Tucson, Ariz. - The University of Arizona Wildcat soccer team hosted No. 21 University of Southern California on Friday for the first Pac-12 match of the season. The match took place on Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium. USC won 3-0, with all their goals coming in the second half. It is the first time Arizona has been shutout all year. Arizona's record is now 6-2-1 while USC moved to 7-1-2.
In the first half, Arizona created multiple scoring opportunities but could not capitalize. Freshman Gabi Stoian took two shots on set pieces that both required saves from the USC goalkeeper. Sophomore Haley Silverberg ripped a shot from a distance but the keeper was up to the task. After a USC blunder defensively, senior Alexandra Doller played a ball to Stoian but she was called offside on what was a very close call.
Defensively, Arizona was tested but responded well. Juniors Alexa Montgomery and Sheaffer Skadsen made some strong plays in one-on-one situations. Senior Mykaylin Rosenquist made some crucial slide tackles as well to prevent scoring opportunities.
Arizona tallied five shots and three of them were on target. They won two corner kicks, were called offside twice and committed six fouls. USC had three shots and two were on target. One particular shot was rather dangerous, coming just outside the six-yard box but Kaufman parried it away. The Trojans committed three fouls.
Early in the second half, USC took the lead as Alex Quincey found a loose ball in the box off a throw in. She gathered, turned and it chipped it over Kaufman. The goal came at the 48:38 mark. USC added to the lead at the 63:34 mark when Sydney Sladek made a run up the right wing and crossed it into Katie Johnson who was unmarked in the box and passed it into the net. USC tacked on another goal at the 82;07 mark. Sladek ran past the defense up the middle of pitch and finished the play.
“I thought the first half went right,” head coach Tony Amato said. “We had a game-plan and it was playing out exactly how we saw it. Then the second half started and their first goal, off a set piece, we just didn't do a good enough job defending it and that changed the whole game. They got a lot of confidence off that goal and they started to spread us out and it caused some problems for us.”
Arizona failed to challenge the USC keeper in the second half; none of their five shots were on target. They created some opportunities again but could not finish the play in the final third. Often times, USC would recover in time to either block the shot or force the Wildcats to make a move as opposed to shooting.
“I think we caused some turnovers that led to chances,” Amato said. “But, they (USC) blocked it or they recovered quickly. They have two very good center backs who are strong and athletic and they defend well. Some of those chances became half chances because they defended it well.”
Arizona finished the match with 10 shots and three on target. The Wildcats committed 13 fouls and were called offside on four occasions. They won two corner kicks overall. USC had 14 shots total and nine were on target. The Trojans were called for five fouls and were offside four times.
The Wildcats will return to action Friday, Oct. 3 against the Oregon State Beavers at 3 p.m. MST. That match will be played at Mulcahy Stadium and broadcast live by the Pac-12 Networks.
For continued coverage of Arizona Wildcat soccer, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and follow @ArizonaWSoccer on Twitter.
