University Southern California Trojans
No. 19 Women's Soccer Falls in Opener
June 21, 1999 | Women's Soccer
September 4, 1998
LOS ANGELES - Senior midfielder Catherine McGuire scored a pair of goals to lead the San Diego State women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over No. 19 USC on Friday afternoon in the first-ever game at USC's McAlister Field.
The Women of Troy may have had a more serious loss in the final minute, when junior forward Kaylee Whitfield (Santa Ana/El Modena HS) injured her left knee. Whitfield was attempting to come back after having surgery on her right anterior cruciate ligament last March.
It is the first time in program history that USC (0-1) has lost a season opener. The Women of Troy are now 5-1 in season openers. The Aztecs improved to 2-0 in 1998.
McGuire's first goal came in the 29th minute when she headed in junior midfielder Kelly Grogg's corner kick. The other goal came in the 63rd minute after a series of headers by both teams left McGuire alone with the ball about 10 feet from the goal, and she kicked it in.
USC played 11-on-10 for much of the match after Aztec senior defender Shellee Stucker was sent off in the 36th minute with a red card, but the Women of Troy could never take advantage. San Diego State took 15 shots to USC's 8, and the Aztecs had an 8-4 lead in corner kicks.
USC's best chance for a goal came just after halftime when senior forward Courtney Barham's (Olivenhain/San Dieguito HS) header hit the crossbar.
SDSU junior goalkeeper Katherine Judkins had three saves to go with the shutout, while USC senior goalkeeper Karin Puccinelli (Cupertino/St. Francis HS) kept USC in the game with eight saves.
USC junior midfielder Kim Clark (Cupertino/Monta Vista HS) was held without a point for the first time in 13 games. USC was without Isabelle Harvey (Canada) and Susie Mora (Mexico), who are participating in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Toronto, Canada.
The Women of Troy host Pepperdine on Sunday at 1 p.m. at McAlister Field.
Scoring: McGuire (Grogg), SDSU, 29:00; McGuire, SDSU, 63:00.
Shots: USC 8, SDSU 15 Saves: USC 8, SDSU 3 Offsides: USC 0, SDSU 3
Fouls: USC 17, SDSU 17 Corners: USC 4, SDSU 8 Att: 274
