Friday, November 16
Tallahassee, FL
11:00 AM
USC
17-2-2
2
vs
0
LSU
13-7-4
1
2
F
LSU
0
0
0
USC
1
1
2
Photo by: John McGillen
USC Advances to Sweet 16 with 2-0 Win Over LSU
November 16, 2018 | Women's Soccer, Features
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 6 USC women's soccer team dominated possession and posted a goal in each half to take care of business against No. 19 LSU and advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon in Tallahassee.
Savannah DeMelo scored the opening goal and Tara McKeown provided the insurance as the Trojans move to 17-2-2 on the year, posting their 15th shutout of the season in the process. The Tigers end their season at 13-7-4 overall.
USC came out firing early, nearly missing on a half dozen chances in the first 25 minutes of the game, before DeMelo broke through with her ninth goal of the year in the 37th minute.
The Trojans took that advantage into the break but nearly gave it up in the first minute of the second half if it weren't for a spectacular save by Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year Kaylie Collins, who leaped to tip a curving shot over the crossbar. It was one of just two saves Collins had to make on the day as the Trojan defense allowed only five LSU shots.
In the 58th minute, McKeown connected on a header deep in the box after Jalen Woodward sent a perfect ball in to give the Trojans a commanding two-goal lead the rest of the way.
GOALS
37' – USC: Savannah DeMelo (assisted by Julia Bingham, Alea Hyatt) – Hyatt sent a ball forward into the left side of the box for Bingham, who slid and poked the ball towards the center of the area for DeMelo, who fired it home inside the right post.
58' – USC: Tara McKeown (assisted by Jalen Woodward) – Woodward collected the ball outside the box and sent in a sharp cross that found the head of McKeown, who sent the header back across the goal and towards the right post for the score.
NOTABLE
UP NEXT
The Trojans will face No. 5 Florida State on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. That game will be held in Tallahassee at the Seminole Soccer Complex.
Savannah DeMelo scored the opening goal and Tara McKeown provided the insurance as the Trojans move to 17-2-2 on the year, posting their 15th shutout of the season in the process. The Tigers end their season at 13-7-4 overall.
USC came out firing early, nearly missing on a half dozen chances in the first 25 minutes of the game, before DeMelo broke through with her ninth goal of the year in the 37th minute.
The Trojans took that advantage into the break but nearly gave it up in the first minute of the second half if it weren't for a spectacular save by Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year Kaylie Collins, who leaped to tip a curving shot over the crossbar. It was one of just two saves Collins had to make on the day as the Trojan defense allowed only five LSU shots.
In the 58th minute, McKeown connected on a header deep in the box after Jalen Woodward sent a perfect ball in to give the Trojans a commanding two-goal lead the rest of the way.
GOALS
37' – USC: Savannah DeMelo (assisted by Julia Bingham, Alea Hyatt) – Hyatt sent a ball forward into the left side of the box for Bingham, who slid and poked the ball towards the center of the area for DeMelo, who fired it home inside the right post.
58' – USC: Tara McKeown (assisted by Jalen Woodward) – Woodward collected the ball outside the box and sent in a sharp cross that found the head of McKeown, who sent the header back across the goal and towards the right post for the score.
NOTABLE
- USC's 15 shutouts are the second most in program history. Only the 2016 team (17 shutouts) had more.
- This is the fifth time in program history that the Trojans have advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
- USC's 17 wins are the third most in program history. Only the 2007 (20 wins) and 2016 (19 wins) national title teams had more.
- DeMelo's goal was her ninth of the year and McKeown's was her sixth, marking career highs for both players.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will face No. 5 Florida State on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. That game will be held in Tallahassee at the Seminole Soccer Complex.
Hear from Head Coach @Kmcdane after today's second round win.#FightOn | #TrUSt pic.twitter.com/RKVfOO6hQC
— USC Women's Soccer (@USC_WSoccer) November 16, 2018
Team Stats
LSU
USC
Goals
0
2
Shots
5
17
Shots on Goal
2
5
Saves
3
2
Corners
2
7
Fouls
6
5
Scoring Plays
DeMelo, Savannah (9)
Assisted By: Bingham, Julia , Hyatt, Alea
Finish from five yards
36:10
McKeown, Tara (6)
Assisted By: Woodward, Jalen
header from eight yards
57:43
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's SoccerF/D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
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