USC returns home for first time in more than a month


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The USC women’s soccer team (5-8-3, 2-4-2 Pac-12) stayed home to play at McAlister Field for the first time in more than a month and ended a pair of streaks. The Women of Troy pulled out a 1-0 win over Utah (8-5-2, 3-4-0 Pac-12) on Friday, but fell to Colorado (7-7-3, 1-6-1 Pac-12) 1-0 in double overtime. The win ends a five-game losing streak on the road, all against Pac-12 competition.

USC played a close, hard-fought game against Colorado, with both teams taking three shots in the first half, as possession of the ball kept going back and forth. Both teams got more opportunities in the second half, as USC outshot the Buffaloes 9-7, with junior Elizabeth Eddy leading the team with four shots, including two on goal. But despite an aggressive second half, both teams combined for only one shot in both overtime periods. Colorado’s Amy Barczuk redirected a throw by Anne Stuller in the 105th minute to give the Buffaloes the win.

When asked about the game-winning goal, goalkeeper Caroline Stanley said, “The ball goes through 11 people to get to the back of the net, so it’s an entire team effort to score as well as to get scored on. We can’t point fingers, we just have to stay together through it.”

The Women of Troy outshot Colorado 12-11, although the Buffaloes had more shots on goal (6-5). Colorado also beat USC 15-13 in fouls and 9-2 in corner kicks.

Against Utah, junior Jordan Marada scored the lone goal on a cross by Eddy in the 34th minute, ending a 258-minute scoreless streak. The Women of Troy then used tough defense by junior Autumn Altamirano, redshirt sophomore Mia Bruno and freshmen Erin Owen and Marlee Carrillo to keep the Utah offense in check. Goalkeeper Caroline Stanley finished with five saves on the day, and the Utes didn’t get their first shot on goal until the 30th minute.

USC held possession of the ball for a majority of the first half, outshooting the Utes 7-3. Utah, however, became more aggressive in the second half, outshooting USC 9-2 and generating more offensive opportunities. But the Women of Troy were able to keep the Utes off the scoreboard and preserve the one-goal win.

When asked about the team’s performance this weekend, coach Ali Khosroshahin said, “I thought we played well on Friday. I thought today we were very inconsistent. The moments we were able to connect our passes, we were able to get in. We just weren’t real consistent about that today.”

USC remains home for the remainder of the regular season, taking on Stanford at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7:00 p.m. PT and California at McAlister Field on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 1:00 p.m.