Women of Troy hit the field after pair of tough losses


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USC (5-10-3, 2-6-2 ) hopes to close out the 2012 season on a high note as they take on No. 2 UCLA (15-1-2, 8-1-1) on Friday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. at McAlister Field .

The Women of Troy are coming off a pair of 1-0 losses to No. 1 Stanford in double overtime and No. 21 California. All but three of USC’s games have been one-goal games or ties, and USC has played eight overtime games this season.

“There were some questionable calls in the game on Friday,” redshirt sophomore defender Mia Bruno said. “We were really proud of the way we played on Friday. We felt like we had them.”

The team isn’t down on itself, either.

“After the weekend we had, we’re picking our spirits back up,” Bruno said. “We’ve forgotten about it, and now we’re focusing our attention on the upcoming game.”

The Women of Troy are led in scoring by junior midfielder Jordan Marada and senior midfielder/forward Samantha Johnson, each with four goals. Marada also has five assists on the season.

UCLA is coming off its first loss of the season against No. 1 Stanford. They are led by Pac-12 leading scorer Zakiya Bywaters, who has 12 goals this season, and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland, who has 35 saves and six goals allowed in 15 appearances.

USC is 4-20-1 all-time against UCLA, losing 5-2 last year in Westwood and last winning 1-0 in 2010 at the Coliseum. The last game at McAlister Field was won 2-1 by the Bruins in overtime in 2006.

“This season has been a growing year,” Bruno said, “There have been a lot of freshman and transfers. I think this is good for them and all of us to learn and we’re gonna have a lot more experience for next season. We’re only losing five seniors and we have a lot of good recruits coming in, so things are looking up.”

The game will be televised on Pac-12 Los Angeles.