No. 19 USC Women's Soccer Holds Off Illinois, 3-2

Thursday, October 10

Urbana-Champaign, Ill.

5:00 p.m.

USC

10-1-2, 6-0-1

Illinois

6-6-2, 2-4-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Southern California	1	2	3
Illinois	0	2	2

Photo by: Sam Yohnka/Illinois Athletics

No. 19 USC Women's Soccer Holds Off Illinois, 3-2

October 10, 2024 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Highlights Final Book (PDF)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 19 USC women's soccer team held on for a 3-2 win on the road at Illinois on Thursday night to remain unbeaten in Big Ten play at atop the conference standings.

The Trojans built a 3-0 lead midway through the second half, but the Illini found a pair of goals to make things interesting down the stretch. USC moves to 10-1-2 overall with the win and 6-0-1 in Big Ten play. Illinois falls to 6-6-2, 2-4-1.

USC struck first in the 9^th minute, getting a goal from Maria Alagao off of a nice combined feed from Kayla Colbert and Maile Hayes. The Trojan defense made the early advantage stand up through the break, holding the Illini to just two shots in the half.

Hayes and Colbert needed just 25 seconds into the second half to double the lead, with Colbert getting off a shot that was blocked and Hayes knocking home the rebound. Faith George seemingly put the game away with a strike in the 73^rd minute, getting a short cross from Alagoa, but the Illini would make it interesting.

Illinois scored just 25 seconds after George's strike for USC, getting a takeaway and goal at the top of the penalty area. Five minutes later, the home team made it a one-goal game, with Lauren Seppi scoring on a long shot off a short corner.

The Trojan defense once again locked things down over the final 12 minutes, with Illinois getting off just one shot down the stretch.

SCORING
9' – USC: Maria Alagoa (assisted by Maile Hayes, Kayla Colbert) – Colbert brought it up the right sideline and slid a pass to Hayes deep in the area and she sent a pass to the middle of the box where Alagoa knocked it home.

46' – USC: Maile Hayes (assisted by Kayla Colbert) – Colbert got the ball in the area and fired a shot that was blocked by an Illinois defender, but the ball fell right to Hayes in front of goal and she fired it home.

73' – USC: Faith George (assisted by Maria Alagoa) – Alagoa carried the ball into the area near the end line and send a short cross back to George who one-timed it home.

73' – ILL: Kennedy Berschel (unassisted) – Berschell stole the ball from Gladu at the top of the area and shot it home from 20 yards out.

78' – ILL: Lauren Seppi (assisted by Angie Galo) – Galo sent a corner kick to Seppi at the near left corner of the penalty area and Seppi floated a shot into the upper right corner.

UP NEXT
The Trojans play at Northwestern on Sunday at 12 p.m. PT/2 p.m. CT. That game can be seen live on B1G+.