No. 10 USC comes back from two-goal deficit to beat No. 9 Stanford 3-2

LOS ANGELES – The No. 10 USC women’s soccer team won an instant classic against No. 9 Stanford at home on Sunday as Croix Bethune scored the game-winner in overtime to help the Trojans erase a 2-0 deficit and come away with a 3-2 victory.

The win moves USC one step closer to its first-ever outright Pac-12 championship, as a win or draw at UCLA on Friday secures the conference title. The victory also extends the Trojans’ program record unbeaten streak to 15 games as USC improves to 13-2-2 overall and 8-0-2 in Pac-12 play. Stanford falls to 12-5-1 overall and 6-3-1 in conference action.

The early deficit came as Stanford scored twice in the first half. An own goal by the Trojans in the 33rd minute got the visiting Cardinal on the board first, and then Naomi Girma scored with only 8 seconds left in the half to make it 2-0.

The Trojans’ answer came early in the second half. Simone Jackson showed her strength as she beat a Stanford defender in the box and scored USC’s first goal in the 53rd minute. After posting the assist on Jackson’s goal, Croix Bethune scored the equalizer two minutes later. Bethune this time got the helper from Jackson and Savannah DeMelo as the three combined on a beautiful sequence that included a cross from DeMelo, a back heel pass from Jackson and a one-touch finish from Bethune.

The teams traded blows through the end of regulation, with each squad creating chances, but neither defense budged.

It would be Bethune to end it just over two minutes into the first OT, when she got a pass from DeMelo, beat the keeper and scored to set off a celebration at McAlister Field.

GOALS

33′ – STAN: USC own goal – Maya Doms snagged a short clearance by the USC defense and sent a ball into the area that hit off a Trojan defender and went in.

45′ – STAN: Naomi Girma (assisted by Nya Harrison) – The Cardinal sent a free kick into the area that bounced off a defender and fell to Harrison, who tapped it to Girma near the top of the 18 yard box. Girma would finish with a right-footed rocket.

53′ – USC: Simone Jackson (assisted by Croix Bethune) – Bethune sent a ball ahead into the area for Jackson and Jackson was able to beat the Stanford defender and get a shot off with her right foot that went in over the head of the Cardinal keeper.
 
55′ – USC: Croix Bethune (assisted by Simone Jackson, Savannah DeMelo) – DeMelo made a run up the right side and sent a cross in near the top of the area. Jackson flicked it on with her back heel, allowing Bethune to run onto it and fire home a shot with her first touch.

93′ – USC: Croix Bethune (assisted by Savannah DeMelo) – DeMelo stole the ball near midfield and then slipped a ball through the defense and into the 18 yard box, where Bethune took a touch to the right of the keeper and blasted home the game winner.

UP NEXT: The Trojans wrap up the regular season at No. 5 UCLA on Friday. That game can be seen on the Pac-12 Network at 8 p.m.