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No. 25 USC Women's Soccer Gets on Track With 4-2 Win at Utah Valley

by usctrojans.com
Aug 28, 2021

OREM, Utah – The No. 25 USC women's soccer team finally broke through with its first goal in the run of play this season in the 11th minute and then proceeded to put up four goals on the road in Utah Saturday night, beating the Utah Valley Wolverines 4-2 in a non-conference matchup.
 
The Trojans scored twice in each half and conceded just a corner kick goal and a final 10 seconds strike to the Wolverines in handing the home team its first loss of the year. The victory moves USC to 1-2 on the season, while Utah Valley falls to 3-1.
 
Savannah DeMelo got things going for the Trojans in the 11th minute, picking up a pass from Croix Bethune on the run and slotting it home. Simone Jackson would follow 11 minutes later, firing home a one-touch strike on a bouncing ball in the penalty area to give USC a 2-0 lead with her first career goal.
 
Utah Valley got on the board just a few minutes later when a Wolverine corner kick went off a Trojan defender and in.
 
The home side came out firing in the second half and Anna Smith had to make a pair of tough saves on shots early in the period, but the USC defense weathered the storm and the visiting Trojans again found the back of the net in the 74th minute. Katie Roditis sent in a cross from the left side, and Aaliyah Farmer scored the first goal of her career with a powerful header in front of goal that went through the keeper's hands and in.
 
Bethune put the exclamation point on the win in the 86th minute, beating the UVU keeper to a long pass from Farmer and finishing in front of an open goal. Farmer and Bethune each had a goal and assist in the game, and Roditis posted two assists.
 
The Wolverines would find a late strike, scoring with seven seconds to go in the match.
 
GOALS
11' – USC: Savannah DeMelo (assisted by Croix Bethune) – Bethune found DeMelo on the run with a great through ball up the middle and DeMelo carried it into the top of the penalty area before slipping a shot past the keeper and inside the right post.
 
22' – USC: Simone Jackson (assisted by Katie Roditis) – Roditis sent a cross into the box from the right side that was deflected to Jackson by a UVU defender and Jackson fired home a shot into the upper left corner with her first touch.
 
28' – UVU: Nicole Ray (no assist) – The Wolverines' Ray sent a corner kick into the box that deflected off a USC defender and into the goal.
 
74' – USC: Aaliyah Farmer (assisted by Katie Roditis) – Roditis sent a cross into the box and Farmer sent a screaming header towards goal that went through the Wolverine keeper's hands and in.
 
86' – USC: Croix Bethune (assisted by Aaliyah Farmer) – Farmer sent a long pass forward and Bethune beat the charging Utah Valley keeper to the ball and scored in front of an open net.
 
90' – UVU: Amber Tripp (assisted by Breanna DeWaal) – DeWaal found a cutting Tripp and Tripp weaved her way to the top of the area and found the lower left corner of the goal.
 
UP NEXT
The Trojans stay on the road next week, heading to the Midwest to face Michigan (Friday) and Western Michigan (Sunday). Links to follow both games are available on the women's soccer schedule page at USCTrojans.com.

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