USC’s women’s soccer team waited until the second half to flip the switch, then turned Thursday night into a runaway.
After a scoreless opening stretch at home, the Trojans ripped off four goals late and rolled past New Mexico State 4-0 in a nonconference matchup in Los Angeles. The win moved USC to 1-2-1, while New Mexico State dropped to 1-4-0.
The breakthrough came in the 61st minute, when Jordan Hill finished a pass from Rhea Moore for the first goal of her career. The play was initially ruled offsides, but after review it stood as a goal and broke open a match that had stayed tight through the first hour.
From there, USC poured it on.
Lily Biddulph struck twice in less than two minutes, scoring in the 80th and 81st minutes to push the Trojans in front 3-0. Her first came off a rebound right in front of the net, and the second finished off a sequence involving Rhiannon Mahon and Sophia Cavaliere.
Just when New Mexico State looked ready to get out of the storm, USC added one more. In the 84th minute, Eleanor Morrissey found Hill near the top of the area, Hill flicked the ball to Lauder Headrick, and Headrick finished for her first career goal.
The night also belonged to Josie Biehl, who earned her first career shutout in goal while making just one save.
USC will be back at Rawlinson on Sunday to host Saint Mary’s at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on B1G+.
In Other News...
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There will also be a more ambitious food-and-fun element around the venue, including new concession items and a rotating "Dog of the Game" promotion, plus additional game day experiences whose proceeds will support the Trojan Athletic Fund. USC is also planning select home-game tributes to championship-winning Trojan teams and student-athletes, a reminder that the Coliseum experience is being built not just around entertainment, but around the program's history and the people who helped shape it. [Read more 🡒]
USC Has A Defensive Newcomer Who Already Looks Ready To Matter
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Williams, a fifth-year senior and former Iowa State transfer, is one of the more interesting pieces in that mix because of how much ground he has already covered in his college career. He talked about his growth as a player and his first game in USC colors now drawing close, which gives the Trojans another newcomer to watch as the season begins and the defense starts to show what kind of role he might be ready to play. [Read more 🡒]
USCs New Defensive Duo Faces Immediate Pressure To Deliver
Gary Patterson and Paul Gonzales have picked up where they left off at TCU, only this time the reunion is unfolding at USC as the Trojans get ready for their season opener against San Jose State. Patterson is running the defense, Gonzales is helping shape the safeties and pass game, and the early sense around the program is that the familiarity between the two coaches is already paying off in how smoothly the unit is being put together.
Jontez Williams and Chasen Johnson have both pointed to that chemistry and leadership as reasons for confidence heading into the opener, and the pressure is immediate because USC does not have much time to wait for the defense to show it can hold up. The schedule offers a bigger measuring stick soon enough, too, with the Oct. 10 road trip to Penn State set for a 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff on NBC and Peacock, a game that will say a lot about how far this new-look defensive setup has come. [Read more 🡒]