USC
San Diego
USC Again Edged Out In 2-1 Loss
September 02, 2012 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 2, 2012
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- For the third straight game, the USC women's soccer team has fallen victim to a comeback effort by its opponent. The latest case came today in the finale of the 2012 USC Fútbol Classic, as visiting San Diego answered an early Trojan goal with a first-half equalizer and a second half winner to had USC a 2-1 loss at McAlister Field. Now 2-3-0 overall, USC will face the Toreros in two weeks down in San Diego. But until then, San Diego holds the higher win count with a 3-3-0 record to date with today's decision.
USC came out of the gates strong once again, tallying a goal in the first 10 minutes of play for the second straight game. This one was all Jordan Marada, who carried the ball up on the attack and fizzed in a distance shot that rattled the right post and ricocheted in to take the Trojans ahead 1-0 in the eighth minute of action. USC would continue to pressure the Toreros, eventually causing enough trouble for San Diego to commit a handball in the box. That set up USC with the penalty kick attempt, but San Diego goalkeeper McKenna Tollack guessed correctly and made the diving save to hold the USC advantage at just a one-goal margin.
In the 22nd minute, it was San Diego's turn to get deep in enemy territory. Lauren Dotson shoved the ball up for Emily Dillon, who centered in the ball for Sierra Ferreira. Ferreira knocked it through, and the Toreros were even up with the Trojans. That count would hold through halftime, and as the second half progressed it was clear that San Diego was still looking for more. A while after USC's Elizabeth Eddy blazed a shot in just wide, San Diego turned the tide. The Toreros closely replicated their first goal, this one on another centering pass from Dillon, who this time found Mariah Butera on the other end in the box for the shove to the net for the go-ahead goal in the 70th minute of play.
Stuck in another 2-1 hole late in the game, USC would attempt to rally to pull level. Goalkeeper Tollack got in the way of a few Trojan shots, while a Torero defender had to put a stop to a dangerous USC chance in the box. At the other end, USC keeper Caroline Stanley squelched a dicey San Diego opportunity with an impressive save at close range. The equalizer would again escape the Trojans, however, leaving USC with its third straight loss of 2012.
The Women of Troy look to switch gears next week with a road trip to Cal State Northridge on Sunday (Sept. 9) at 6:30 p.m.
San Diego 2, USC 1
Sept. 2, 2012 - Los Angeles, Calif. (McAlister Field)
USC 1 - 0 = 1
USD 1 - 1 = 2
SCORING:
7:12 -- USC: Jordan Marada (unassisted)
21:33 -- USD: Sierra Ferreira (Emily Dillon, Lauren Dotson)
69:09 -- USD: Mariah Butera (Dillon)
SAVES: Caroline Stanley (USC) 3, McKenna Tollack (USD) 7.
SHOTS: USC 21, San Diego 8
CORNER KICKS: USC 3, USD 2
FOULS: USC 14, USD 16
