USC
Texas
Trojans Tie Up Texas
August 29, 2010 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 29, 2010
AUSTIN, TEXAS. -- The USC women's soccer team shrugged off adversity and put forth a determined effort for a 1-1 road tie on a hot day in Texas, with Ashli Sandoval again providing the scoring touch for the Trojans. USC fell in a 1-0 hole in the first half against host Texas and would have to play a player down after a red card, but thanks to key saves from goalkeeper Shelby Church and a focused team effort the Trojans were able to control the pace of the game down the stretch to secure the tie. USC moves to 1-1-1 overall with the draw, and Texas goes to 2-0-1.
The Longhorns had the upper hand in the first half, managing a goal in the 18th minute of play when Sophie Campise sent a ball in from the right and Kylie Doniak got a head on it to loop it over USC goalkeeper Shelby Church. Church would take things into her own hands later in the half, however. She came out to take the ball off the foot of an attacking Longhorn, and would provide even greater heroics as the game took its first twist of the day. On another Texas offensive surge, USC defender Allie Harrison was dealt a red card for her efforts in putting a stop to a striking Longhorn in the box in the 41st minute. Not only did that put the Trojans a player down for the remainder of the match, but it lined up Church against her first penalty kick of her Trojan career. Clearly undaunted, Church laid out to her left and knocked down the shot, stealing away what looked like a golden opportunity for Texas to put USC down 2-0 for halftime. And in the waning minutes of the half, Ashli Sandoval made a statement of her own in heading a Texas shot attempt off the line to keep it a one-goal game going into halftime.
Charged up from the saves and seemingly energized also from the challenge of playing with only 10 field players, the Women of Troy captured the momentum for themselves in the second half. While USC managed just three shots and allowed four in the first half, the second half saw USC take control. The Trojans peppered the Longhorn goal with 11 shots in the half, compared to just two Texas opportunities. As it turned out, USC would be a player down for 23 minutes, as Texas got docked with a red card as well when Campise was dealt two yellow cards and was sent off. The 10-on-10 matchup still played in USC's favor, with the Women of Troy continuing to call the shots. Elizabeth Eddy drilled a warning shot off the crossbar, and USC would later put the ball in off a corner kick, only to have the goal disallowed due to a Trojan foul.
As time ticked by and USC still trailed 1-0, Carly Butcher rocketed in a shot, having it tipped just wide for a corner kick. Butcher went out to take the corner in the 87th minute, sending the ball in but seeing it cleared back out wide. Megan Ohai was there for the loose ball, and the senior sailed it into the box for Ashli Sandoval. Sandoval capitalized on the chance, poking it through to level the game 1-1. That marks Sandoval's second goal of the year, as she also scored USC's game-winner on Friday at TCU.
In overtime, Church came up with another nice save late in the first period of overtime, and neither team would be able to break through for the golden goal to win. Church finished with six saves in the match, while USC closed things down out-shooting Texas 18-9 overall as the Trojans now come home with a win and a tie on the road.
USC's next competition takes the Trojans to Fullerton, Calif., next weekend. USC will face UNC Greensboro at 5 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 3) and then plays Purdue at 11 a.m. on Sunday (Sept. 5).
USC 1, Texas 1
USC 0 - 1 --- 0 - 0 = 1
UT 1 - 1 --- 0 - 0 = 1
SCORING:
17:18 - Texas: Kylie Doniak (Sophie Campise)
86:26 - USC: Ashli Sandoval (Megan Ohai)
SAVES: Shelby Church (USC) 6, Alexa Gaul (UT) 3
SHOTS: USC 19, UT 9
CORNER KICKS: USC 7, UT 2
FOULS: USC 10, UT 4
