Thursday, August 21
Los Angeles, Calif.
7:00 PM
USC
2-0-0, 0-0-0
3
vs
2
Pepperdine
0-2-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Pepperdine
1
1
2
USC
1
2
3
Photo by: Cary Qian
No. 5 USC Women's Soccer Wins 3-2 Thriller Over Pepperdine
August 21, 2025 | Women's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – Maribel Flores scored twice and Bella Grust saved a late PK as the No. 5 USC women's soccer team won an absolute thriller under the lights against Pepperdine on Thursday night at Rawlinson Stadium, taking down the Waves 3-2.
The back-and-forth contest was tied or had a lead change four times, as USC scored twice in the second half to win it. Flores scored in each half, including netting the go-ahead goal in the 59th minute, and Grust saved a penalty kick that would have tied it in the 60th.
Pepperdine struck first, scoring on a cross in the 19th minute, and then 15 minutes later, Flores drove up the sideline and then cut to the top of the area where she rocketed home a shot just inside the post to tie it up.
After the break, the visiting Waves again struck first as they were awarded a PK on a USC handball in the 51st minute. Grust saved the initial attempt, but Pepperdine's Peyton Leonard followed her shot and smashed it home to make it 2-1.
Faith George found the equalizer in the 55th minute, scoring off a centering pass from Jaiden Anderson after Ines Simas won the ball down the sideline. Just over four minutes later, Flores scored what ended up being the game-winner after she played a short corner give-and-go with Edra Bello and curled in a shot from the left side of the area.
Grust's second PK save came soon after as Pepperdine drew a foul in the area in the 60th minute. Grust read the shot and dove to her left, deflecting the ball outside the left post. The Trojans defended the ensuing corner and were able to hold the lead the rest of the way.
USC owned a 14-7 shots advantage and 5-2 corner kick edge. Flores now has three goals in two games to start the season after also scoring against CBU last Sunday.
SCORING
19' – PEPP: Julia Quinonez (Ariana Markey) – Markey crossed a ball in from the left side and Quinonez slipped behind the USC defenders, took a touch to the right and scored inside the right post.
35' – USC: Maribel Flores (unassisted) – Flores carried the ball up the left sideline, cut back to the middle and fired a shot from near the top of the penalty area that squeezed inside the left post.
51' – PEPP: Peyton Leonard (unassisted) – Pepperdine drew a penalty kick after a USC handball in the box. Leonard's initial shot was saved by USC keeper Bella Grust, but Leonard was there to score on the rebound.
55' – USC: Faith George (assisted by Jaiden Anderson, Ines Simas) – Simas won the ball near the right sideline on a slide tackle, sending the ball toward the endline for Anderson, who centered a cross back to the top of the goal box where George was there to fire it home.
59' – USC: Maribel Flores (assisted by Edra Bello) – Flores played a short corner kick on the left side to Bello and Bello played it right back to Flores near the left side of the area, where Flores curled a shot inside the right post.
UP NEXT
The Trojans host New Mexico State on Sunday for a 2 p.m. matchup. That game will be broadcast live on BTN+.
The back-and-forth contest was tied or had a lead change four times, as USC scored twice in the second half to win it. Flores scored in each half, including netting the go-ahead goal in the 59th minute, and Grust saved a penalty kick that would have tied it in the 60th.
Pepperdine struck first, scoring on a cross in the 19th minute, and then 15 minutes later, Flores drove up the sideline and then cut to the top of the area where she rocketed home a shot just inside the post to tie it up.
After the break, the visiting Waves again struck first as they were awarded a PK on a USC handball in the 51st minute. Grust saved the initial attempt, but Pepperdine's Peyton Leonard followed her shot and smashed it home to make it 2-1.
Faith George found the equalizer in the 55th minute, scoring off a centering pass from Jaiden Anderson after Ines Simas won the ball down the sideline. Just over four minutes later, Flores scored what ended up being the game-winner after she played a short corner give-and-go with Edra Bello and curled in a shot from the left side of the area.
Grust's second PK save came soon after as Pepperdine drew a foul in the area in the 60th minute. Grust read the shot and dove to her left, deflecting the ball outside the left post. The Trojans defended the ensuing corner and were able to hold the lead the rest of the way.
USC owned a 14-7 shots advantage and 5-2 corner kick edge. Flores now has three goals in two games to start the season after also scoring against CBU last Sunday.
SCORING
19' – PEPP: Julia Quinonez (Ariana Markey) – Markey crossed a ball in from the left side and Quinonez slipped behind the USC defenders, took a touch to the right and scored inside the right post.
35' – USC: Maribel Flores (unassisted) – Flores carried the ball up the left sideline, cut back to the middle and fired a shot from near the top of the penalty area that squeezed inside the left post.
51' – PEPP: Peyton Leonard (unassisted) – Pepperdine drew a penalty kick after a USC handball in the box. Leonard's initial shot was saved by USC keeper Bella Grust, but Leonard was there to score on the rebound.
55' – USC: Faith George (assisted by Jaiden Anderson, Ines Simas) – Simas won the ball near the right sideline on a slide tackle, sending the ball toward the endline for Anderson, who centered a cross back to the top of the goal box where George was there to fire it home.
59' – USC: Maribel Flores (assisted by Edra Bello) – Flores played a short corner kick on the left side to Bello and Bello played it right back to Flores near the left side of the area, where Flores curled a shot inside the right post.
UP NEXT
The Trojans host New Mexico State on Sunday for a 2 p.m. matchup. That game will be broadcast live on BTN+.
Team Stats
PEP
USC
Goals
2
3
Shots
7
14
Shots on Goal
6
9
Saves
6
4
Corners
2
5
Fouls
8
11
Scoring Plays
Julia Quinonez (1)
Assisted By: Ariana Markey
7 crossed in from left, 22 shot near top of the goal box, inside right post
18:43
Maribel Flores (3)
15 carried from left side to top of area, right footed shot inside near left post
34:22
Peyton Leonard (1)
PK saved, scored on rebound
50:48
Faith George (1)
Assisted By: Jaiden Anderson , Ines Simas
Centering pass from 54, 12 scored in front of net
54:18
Maribel Flores (3)
Assisted By: Edra Bello
Short corner played back to 15, shot from edge of area, inside far right post
58:42
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
mid
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerMF
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