantage to 3-1 in the 72nd minute, but the Pilots refused to go away. And when center back Kendra Steele scored her first goal of the year, Portland was down just 3-2 with nine minutes left to work with. Kimberly Hazlett earned an assist on the goal as she sent in the corner, which was deposited into the back of the net with a header from Steele.
 
From there the Pilots searched for the equalizer, and they had a couple chances in the closing minutes with a pair of corners. But the Dons defended the set pieces well, and the clock soon hit 90 minutes.
 
During the scoreless first half, the Dons created some early opportunities. The Pilots withstood the pressure, and goalkeeper Rachel Lusby provided a couple of saves to keep the score nil-nil. In the 33rd minute, Natalie Muth had Portland's best chance to that point when she was on the receiving end of a nice ball from Ries, but Muth's header was high of the crossbar.
 
Moments later Hazlett found Ellie Winkelmann with a pass inside the 18, and Winkelmann sent a well-hit shot towards the right post. USF keeper Molly Eby was there with a diving save pushing the ball wide, and the Pilots couldn't capitalize on the ensuing corner as the half ended with the score 0-0.
 
San Francisco's first goal came in the 47th minute, and it was scored by the team's leading scorer Samantha Jehnings. Miciah Madison followed Jehnings' 10th goal of the season with a goal of her own, which pushed the Dons' lead to 2-0 in the 56th minute.
 
Bethan Perry claimed USF's third goal, and it would prove to be the game-winner.
 
The Pilots next return to Portland for their final two home matches, beginning with a visit from LMU on Friday night at Merlo Field. Kickoff for the Pilots and Lions is set for 7 p.m.