Photo by: Jenny Chuang
USC Women's Soccer Holds Off UC Irvine, 3-2
September 15, 2022 | Women's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – The USC women's soccer team scored three first-half goals to take down the defending Big West Champions UC Irvine, 3-2.
USC withstood two second half goals from the Anteaters, with the second coming in the 82nd minute, but were able to hold on and move to 4-1-1 on the season.
Zoe Burns scored the opening goal in the fourth minute and then assisted Simi Awujo on the second as USC took a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of play. Aaliyah Farmer made it 3-0 in the 24th minute.
UC Irvine found their footing in the second half, getting a goal from Sophie Gillies in the 50th minute and then a late goal in the 82nd from Emilie Castagna.
Croix Bethune nearly missed a fourth goal of the game for USC, hitting the crossbar late in the half. Anna Smith played the first half in goal for USC, making a pair of saves, and Reezyn Turk took the second half and had two saves as well.
GOALS
4' – USC: Zoe Burns (assisted by Croix Bethune, Helena Sampaio) – Sampaio played a ball to Bethune at the top of the area and she tapped a quick pass to Burns who fired home a one-time shot from the right side.
10' – USC: Simi Awujo (assisted by Zoe Burns) – Awujo played a ball to Burns and Burns gave it right back to Awujo who fired home a shot from the right side of the area.
24' – USC: Aaliyah Farmer (assisted by Brooklyn Courtnall) – Courtnall fired a shot from the top of the area that was headed off the line by a UCI defender, but Farmer was right there to send home the rebound.
50' – UCI: Sophie Gillies (assisted by Tati Fung) – Fung sent in a corner from the left side and Gilles tapped it home at the near post.
82' – UCI: Emilie Castagna (assisted by Suus de Bakker, Destinee Manzo) – Manzo played a long ball forward and Bakker knocked it to the middle for a charging Castagna who beat the keeper to the right post.
UP NEXT
The Trojans open Pac-12 play at home next week when No. 9 Stanford comes to town. That game can be seen live on the Pac-12 Network.
USC withstood two second half goals from the Anteaters, with the second coming in the 82nd minute, but were able to hold on and move to 4-1-1 on the season.
Zoe Burns scored the opening goal in the fourth minute and then assisted Simi Awujo on the second as USC took a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of play. Aaliyah Farmer made it 3-0 in the 24th minute.
UC Irvine found their footing in the second half, getting a goal from Sophie Gillies in the 50th minute and then a late goal in the 82nd from Emilie Castagna.
Croix Bethune nearly missed a fourth goal of the game for USC, hitting the crossbar late in the half. Anna Smith played the first half in goal for USC, making a pair of saves, and Reezyn Turk took the second half and had two saves as well.
GOALS
4' – USC: Zoe Burns (assisted by Croix Bethune, Helena Sampaio) – Sampaio played a ball to Bethune at the top of the area and she tapped a quick pass to Burns who fired home a one-time shot from the right side.
10' – USC: Simi Awujo (assisted by Zoe Burns) – Awujo played a ball to Burns and Burns gave it right back to Awujo who fired home a shot from the right side of the area.
24' – USC: Aaliyah Farmer (assisted by Brooklyn Courtnall) – Courtnall fired a shot from the top of the area that was headed off the line by a UCI defender, but Farmer was right there to send home the rebound.
50' – UCI: Sophie Gillies (assisted by Tati Fung) – Fung sent in a corner from the left side and Gilles tapped it home at the near post.
82' – UCI: Emilie Castagna (assisted by Suus de Bakker, Destinee Manzo) – Manzo played a long ball forward and Bakker knocked it to the middle for a charging Castagna who beat the keeper to the right post.
UP NEXT
The Trojans open Pac-12 play at home next week when No. 9 Stanford comes to town. That game can be seen live on the Pac-12 Network.
Team Stats
UCI
USC
Goals
2
3
Shots
13
20
Shots on Goal
6
11
Saves
7
4
Corners
1
9
Fouls
11
14
Scoring Plays

Zoe Burns (1)
Assisted By: Croix Bethune , Helena Sampaio
Left-footed finish to far post, #22 to #7 one-touch pass to #12
03:49

Simi Awujo (1)
Assisted By: Zoe Burns
Give-and-go on right side, left-footed finish to left upper-90
09:18

Aaliyah Farmer (2)
Assisted By: Brooklyn Courtnall
#8 shot headed off line by defender, #25 scores off rebound
23:16

Sophie Gillies (2)
Assisted By: Tati Fung
Touch in at near post off corner kick from left
49:48

Emilie Castagna (1)
Assisted By: Suus de Bakker , Destinee Manzo
#22 long ball forward, #5 centered and #28 finish to right
81:26
Game Leaders
Players
Players Mentioned
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