USC
Long Beach State
USC Women Fall 2-1 In Home Opener
August 19, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 19, 2011
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- The No. 25 USC women's soccer team got tagged with a season-opening loss for the third straight season. In USC's home opener on Friday at McAlister Field, the Trojans took a lead, but visiting Long Beach State rallied back to tie in the first half and got the winner in the 86th minute to clinch the 49ers' first win in three tries against USC.
In a physical game down to the last whistle, it was the Women of Troy who broke through first. A Long Beach State foul set up Brittany Kerridge with a free kick just outside the middle circle, and the junior midfielder launched a booming ball into the box. Sophomore midfielder Haley Boysen went high for the header, sending the ball sailing over an outstretched 49er goalkeeper Kaitlyn Gustaves to put the Trojans on the board, up 1-0 in the 17th minute of action. USC defender Autumn Altamirano would threaten four minutes later, carrying the ball all the way to goal and blasting a nice shot just high. In the 30th minute, USC goalkeeper Shelby Church put a stop to a 49er attack when she came out to snag a dangerous ball. USC got deep in Long Beach State territory again soon after, causing trouble after Kerridge sent in a corner kick that Eddy would flip up over an advancing Gustaves at the left post for Sandoval to try a strike at a tight, difficult angle, sending it just wide of the far post. Safe for the moment from going into a deeper hole, Long Beach State answered back with a push that set up Alex Balcer with a long free kick in similar distance to Kerridge's earlier assist. Balcer's ball had the sun at its back, and Church's attempt to punch the ball over the crossbar went awry, the ball skidding through and in to put Long Beach State even with the Trojans at 1-1.
USC mounted a few strong strikes during the second half, with Morgan Morrow buzzing through the 49er back line for chances on goal. The first ball was slipped through by Ashli Sandoval, putting Morrow one-on-one with the LBSU keeper. Morrow drove it hard past Gustaves, but the ball went off the right post. Another Morrow attack in the next minute saw the speedy midfielder caught offsides, negating a ball she put to the back of the 49er net. USC threatened again in the 70th minute when a Long Beach State handball set up USC with a free kick just outside the penalty box. Sandoval took the strike, but it was deflected by a defender high.
Long Beach State got a leg up in the 86th minute when Shawna Gordon got a head on a high bouncing ball in the box, lofting it over Church and in to take a 2-1 lead for the 49ers. The remaining minutes were a scramble, and the Trojans got a spattering of good shots on goal, but could not catch a break. In a frenzy in front of the goal as the seconds ticked down from 1:30 to go, Samantha Johnson's power strike was saved, prompting rebound tries from Claire Schloemer and Elizabth Eddy. Eddy's ball looked to catch the inside of the post and net, but ricocheted into play, keeping the score at 2-1. Kerridge got deep in the final seconds and took a shot, but it was at a tough angle and Gustaves got it to wrap up a 2-1 win for Long Beach State.
USC returns to action on Sunday (Aug. 21) looking for redemption against visiting San Diego, who notched two wins over the Trojans in 2010. USC and the Toreros will do battle at 1 p.m. at McAlister Field.
Long Beach State 2, #25 USC 1
USC 1 - 0 = 1
LBSU 1 - 1 = 2
SCORING:
16:25 -- USC: Haley Boysen (Brittany Kerridge)
35:57 -- LBSU: Alex Balcer
85:44 -- LBSU: Shawna Gordon
SAVES: Shelby Church (USC) 2, Kaitlyn Gustaves (LBSU) 3.
SHOTS: USC 15, LBSU
FOULS: USC 13, LBSU 9
CORNERS: USC 4, LBSU 3
