UCLA Takes Fourth-Straight Over USC, 4-2

Friday, November 8

Los Angeles, CA

6:00 PM

UCLA

14-4-1, 8-3-0

USC

14-4-1, 7-4-0

Southern California

UCLA

The Bruins celebrate Lucy Parker's goal

Photo by: Scott Chandler

UCLA Takes Fourth-Straight Over USC, 4-2

November 08, 2019 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Castaneda Postgame Interview

LOS ANGELES - In a classic back-and-forth UCLA-USC rivalry matchup, the No. 14 Bruins came out victorious once again, defeating the No. 9 Trojans, 4-2, in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,366 at UCLA's Wallis Annenberg Stadium. The victory was UCLA's fourth-straight over USC.

The teams traded leads in the first half before USC tied it just before halftime, but UCLA dominated offensively in the second half, outshooting USC 12-0 in the half and scoring two goals in the final 15 minutes of the game.

USC struck first early, with Alea Hyatt and Penelope Hocking combining on a goal by Natalie Jacobs at 4:41. It was the third year in a row that the Trojans scored first in the game, and the third year in a row that the Bruins answered back. Fifth-year senior Chloe Castaneda equalized in the 22nd minute after Viviana Villacorta hit her with a through ball. Castaneda took it up the field with a nice touch and beat USC goalkeeper Kaylie Collins for her third goal in the last three games.

The Bruins took the lead six minutes later on a golazo by freshman Mia Fishel. Castaneda started the play with a pass to Ashley Sanchez, who hit a streaking Fishel just outside the box. Fishel went upper right corner to score her team-leading ninth goal of the year, giving UCLA a 2-1 advantage at 27:15.

?? GOLAZO alert! ??@fishelMia cracks one to the upper right corner for her 9th goal of the season.

Watch: https://t.co/buG1kcsXBx #GoBruins | #BeatSC pic.twitter.com/aOSV8iNFUI
— UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) November 9, 2019

Although the Trojans only had four shots in the half, they capitalized on half of their opportunities. Hocking scored USC's second goal to tied it up in the 43rd minute after intercepting a soft pass in the back and then chipping it in from a tough angle.

The second half was all UCLA, however, as the Bruins outshot the Trojans 12-0 in the half and 27-4 overall in the game. The Bruins were thwarted early in the half by either the crossbar or Collins, who totaled 10 saves in the game. Castaneda hit a banger that was on target in the 60th minute, but Collins leaped up to stop the shot. Castaneda also had a curling shot go off the crossbar in the 70th minute.

Delanie Sheehan had two shots go off the crossbar, but both resulted in goals for the Bruins anyway. In the 75th minute, her shot went off the crossbar and rebounded right to Villacorta, who finished past Collins for the go-ahead goal. Just three minutes later, Sheehan again hit the crossbar, with the rebound going to Sanchez, who headed it to Lucy Parker in the six. Parker leaped up and headed it in for the fourth goal.

With the assist on Parker's goal, Sanchez, just a junior, broke Iris Mora's school record for career assists with 39.

With an assist on that last goal, @ashleynsanchezz has broken Iris Mora's school record for career assists with 39 and counting! pic.twitter.com/v4MGFwts1i
— UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) November 9, 2019

The Bruins finish the regular season with a 14-4-1 overall record and an 8-3 conference record and second-place finish. UCLA has won five straight and eight of its last nine. USC drops to 14-4-1 and 7-4-0 in the Pac-12. NCAA Tournament seeding and selections will be announced on Monday, Nov. 11 at 1:30 pm PT.

"Momentum is huge going into postseason," said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell. "We're confident, we're getting players back from injury, and I think this should get us a two-seed. I think we've put ourselves in a really good spot, and that's what we want to do at the end of the year."