No. 8 USC Nets Six First-Half Goals in 6-1 Win Over Cal Poly

Friday, August 24

Los Angeles, CA

3:00 PM

USC

2-0-0

Cal Poly

0-1-1

Cal Poly

USC

Photo by: John McGillen

No. 8 USC Nets Six First-Half Goals in 6-1 Win Over Cal Poly

August 24, 2018 | Women's Soccer, Features

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LOS ANGELES – The No. 8 USC women's soccer team scored six first half goals and was led by a brace from Leah Pruitt to pick up a 6-1 win over Cal Poly in the team's home opener on Friday afternoon.

Pruitt started the scoring in the second minute and then added her second goal just under seven minutes later to give the Trojans all the offense they would need for the day. Four more USC players would tack on goals and the Trojans would take a 4-0 lead just over 20 minutes into the contest. Cal Poly scored its lone goal on a loose ball in the box in the 39th minute.

The second half was a bit more subdued than the frenzied opening period, but the Trojans had chances throughout that just missed adding to their goal tally. USC dominated possession for most of the contest.

GOALS
2' – USC: Leah Pruitt (assisted by Julia Bingham) – Pruitt received a long pass from Bingham and got in behind the Cal Poly defense, eventually beating the Mustang keeper to tap in an easy finish.

8' – USC: Leah Pruitt (assisted by Savannah DeMelo) – DeMelo fed the ball into the box for Pruitt, who again took a touch to her right and beat the Cal Poly keeper for another wide open finish.

10' – USC: Natalie Jacobs (PK) – Jalen Woodward was taken down in the box and then Jacobs took the PK for her second goal of the season.

21' – USC: Tara McKeown (assisted by DeMelo, Pruitt) – DeMelo played the ball over to Pruitt, who then sent a cross in that was finished inside the right post by McKeown.

36' – USC: Ashleigh Plumptre (assisted by Madeline Vergura, Bingham) – Vergura sent a corner kick up to Bingham at the top of the box and Bingham lofted a pass towards the far post, where Plumptre headed it in.

37' – USC: Penelope Hocking (assisted by Vergura) – Vergura played the ball ahead to Hocking, who got in behind the defense and beat the keeper to the far post for her first collegiate goal.

39' – CP: Jessica Johnson (assisted by Megan Hansen) – Hansen sent a long shot on goal that was knocked down in the box, but fell right to Johnson who poked home the Mustangs' lone goal.

NOTABLE

In addition to Pruitt's two goals, she added an assist as one of eight Trojans with multiple points in the game.
Bingham, Vergura and DeMelo all had two assists in the game.
Every USC goal except for the PK was assisted.
USC outshot Cal Poly 20-8 in the game and put 12 balls on target.
The six goals scored by the Trojans were the most scored by a USC team since 2014 when the Trojans beat Arkansas Pine-Bluff 9-0. It was also the most goals scored in a half since that same game.
USC used three keepers in the game, Kaylie Collins (3 saves), Mackenna Carmichael (1 save) and Anna Smith (1 save).
Collegiate debuts: Penelope Hocking, Ashley Soto, Mackenna Carmichael, Anna Smith

UP NEXT
The Trojans head to Pepperdine on Sunday for a 1 p.m. non-conference game. USC then hits the road for games at No. 6 Florida State and No. 5 Florida next week.

Get Head Coach @Kmcdane's thoughts after today's 6-1 win.#FightOn | #TrUSt pic.twitter.com/Us64wfiHCL
— USC Women's Soccer (@USC_WSoccer) August 25, 2018

Hear from @Savannah_DeMelo after her two assists today. #FightOn | #TrUSt pic.twitter.com/stBEdDO8L2
— USC Women's Soccer (@USC_WSoccer) August 25, 2018