Ducks Fall at No. 15 USC
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LOS ANGELES – Oregon put forth one of its better efforts of the season, but No. 15 USC capitalized on a penalty kick and a couple of defensive mistakes by the Ducks in a 3-0 decision Thursday at McAlister Field.
The Trojans (8-2, 4-0) were awarded their first goal on a penalty kick in the 24th minute, while Simone Jackson scored twice later in the game, both times after Oregon had trouble clearing the ball out of its own end.
“We started the game really well,” said coach Graeme Abel. “We held on to the ball far more maturely than previous games and then caused USC problems with how we defended in the first half.
“But USC are a top 25 team for a reason and if we make those types of mistakes like we did, we’ll pay the price.”
How It Happened: Oregon (0-9-2, 0-3-0) went on the attack from the opening kick as Livvy Moore fired off the first shot of the game in the seventh minute.
The game was scoreless until the Trojans drew a penalty kick in the 24th minute and converted it for a 1-0 lead. USC added Jackson’s first goal in the 35th minute and led 2-0 at halftime.
Jackson found the net again in the 68th minute to cap the scoring.
Despite the deficit, the Ducks kept pressing for a goal and put a pair of shots on frame late in the game. Ryann Reynolds fired a shot at the net from the top of the box in the 82nd minute that was saved.
Jordan Snyder then had a close-range attempt from the left side in the final seconds of the match that a USC defender had to clear off the line.
Notable: 60 percent of Moore’s shots in 2023 (6-of-10) have been on goal. … With six saves on Thursday, Maddy Goldberg moved into the UO career top 10 in saves with 68. She passed Lindsay Parlee, who made 63 career saves from 2020-11. … Defender Anna Phillips made her 48th consecutive start. … Ainsley Fink saw her first action since the Grand Canyon game on Sept. 3. … The Ducks committed a season-low three fouls.
Quotable:
UO coach Graeme Abel
“We continue to grow in so many areas but trying to dig ourselves out of holes in this conference is a difficult task and we need to move away from that trend.”
Up Next: Oregon plays at No. 5 UCLA on Sunday (1 p.m., Pac-12 Live Stream).
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