Trojans Advance to Sweet 16 With 2-1 Win Over Texas A&M

Friday, November 22

Los Angeles, Calif.

1:30 PM

USC

16-4-1, 7-4-0

Texas A&M

14-5-3, 7-2-1

Texas A&M

USC

Photo by: John McGillen

Trojans Advance to Sweet 16 With 2-1 Win Over Texas A&M

November 22, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Features

Box Score Highlights Final Stats Box Score (PDF)

LOS ANGELES – The No. 9 USC women's soccer team advanced past No. 22 Texas A&M into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon, with a 2-1 win over the Aggies.

The Trojans got goals from Tara McKeown and Penelope Hocking, and then held on late to stay alive in tournament play. USC moves to 16-4-1 overall, while the Aggies end their season at 14-5-3. The win sets up a matchup between the Trojans and Santa Clara on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. for a chance to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals. That game will be at McAlister Field.

McKeown, who missed the last two games with an injury, got USC on the board first with a goal in the seventh minute, one-timing home a bouncing ball for her 15th goal of the year.

It was the other half of the Trojans' dynamic duo who netted what would end up being the game-winner, when Hocking finished a ball under a diving Texas A&M keeper on the run in the 33rd minute. She was also credited with an assist on McKeown's goal to give her five goals and two assists so far in the NCAA Tournament. Natalie Jacobs assisted both goals and now leads the team with nine helpers on the year.

The visiting Aggies scored early in the second half to make the remaining 40 minutes of play tense until the final whistle. Ally Watt scored her 16th goal of the year for Texas A&M in the 49th minute, heading home a ball deep in the box.

Kaylie Collins and the Trojan defense were up to the task, however, with Collins making seven saves in the game, including a pair of spectacular ones late in the game.

GOALS
7' – USC: Tara McKeown (assisted by Natalie Jacobs, Penelope Hocking) – Hocking worked her way toward the endline down the left side and sent a ball towards the middle of the penalty area that Jacobs popped up while colliding with two defenders. McKeown was there to finish, sending the ball to the far post before it hit the ground.

33' – USC: Penelope Hocking (assisted by Natalie Jacobs) – Jacobs stole the ball from a Texas A&M defender and slid a pass forward to a streaking Hocking in the area. Hocking took a touch and poked a quick finish past the charging keeper.

49' – TAMU: Ally Watt (assisted by Katie Smith, Jimena Lopez) – Lopez played the ball forward to Smith down the left side and Smith sent a cross towards the front of the goal, which Watt headed home.

NOTABLE

Hocking's 17 goals are the second most for a Trojan in a single season. She is just three away from Isabelle Harvey's 20 goals scored in 1993.
McKeown's 15 goals are the third most in school history and are a career high for the junior.
USC has made it to at least the third round of the NCAA Tournament four of the last five years.

UP NEXT
The Trojans host Santa Clara for a third round matchup on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. That game will be streamed live via Pac-12+, with links to follow available on the women's soccer schedule page at USCTrojans.com.

Hear from Head Coach @Kmcdane after a hard-fought tournament win by the Trojans.#FightOn | #FocUSed pic.twitter.com/Ac1MsmOqbU
— USC Women's Soccer (@USC_WSoccer) November 22, 2019