Friday, November 29
Chapel Hill, N.C.
3:00 PM
USC
17-5-1
2
at
3
North Carolina
23-1-1
1
2
F
USC
1
1
2
North Carolina
1
2
3
Trojans' Season Ends in Wild 3-2 Battle at North Carolina
November 29, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Features
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 9 USC women's soccer team came up just short in a 3-2 thriller at No. 2 North Carolina on Friday night, ending its season in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.
It was the third time in program history that USC had made the quarterfinal round of the tournament as the Trojans end their season with a 17-5-1 record. North Carolina moves to 23-1-1 and will face Washington State in the NCAA semifinals.
USC struck first in the 17th minute, but the action was just starting as the lead changed hands once and the game was tied twice.
Penelope Hocking scored the game's first goal on a counterattack by the Trojans, getting the assists from Jalen Woodward and Tara McKeown. The Tar Heels answered just before the first half ended, getting a goal in the 39th minute to tie things.
It would be UNC taking the lead early in the second half, when Brianna Pinto headed one home to put the Tar Heels up in the 55th minute. Not done yet, the Trojans had an answer seven minutes late, when Natalie Jacobs punched one home in a crowded penalty area to bring USC back level. The home team found the final goal of the night in the 69th minute, when Maycee Bell headed home the winner off a free kick.
The Trojans had a couple of chances late, but couldn't sustain the attack down the stretch against a deep UNC squad. Both teams finished with seven shots on goal in the game.
GOALS
17' – USC: Penelope Hocking (assisted by Tara McKeown, Jalen Woodward) – Jalen Woodward played a ball up the middle of the UNC defense that McKeown flicked on for Hocking, who got in behind the Tar Heel defender and beat the keeper to the near post with her left foot.
39' – UNC: Emily Fox (unassisted) – Fox weaved her way through the Trojan defense and snuck a shot from the top of the area past a diving Kaylie Collins for the equalizing goal.
55' – UNC: Brianna Pinto (assisted by Taylor Otto, Bridgette Andrzejewski) – The ball was crossed in and flicked on deep in the box, with Pinto heading it home from close range for the finish.
62' – USC: Natalie Jacobs (assisted by Jalen Woodward) – Hocking took a shot from the top of the area that went off the crossbar, but the UNC defense was unable to successfully clear and Woodward sent the ball back towards the front of goal to a waiting Jacobs who punched it home from close range.
69' – UNC: Maycee Bell (assisted by Lotte Wubben-Moy) – Wubben-Moy sent a free kick into the box and Bell was there for the header.
NOTABLE
It was the third time in program history that USC had made the quarterfinal round of the tournament as the Trojans end their season with a 17-5-1 record. North Carolina moves to 23-1-1 and will face Washington State in the NCAA semifinals.
USC struck first in the 17th minute, but the action was just starting as the lead changed hands once and the game was tied twice.
Penelope Hocking scored the game's first goal on a counterattack by the Trojans, getting the assists from Jalen Woodward and Tara McKeown. The Tar Heels answered just before the first half ended, getting a goal in the 39th minute to tie things.
It would be UNC taking the lead early in the second half, when Brianna Pinto headed one home to put the Tar Heels up in the 55th minute. Not done yet, the Trojans had an answer seven minutes late, when Natalie Jacobs punched one home in a crowded penalty area to bring USC back level. The home team found the final goal of the night in the 69th minute, when Maycee Bell headed home the winner off a free kick.
The Trojans had a couple of chances late, but couldn't sustain the attack down the stretch against a deep UNC squad. Both teams finished with seven shots on goal in the game.
GOALS
17' – USC: Penelope Hocking (assisted by Tara McKeown, Jalen Woodward) – Jalen Woodward played a ball up the middle of the UNC defense that McKeown flicked on for Hocking, who got in behind the Tar Heel defender and beat the keeper to the near post with her left foot.
39' – UNC: Emily Fox (unassisted) – Fox weaved her way through the Trojan defense and snuck a shot from the top of the area past a diving Kaylie Collins for the equalizing goal.
55' – UNC: Brianna Pinto (assisted by Taylor Otto, Bridgette Andrzejewski) – The ball was crossed in and flicked on deep in the box, with Pinto heading it home from close range for the finish.
62' – USC: Natalie Jacobs (assisted by Jalen Woodward) – Hocking took a shot from the top of the area that went off the crossbar, but the UNC defense was unable to successfully clear and Woodward sent the ball back towards the front of goal to a waiting Jacobs who punched it home from close range.
69' – UNC: Maycee Bell (assisted by Lotte Wubben-Moy) – Wubben-Moy sent a free kick into the box and Bell was there for the header.
NOTABLE
- The Trojans were making the third appearance in the Elite 8 in program history.
- USC is the first visiting program to score in UNC's new Dorrance Field. The Tar Heels had not allowed a goal at home since opening the venue prior to this season.
- Penelope Hocking finishes the year with 18 goals, good for the second most in a season in program history. She was two away from Isabelle Harvey's record of 20, set back in 1996. Hocking owns two of the four highest scoring seasons in program history in her first two collegiate seasons. She scored 14 goals last year.
- Tara McKeown's 15 goals this year are the third most ever scored by a Trojan. It is the first time in program history two players have both scored at least 15 goals in a season.
- USC's senior class finishes their career having made the postseason every year and winning at least one postseason game each season. The team won a title in 2016, made the second round in 2017, made the Sweet 16 last year and this season made the Elite 8. The senior class has been a part of two of the three deepest tournament runs in program history.
This team fought all year long and this senior class leaves an undeniable legacy behind them.
— USC Women's Soccer (@USC_WSoccer) November 30, 2019
Hear from Head Coach @Kmcdane... pic.twitter.com/GnLy7BQADT
Team Stats
USC
NC
Goals
2
3
Shots
15
22
Shots on Goal
7
7
Saves
4
5
Corners
3
8
Fouls
10
6
Scoring Plays
Hocking, Penelope (18)
Assisted By: McKeown,Tara , Woodward,Jalen
Counter attack finish
16:52
Emily Fox (2)
Weaving run and finish to lower right co
38:45
Brianna Pinto (11)
Assisted By: B. Andrzejewski , Taylor Otto
Header from close range
54:48
Jacobs,Natalie (4)
Assisted By: Woodward,Jalen
Finish from close range after rebound
61:28
Maycee Bell (3)
Assisted By: Lotte Wubben-Moy
Header in box from free kick
68:05
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerF/MF/D
/ Women's SoccerF/MF/D
/ Women's SoccerMF
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