USC
Texas
USC Falls in OT To Texas
September 11, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 11, 2011
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- The USC women's soccer team was subject to another rough loss on home turf today, falling to Texas 2-1 after 102 minutes of action. The Trojans held a first-half lead on an Autumn Altamirano score, but the Longhorns would equalize in the 80th minute to force overtime. USC continued to pressure, but Texas got the final winning word on a score from Vanessa Ibewuike to hand the Trojans their fourth home loss of the year. USC is now 3-5-0 overall, and Texas goes to 6-2-0.
Once again, the Women of Troy came out in full force, generating plenty of pressure on their opponent's defensive lines. Samantha Johnson, in particular, caused major trouble for the Longhorn defense in the early goings. Carly Butcher, too, set up some solid strikes, including a nice ball up to Ashley Freyer that got hauled in by Texas goalkeeper Alexa Gaul. The USC front line was caught offsides three times in the first 18 minutes of action, but in the 34th minute the Trojans got deep and made their mark. Elizabeth Caparis got to the end line on the right side and sent in a centering ball. Johnson got to it for a shot that was blocked, outracing Gaul to the ball and deftly back-heeling it for an open look on goal by Autumn Altamirano, who drove home the opportunity to get USC ahead 1-0.
In the second half, the Trojan lead held up as the teams stayed largely even on shots. Gaul made a nice save against a dangerous header from Freyer on a Brittany Kerridge setup, and moments later USC goalkeeper Shelby Church made a beautiful diving save against a strong Texas free kick to hold USC up 1-0. In the 80th minute, however, the Longhorns were able to find an answer. Hannah Higgins got free on the left side and put the ball into the box for a header from Lexi Harris that went high and into the right side. The shot count finished up as an even 7-7 in the second half, and USC was unable to get a foothold to avert overtime.
The first overtime see-sawed back and forth as both teams made surges for chances to net a winner. But still it was even at 1-1 after 10 minutes of overtime action. Texas would lock in on the win in the second frame when Higgins again put the ball in from the right, finding Ibewuike in the box for the shot and the victory.
USC will next head to Portland for its final nonconference game of the regular season, facing the Pilots in a 1 p.m. match on Sunday (Sept. 18).
2011 TROJAN INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM GK - Rosa Medina (Oklahoma State)
Melinda Mercado (Oklahoma State)
Krista Lopez (Oklahoma State)
Elizabeth DeLozier (Oklahoma State)
Stephanie Ochs (San Diego)
Elissa Magracia (San Diego)
Mariah Butera (San Diego)
Vanessa Ibewuike (Texas)
Hannah Higgins (Texas)
Lexi Harris (Texas)
Brittany Kerridge (USC)
Samantha Johnson (USC)
Sept. 11, 2011 -- McAlister Field
Texas 2, USC 1 (2OT)
USC 1 - 0 -- 0 - 0 = 1
UT 0 - 1 -- 0 - 1 = 2
SCORING:
33:22 -- USC: Autumn Altamirano (Samantha Johnson)
79:43 -- UT: Lexi Harris (Hannah Higgins)
102:20 -- UT: Vanessa Ibewuike (Higgins)
SAVES: Shelby Church (USC) 2, Alexa Gaul (TEX) 1.
SHOTS: USC 16, Texas 14
CORNER KICKS: USC 4, Texas 6
FOULS: USC 12, Texas 12
