Record crowd sees USC beat UCLA, 1-0, in women’s soccer
The USC women’s soccer team met two of its goals by scoring one.
The Trojans upset their crosstown rival UCLA, 1-0, Friday and set a national attendance record with a crowd of 8,527 at the Coliseum, beating the NCAA regular-season record of 8,204 set in 2006 when North Carolina visited Texas A&M.
Groups of high school soccer teams, club teams and even a fraternity of shirtless men with “Trojan Knights” written across their chests in face paint were among the fans who witnessed the Trojans’ first win against the Bruins since upsetting them in the 2007 NCAA semifinals.
The USC goal came in the 86th minute when freshman midfielder Autumn Altamirano scored on Karter Haug’s assist. Altamirano said she was extremely nervous before the game because she had never played in front of such a large crowd.
“It’s too good to be true,” she said.
The Trojans improved to 9-4-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference. The Bruins (9-6-1, 2-3), who lead the teams’ all-time series 19-4-1, had won seven of the last eight matchups by one goal.
Returning the favor, said USC Coach Ali Khosroshahin, “doesn’t get any sweeter.”
Before the game, coaches said the soccer rivalry is as intense as it is in football, and the players’ ultra-physical style of play proved it — UCLA’s Chelsea Cline and Lauren Barnes were given yellow cards and so was USC’s Ashli Sandoval.
For Haug, a senior who was on the 2007 team, the win was bittersweet.
“It’s a happy moment and a sad moment,” Haug said. “We won’t play UCLA again unless we meet them in the playoffs.”
Go beyond the scoreboard
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