LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The USC Trojans (9-4-1) scored three second-half goals to defeat the 15th-ranked Arizona Wildcats (8-4-1) by a score of 3-1 on Sunday, Oct. 11 at McAlister Field in Los Angeles, Calif.
Arizona was the only team doing the attacking in the first 20 minutes or so as Kaitlyn Lopez started the first attack for Arizona as she made a long run and was looking for Charlotte Brascia on a through ball. The USC defender did a good job of shielding and the ball rolled out of bounds for a goal kick.
At the 10th minute, the ball was bouncing in the USC goal box for a good 10 seconds. Nobody was able to get a clean shot off for Arizona and the Trojans cleared the ball.
Lopez then got free again and took a shot with her left foot in the 16th minute. The USC defender blocked the shot and the ball went out of bounds for a corner kick, which was eventually cleared by the Trojans.
In the 29th minute, Hayley Estopare and Jessica Nelson both put shots on target, but USC goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme was able to make two saves.
On the next USC possession, Savannah Levin was given a perfect cross from the right wing, but her shot went just over the crossbar.
In the 43rd minute, Hannah Stevens went for goal by way of the header, but it was saved. That was the first time that Stevens went for goal this season and did not score. The teams went to the locker rooms for halftime shortly after with the score tied at zero.
USC started quickly in the second half as they took a few early dangerous shot. One forced Arizona goalkeeper Lainey Burdett to dive, and both ended up being wide left.
In the 53rd minute, Tori Gates was shown a yellow card and USC had a free kick from just over 20 yards out. The Trojans went for goal, but Burdett was able to make a comfortable save.
Just minutes later, Lopez took another shot after she intercepted a USC defender's pass. Her shot was tipped by a defender and went out for a corner kick, but nothing came of it for the Wildcats.
In the 57th minute, USC got on the board after Jamie Fink received a perfect cross and she placed it over Burdett and into the goal as she was just about five yards away from the goal.
There was more danger for the Wildcats just minutes after as another cross was put into the goal box, but Burdett did a good job of diving and smothering the ball, ending the USC attack.
Chelle Mahoney was incredibly close to scoring her second-career goal in the 67th minute as she was on the end of a cross. It was going towards the right side of the goal, but Prudhomme was able to make a top-class save, preserving USC's 1-0 lead.
In the 73rd minute, Sheaffer Skadsen joined the attack after intercepting a pass. She ran about 30 yards and made a good pass to Gabi Stoian, who took a shot from about 30 yards away. The shot never really had a chance as it went well above the crossbar.
A couple minutes later, Jaden DeGracie was taken down just about 20 yards away from the goal on the left side of the field. Wong took the free kick and crossed it towards the back post, but the pass was just a bit high and went out for a goal kick.
Sydney Johnson scored for USC on a one-timer off a cross from Kayla Mills in the 80th minute, making the score 2-0.
A couple minutes later, Wong went for goal by trying to chip it over the keeper. Prudhomme leaped and made the save of the day though by tapping it over the crossbar.
Erica Stephan scored her first-career goal in the 85th minute off a corner kick from Stoian, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Fink then scored her second goal of the night just one minute later on what looked to be a cross. The ball floated above Burdett and went into the side net and put the match out of reach.
The Wildcats are back in action on Friday as they travel to Pullman, Wash. to face the Washington State Cougars.
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