University Southern California Trojans
Women's Soccer Downs Washington in NCAA First Round
June 21, 1999 | Women's Soccer
November 11, 1998
LOS ANGELES - Senior forward Courtney Barham scored two goals, including one in the 111th minute of the second overtime period, to lift the USC women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Washington at the Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon. The NCAA Tournament first-round matchup was the first-ever postseason game for USC.
USC (14-6-1) will advance to the NCAA second round to play at San Diego State on Sunday (Nov. 14) at 1 p.m. The Women of Troy have won their last eight matches, setting a school record. Washington ends its season at 10-9-1.
Barham, USC's all-time leading goal scorer, had two in a game for the third time in the last four matches. She now has nine goals in 1998 and 39 in her career.
Her first goal came at the 27:28 mark when sophomore midfielder Isabelle Harvey crossed the ball into the middle. Barham fell down, but got back up to control the ball and kick it past the Washington goalkeeper. It was Harvey's Pac-10 leading 12th assist of the season, and she has assists in the last six matches to tie a school record.
Washington tied the game at 69:51, when Husky junior midfielder Stacy Merlitti scored on a one-timer off a corner kick by freshman forward Caroline Putz.
The game stayed tied through the remainder of regulation and the first 15-minute overtime period. Then, with 9:06 left in the second OT, Barham was wide open after taking a pass on the right side from sophomore forward Megan Orach. Barham then dribbled in and blasted a shot past the goalkeeper.
The Women of Troy broke another school record with 18 corner kicks. USC outshot Washington, 24-10.
USC avenged an earlier loss to Washington, a 3-2 defeat in Seattle on Oct. 11. USC has not lost since then.
USC was without star midfielder Kim Clark, who broke her leg against UCLA on Nov. 1.
UW 0-1-0-0---0
USC 1-0-0-1---2
Scoring: Courtney Barham (Isabelle Harvey), USC, 27:28; Stacy Merlitti (Caroline Putz), UW, 69:51; Barham (Megan Orach), USC, 110:54.
Shots: USC 24, UW 10 Saves: USC 7, UW 8 Offsides: USC 1, UW 0
Fouls: USC 13, UW 11 Corners: USC 18, UW 12 Att: 585
POSTGAME QUOTES FROM USC COACH JIM MILLINDER:
"That was a hard-fought match. Both teams played excellent. Washington hung in there and got the equalizer. Then they got worn down and we had more depth. Courtney Barham was outstanding today. We knew that our speed would give them problems. Both Courtney and Isabelle (Harvey) had speed to get away.
"I never felt at any point that we'd lose the match. Washington is very good at countering. But our fitness was good and we had the ability to play a lot of players.
"I thought their goalkeeper had a really good game. She did an exceptional job. Washington did a great job defending. It hurts losing Clark everywhere on the field, but everyone else has elevated their game.
"After the Washington trip, we aired some things out. We were 6-6-1 but we came back. I knew we had talent. But talent doesn't always win games. We had to have good team chemistry. Today, we did some good things as a team.
"We played San Diego State early on. They're a very hard working team. At 18-2-1, they're very confident and waiting for us. We have to match their work rate and change some things up.
"Our strength of schedule toughened this team up. But early on it hurt them. Everyone in the country, except maybe the NCAA committee, knows how strong the Pac-10 is."
USC SENIOR FORWARD COURTNEY BARHAM:
"I felt I was really on and the team gave me the ball. I was a bit frustrated I didn't get some of those shots, but after my first goal I told the team, I have another one in me.'
"On the first goal, it started with a corner. I was on the ground, I hopped to my feet and I knew I had to jam it as hard as I could to get it in. On the second goal, I knew as long as I kept it low I'd get it in. I feel like I'm really coming on.
"I've felt really healthy the last few weeks. I'm fast like before and I'm doing things I know I can do."
USC SENIOR DEFENDER MEGHAN REPPE:
"We didn't play well at Washington in our first game. So we wanted revenge. We've come so far. Our motto is One game at a time.' If we don't do that, that team will take you down. But if we do do that, I think we can stay in it for a while.
(On the slow start in the second half): "Defensively, we got caught up in what happened before. We were too slow to pressure the ball. We need to learn to clear the pressure instead of keeping it in our end."
USC SENIOR GOALKEEPER KARIN PUCCINELLI:
"It feels awesome. I just want to keep going. I don't want it to end."
POSTGAME QUOTES FROM WASHINGTON COACH LESLE GALLIMORE:
"Obviously, an overtime 2-1 loss hurts. But I'm very proud of my kids, especially in the second half. One of the great things for us this year has been competing in the Pac-10. The strength of this conference is outstanding. But having to face another Pac-10 team is tough.
"Give USC a lot of credit. They easily could have been up 3-0. They pounded us. Our lack of depth hurt us, especially in overtime. USC worked hard and played well even without (Kim) Clark. I think they'll have a lot of success against San Diego State.
"It's no secret, our team lacks depth and we don't have the speed to combat players like Harvey. But we adjusted well in the second half and found our attack. We were shellshocked in the first half, though.
"USC didn't play well in their first game against us this year (a 3-2 UW win in Seattle). We have to be perfect to win and we wasted 45 minutes being imperfect today and it caught up with us in overtime.
"We can't look and say the officiating lost it for us. But some things have been frustrating for us.
"I think you'll see some Pac-10 teams do well in this tournament. Unfortunately, both USC and Washington were matched up and we both can beat a lot of teams in this tourney.
"Playing a team that you had already beaten is a disadvantage. So USC can beat San Diego State. They're fast enough and physical enough. If they play a seed like Portland, they can win that too. USC is talented, fast, has scoring power and is on a roll. They've waited a long time to get in.
"Gretchen (Mensinger) did a good job today keeping them out of our net."
UW JUNIOR GOALKEEPER GRETCHEN MENSINGER:
"It wasn't ever comfortable for me today. I got pounded. They're good at crashing the box. We did a good job keeping them out as many corner kicks as they had...in a row."
