No. 10 USC Women's Soccer Blanks Cal to Stay Atop Pac-12 Standings

LOS ANGELES – The No. 10 USC women's soccer team got two first half goals and posted its seventh shutout of the year in a 2-0 blanking of Cal at home on Thursday afternoon.
 
Croix Bethune and Hannah White provided the offense in the first half, while the Trojan defense held Cal to just two shots on the day. USC improves to 12-2-2 overall and 7-0-2 in conference action, remaining at least a point up in the Pac-12 standings depending on the result of tonight's matchup between Stanford and UCLA. The Golden Bears fall to 8-5-3 overall and 4-4-1 in the Pac-12.
 
Bethune struck first in the 26th minute when she used some nifty footwork to find some space in the area and sneak a shot through. White ran down a long ball behind the Cal defense in the 34th minute to make it a 2-0 game.
 
The Trojan defense did the rest, giving up just one shot in each period. Cal's lone shot in the second half was a dangerous one as Emma Westin got free in the area and had only Anna Smith to beat, but Smith came up with the highlight reel diving stop to keep the Bears off the scoresheet.
 
USC also allowed only two corners all afternoon, holding a 10-2 advantage in that column, as well as a 9-2 shots advantage.
 
The Trojans are unbeaten in their last 14 contests, which is good for the longest such streak in program history.
 
GOALS
26' – USC: Croix Bethune (assisted by Jada Talley) – Talley collected a ball in the area and tapped it over to Bethune, who brought it back to her left foot and slipped a shot through two defenders and inside the far left post.
 
34' – USC: Hannah White (assisted by Zoe Burns) – Burns sent a long ball forward behind the Cal defense that White ran down and slotted home past a charging Golden Bear keeper.
 
UP NEXT
The Trojans play their last home game of the regular season on Sunday when they host No. 9 Stanford. USC then closes the regular season at No. 5 UCLA next Friday (Nov. 5). Both games will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.

Hear from Head Coach @Kmcdane after a big time performance from his squad. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/4whYJWcnkH

— USC Women's Soccer (@USC_WSoccer) October 29, 2021