A late header from Minnesota handed the USC women’s soccer team its second road loss.
With the defeat, USC drops to 7-4-1 overall and 4-3 in conference play, while Minnesota improves to 6-6-1 and 2-4-1 in the Big Ten.
The Golden Gophers wasted no time setting the tone after scoring a goal within the first two minutes of the match. Junior forward Paige Kalal capitalized on a through ball from graduate forward Freya Jupp after getting past USC’s back line and finishing inside the right post to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead.
Moments later, lightning in the area forced a delay of more than 30 minutes, halting the Golden Gophers’ momentum.
When play resumed, USC found its rhythm and began pushing numbers forward. The Trojans’ pressure finally paid off in the 23rd minute when sophomore forward Jaiden Anderson drew a penalty kick after being fouled in the box.
Junior forward Maribel Flores stepped up to the spot, but her shot was saved by Minnesota redshirt sophomore goalie Sarah Martin. Anderson showed her quick instincts, charging toward the rebound and tucking it into the right corner to even the score at 1-1 — marking her fifth goal of the season.
After the restart, USC looked more composed and maintained possession through the midfield. Despite generating seven shots on goal, the Trojans couldn’t find the finishing touch.
With seven minutes remaining in the second half, Minnesota capitalized on an opportunity to reclaim the lead. After a foul near midfield, Kalal sent a long free kick into the box where redshirt sophomore forward Caroline Birdsell rose above the defense and headed the ball over USC’s graduate goalie Bella Grust for the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute.
The Trojans pressed aggressively in the final minutes by sending extra players forward in search of another goal, but Minnesota’s defense held them firm to secure the home victory.
Despite the loss, USC remains well-positioned in the Big Ten standings heading into the final stretch of the regular season with just four games left. The Trojans will look to bounce back quickly as they continue their Midwest road trip with a matchup at Wisconsin on Sunday at 10 a.m.