USC
Purdue
USC Streaks Back, Wins Third Straight With OT Victory
September 04, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 4, 2011
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. -- The USC women's soccer team has turned an early-season slump into a three-game winning streak after a victorious weekend run through out-of-state competition. Today, the Trojans fought out of a halftime hole to claim an overtime victory over host Purdue, thanks to an equalizer from Elizabeth Eddy and the game-winner from Courtney Garcia in OT. USC improves to 3-3 overall with the win, which follows up Friday's upset of No. 17 Illinois, to return to Troy with a winning road trip in the books. Purdue goes to 2-4 with the decision.
Both games were a part of the Illini/Boilermaker Cup, and four Women of Troy earned All-Tournament honors on the successful road trip: Brittany Kerridge, Shelby Church, Carly Butcher and Ashley Freyer.
In today's matchup with the Boilermakers, USC put on the early pressure with a series of shots, although it would be Purdue that would come through with the first goal of the day. The Boilermakers struck in the 40th minute, taking a 1-0 lead that stood for halftime.
In the second, USC would get the equalizer from Elizabeth Eddy in the 63rd minute. Kerridge set up the strike -- her fourth assist of the year -- with a cross from the right side that Eddy met for a score to the left post, locking the game up at 1-1. The tight battle was held in control by USC goalkeeper Shelby Church, who made a few impressive diving saves in the match to finish with six saves on the day.
USC's overtime heroics came seven minutes into the first OT frame. Courtney Garcia had barely stepped onfield for the Trojans, subbing in in the 97th minute, but quickly got in position to do damage for the Trojans. Freyer took a shot, but it was blocked by a Purdue defender. Garcia was there to gather in the ball and slam it into the open net, registering the junior's fifth career game-winning goal and lifting USC to a 2-1 victory.
USC now returns home to host the Trojan Invitational next weekend. San Diego and Texas open up the action at McAlister Field in a 1 p.m. match on Friday (Sept. 9) before USC goes to battle against Oklahoma State at 3:30 p.m. that day. Day two takes place on Sunday (Sept. 11) with an Oklahoma State-San Diego matchup at 10 a.m. and a USC clash with Texas at 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 4, 2011 -- West Lafayette, Ind.
USC 2, Purdue 1 (OT)
USC 0 - 1 -- 1 = 2
PUR 1 - 0 -- 0 - 1
SCORING:
39:10 -- PUR: Jessica Warren (unassisted)
62:36 -- USC: Elizabeth Eddy (Brittany Kerridge)
97:14 -- USC: Courtney Garcia (Ashley Freyer)
SAVES: Shelby Church (USC) 6, Clara Kridler (PUR) 6.
SHOTS: USC 18, Purdue 17
CORNER KICKS: USC 4, Purdue 9
FOULS: USC 13, Purdue 11
