USC
Pacific
USC Stops Skid With 2-1 Win Over Pacific
August 28, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2011
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. -- The USC women's soccer team was on task from kickoff, striking twice in the first six minutes and holding tight to secure the Trojans' first win of the year in a 2-1 decision over Pacific. Playing at San Diego's Torero Stadium, the Women of Troy were in serious need of putting a stop to a three-game slide. The call to action was heeded, and USC got to the back of the net with two goals for padding that netted victory for the Trojans although the Tigers managed a late penalty kick to get on the board. USC now holds a 1-3 overall record on the year, and Pacific goes to 1-3.
The Trojans made an early statement on their commitment to victory with a quick strike. Brittany Kerridge fed the ball out wide to Ashley Freyer on the right side. The senior made a move in the box and struck the ball to the far post. Sophomore Elizabeth Eddy was there to pounce on it, knocking in the score -- her first of the year -- to bump the Trojans up 1-0 in the match.
Just over a minute later, the Trojans were again going deep on the attack. This time senior Carly Butcher shoved a nice pass up to Samantha Johnson. The junior striker charged toward goal with the ball, but was taken out by a Pacific defender inside the box. Johnson's hard work earned a penalty kick for the Trojans in the 6th minute. Kerridge lined up for the strike, and slotted it through for a 2-0 USC advantage on the senior's second goal of the year, going along with her goal and assist served up in Friday's match.
Eddy and Johnson continued to buzz around the Tiger goal on the attack, and Ashli Sandoval got in on the action with a rocket off a free kick later in the half, but USC's lead remained at 2-0 going into the second stanza. Johnson would get another dangerous shot in early, but got side net on the try. Meanwhile, Pacific took some chances against USC keeper Shelby Church, but Church deterred each one with punches to clear and a brilliant diving save in the 79th minute to keep the Tigers out of reach. In the 89th minute, however, Church's shutout hopes flickered when a USC handball in the box put Pacific on the penalty kick mark. Church was facing her second penalty kick in three games, and this one was put out of her reach as Angelica Figueroa put a point on the board for the Tigers. USC's 2-1 advantage stayed intact in the remaining stretch of play, and the Trojans had finally locked in on a win for 2011.
The victory snapped a slide of three straight losses suffered by the Trojans in the first three games of the year. Now 1-3 overall and with a boost of confidence in their game, USC will go on the road next weekend. The Trojans visit Illinois first in a 7 p.m. ET game on Friday (Sept. 2) and then go to play at Purdue at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday (Sept. 4).
Aug. 28, 2011 -- San Diego, Calif.
USC 2, Pacific 1
USC 2 - 0 = 2
PAC 0 - 1 = 1
SCORING:
3:31 -- USC: Elizabeth Eddy (Ashley Freyer)
5:17 -- USC: Brittany Kerridge (penalty kick)
88:09 -- PAC: Angelica Figueroa (penalty kick)
SAVES: Shelby Church (USC) 3, Tashia Long (PAC) 3.
SHOTS: USC 8, Pacific 11
CORNER KICKS: USC 2, Pacific 5
FOULS: USC 16, Pacific 11
