BERKELEY, Calif. – The USC women squandered a two-goal lead, but held on to nip Cal 3-2 in overtime Sunday at Edwards Stadium.
Alyssa Dávila ended the game in the 93rd minute, with her second goal of the game. It was the first overtime game of the season for the Women of Troy.
Ashley Freyer gave the Trojans a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute, off a cross from Marihelen Tomer. Twelve minutes later, Dávila ran onto a long ball from goalkeeper Kristin Olsen and put it away to double USC’s advantage.
Olsen finished with ten saves – the most of her career in a winning effort – but faltered in the second half, when Alex Morgan and Miranda White combined to level things for the Golden Bears.
White cut USC’s lead in half in the 74th minute, set up by Morgan with a cross from the left side. Four minutes later, White returned the favor, sending a ball into the goalmouth that Morgan headed home to send the game to OT.
The game-winning goal gave Davila’s the third multiple-goal game of her career, and second this season. She leads the Trojans with eight goals, and has 20 career tallies. She has scored three game-winners this season, and is fourth all-time in that category with ten.
Rosie Aguilera and Gina Pelligrini platooned in goal for Cal, each making two saves.
USC improves to 11-4 overall with the victory, and goes to 3-1 in Pac-10 play after a conference road split this weekend in the Bay Area. Cal is now 8-5-1, 2-2 with today’s overtime decision.
The women of Troy close out their home season next weekend, hosting Oregon State on Friday, October 23 (3 p.m. kickoff), and wrapping up with a senior Day match against Oregon at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 25.
