USC took the win Friday on the road, beating the Oregon Ducks 1-0. This win propels the Trojans into a three game winning streak, boosting their midseason momentum.
The Trojans have a history of dominance over the Ducks, with an active 13-match winning streak. The Trojans moved to 7-3-1 on the season.
The first 20 minutes of the game were played in Oregon’s end, with USC displaying a strong attacking game. The Trojans had their first shot of the game at the two minute mark as sophomore forward Faith George struck the ball bottom center for an easy scoop save by Oregon graduate goalkeeper Caeley Goldstein.
The Trojans did not stop their aggressions there. They put up the first 6 shots of the game, all going on net, before the Ducks put up their first in the 31st minute. USC graduate goalkeeper Bella Grust made a sliding save to retrieve the ball from the feet of running Oregon grad forward Taylor Bryan.
Despite all the chances, neither team could finish to pull ahead in the first half, though USC had seven shots to Oregon’s two. The two teams went into the second half hungry for a goal as they remained 0-0 at the start of the second.
Going into the second, Ducks head coach Tracy Joyner made a few substitutions that changed the attacking game for Oregon. Two minutes into the half, Oregon threw up their first of seven shots that half. Redshirt senior defender Jayde Holley took a shot on net, going just wide to signify the start of Oregon’s momentum.
The Ducks had several breakaways in the second half but failed to finish on all of them.
In the 77th minute, Oregon graduate forward Cailin Bloom received a beautiful pass in the middle of the pitch. Bloom tried to dribble through the USC defense, but the ball was knocked away from her by -. A Trojan traffic jam left Bloom with the ball at her feet and a straight away to the net. She released a powerful shot from close range, but Grust made an amazing blocking save. The ball almost rolled back into the net, but sophomore defender Lily Biddulph booted it away before it crossed the goal line.
The Trojans took the lead late in the game to clinch the win in the 85th minute when sophomore forward Jaiden Anderson got the ball from freshman defender Alison Hou’s throw in. On the left sideline, Anderson dribbled past two of Oregon’s defense to find space to take a blast from far out the 18-yard box. The shot rocketed past Goldstein into the right side of the net.
USC dominated the game with 64% possession. After a few rough Big Ten losses last week, the Trojans came to play this time. Their momentum is arguably back amid the mid season rush of games. The level of play and attacking game they displayed against Oregon is the USC team that won the BIG 10 regular season championship.
USC stays on the road and will attempt to continue its streak against Minnesota on Thursday.