LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- Anteater women's soccer fell behind early at USC and Soni McAlister Field, but stormed back nearly completing the comeback in the 3-2 loss.
TROJAN FORCE
Things didn't look good in the early going for the 'Eaters (4-3-1). USC (4-1-1) got an early shot on target and the second one looked even better. A drive through the midfield between Helena Sampaio and Croix Bethune gave Zoe Burns a great look slot a ball inside the far post for a 1-0 advantage in just the fourth minute.
USC's next shot made it 2-0 with clever play along the UCI touchline between Burns and Simi Awujo with Awujo finishing in a similar fashion to Burns putting the 'Eaters in a two-goal deficit just 10 minutes in.
USC continued the offensive attack as they held the lead into the 24th minute. A short corner was taken and played around the box before Brooklyn Courtnall unleashed a shot that was saved on the goalline by
Alex Jaquez, but unfortunately fell to another Trojan and Aaliyah Farmer knocked it in for a 3-0 USC lead.
TURNING THE TABLES
Things looked bleak at halftime on the score sheet with USC commanding 12 of the 14 total shots and all three corner kicks, not to mention the 3-0 scoreline. That would change quickly, however, as the Anteaters were on the front foot early with a pair of shots. They made one count in the 50th minute as
Tati Fung sent a low liner toward the near post finding
Sophie Gillies whose touch slithered its way in to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
Â
USC looked to swing the momentum back with some chances of their own, and a big one came in the 67th minute. A foul in the box led to a penalty kick putting Simone Jackson on the spot. Her shot was turned away by
Glo Hinojosa to keep the match within reach for the 'Eaters.
Â
With rekindled life, the offense was back in pursuit and found another breakthrough in the 82nd minute.
Destinee Manzo sent a lead pass along to
Suus de Bakker in full stride. Her centering pass fell to freshman
Emilie Castagna who didn't get much on her first touch, but placed it well rolling it by the over-committed keeper to close the gap to 3-2.
FINAL SCORE: USC 3, UC IRVINE 2
The second half surge proved just not enough as the match finished to the host Trojans. It ends UCI's string of three consecutive wins against Pac-12 opponents.
The pair of goals mark the first time with multiple tallies against a Pac-12 squad since scoring three against Oregon in 2016.
The goals were scored by UCI's pair of English nationals starting with Gillies who now has a goal in consecutive matches giving her six in her career. The second goal came from
Emilie Castagna posting her first carer goal and point in the freshman's fifth career match. Assists went to
Tati Fung, her team-best fourth on the year,
Destinee Manzo, her eighth in her career to lead all active Anteaters, and the first of
Suus de Bakker's career.
In net, Hinojosa did everything she could to hold USC back down the final 66 minutes including the big penalty save. Her seven saves on the match tie a career high she recorded in 2021's win at UCLA, and pushes her within one save of 100 for her career.
The loss concludes UCI's non-conference slate finishing with a winning record once again at 4-3-1. Sunday brings with it Big West play with a trip to UC San Diego for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff to open conference play.
