University Southern California Trojans
Women's Soccer Defeats ASU, 2-0
June 21, 1999 | Women's Soccer
November 6, 1998
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 25 USC women's soccer team moved one step closer to its first Pacific-10 Conference championship with a tough 2-0 victory at Arizona State on Friday night.
Behind senior forward Courtney Barham's two goals, the Women of Troy improved to 12-6-1 overall and 6-2 in the Pac- 10. With one match remaining in the regular season, USC, UCLA, California and Washington are all tied atop the conference standings. ASU fell to 8-10, 4-4.
USC is currently riding a six-match winning streak.
Barham, USC's all-time leading goal scorer, got her first one in the 28th minute. Sophomore midfielder Isabelle Harvey took a shot that was deflected to Barham, who drilled in a shot just inside the right post. It was Harvey's Pac-10 leading 10th assist of the year, and it's the second time in Harvey's career she has reached double-digit assists in a season.
USC had to play the final 38 minutes a player down after senior midfielder Erica De Vitis received a red card. Though ASU took 14 second-half shots (and outshot USC for the game, 20-12), the Women of Troy weathered the storm as freshman goalkeeper Shaelyn Fernandes (who had nine saves) earned her first career solo shutout.
Barham clinched the win with her second goal in the 83rd minute. Senior midfielder Carol Hatcher flicked the ball up in the air toward the goal, and Barham outran a defender and beat the onrushing goalkeeper to the ball, then kicked it over the keeper's head for the score.
Barham now has seven goals in 1998 and 37 in her career. She has four goals in the last two matches after also getting two against UCLA last weekend.
The Women of Troy were without leading scorer Kim Clark, who broke her leg against UCLA and is lost for the season.
USC will look to clinch at least a Pac-10 co-championship, and perhaps the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, in the regular-season finale on Sunday (Nov. 8) at Arizona.
ASU 0-0---0
USC 1-1---2
Scoring: Courtney Barham (Isabelle Harvey), USC, 28:00; Barham (Carol Hatcher), USC, 83:00.
Shots: USC 12, ASU 20 Saves: USC 9, ASU 6 Offsides: USC 5, ASU 0
Fouls: USC 15, ASU 4 Corners: USC 6, ASU 5 Att: 539
