USC Women Suffer Tough Exit From NCAA Soccer Tournament

After more than 100 minutes without a goal, Sunday’s NCAA tournament game between USC and Southern Methodist came down to who could take advantage of the perfect opportunity.

Sarah Harvey was the one who did in the second period of sudden-death overtime, and the 19th-ranked Mustangs defeated the 17th-ranked Trojans, 1-0, at the Coliseum, advancing to the round of 16.

In the 106th minute, Harvey took a pass from Nicole Lamb through three defenders at the top of the penalty box, dribbled in, and beat USC goalkeeper Shaelyn Fernandez high and to the left from 15 yards out.

The Trojans’ best opportunity came in the first overtime period, as Kaylee Whitfield took a pass from Kim Clark at almost the same spot as the SMU goal. But Whitfield had to dribble twice, allowing two defenders to tie her up before only getting off a weak shot that Mustang goalkeeper Rachael Slocum-Johnson easily stopped.

“I thought coming into the game it would be a one-goal game,” USC Coach Jim Millinder said. “I counted six quality, quality scoring chances for us.”

The Mustangs (17-5-1) will travel to Penn State this weekend. The Trojans end the season 14-6.