1,879 people were in attendance Sunday at Rawlinson Stadium for USC women’s soccer’s (7-6-2, 4-5-1 Big Ten) final home game against Iowa (10-3-4, 5-2-3). Minutes before the opening whistle, the team celebrated their only senior, defender Molly McDougal, for senior night.
The Trojans were coming off a three-game losing streak heading into Sunday’s match.
The team prepared by putting “an emphasis on energy and work rate,” said head coach Jane Alukonis. “We do believe that’s what wins games. Tactics are a piece of it, but it’s always who’s going to come out and fight the hardest and work together as a team.”
Junior forward Maribel Flores scored two goals in the first half, marking a personal season high for goals per match. The first was a converted penalty kick at 16:09 after sophomore midfielder Ines Derrien was fouled in the box.
“We knew this was a big game for us,” said Flores. “We had to come out and show that we wanted to win, that everything we’ve worked for this season was worth it. And I think we did that in the first half.”
Flores’ second goal was at 21:12, the result of a one-two play with freshman forward Murphy Walsh in the left side of the penalty box, finished with a shot by Flores through the legs of Iowa goalkeeper Fernanda Mayrink.
Flores’ two goals made it six conference goals for her this season, putting her in second place for most goals scored in the Big Ten.
“Maribel is a goal scorer,” said Alukonis. “She’s also very crafty on the ball. If you watch her on the ball for one minute, you can tell that she’s very special.”
Three minutes after the second half began, sophomore midfielder/forward Berkley Bingelli of Iowa slipped past several defenders inside the box for a finish to the bottom left of the goal.
Iowa senior forward Morgan Lietz scored the equalizer in the 69th minute, assisted by senior midfielder Kellen Fife. Lietz received a long ball from Fife and finished inside the right post.
The Hawkeyes had 10 shots in the second half, compared to the Trojans’ two.
The match finished with a total of 21 fouls called on both teams: 10 on the Hawkeyes and 11 on the Trojans.
USC’s Derrien was given a yellow card for unsporting behavior in the 85th minute after she was called for a foul.
The draw gives USC the tenth and final spot in the Big Ten Tournament– making a conference win next week crucial.
USC hits the road Sunday, Oct. 26, for its final match of the season against crosstown rival UCLA Bruins.