Huskies Fall 2-0 To #6 USC

Thursday, October 19

Seattle, Wash.

5:00 PM

University of Washington

9-5-2, 2-3-2Pac-12

USC

12-1-1, 6-0-1Pac-12

USC

Washington

October 19, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

SEATTLE – The Washington Huskies fell 2-0 to the #6 USC Trojans Thursday night in a rainy battle on Montlake. Defensive play in the midfield dominated play, with just a few shots on goal the entire game for both sides. The Huskies are 9-5-2 now after the loss and 2-3-2 in conference play. USC moves to 12-1-1 and 6-0-1 in the Pac-12.

Sarah Shimer made six saves in the game but took the loss. It was just the third time this entire season that the Huskies have allowed multiple goals in a game.

"It was unfortunate to have a goal against that early in the game because it puts you on your heels right off the bat," said Head Coach Lesle Gallimore. "The game had no flow to it, there was just no rhythm to it."

The Huskies had two good crosses from Kimberly Keever early on that were fought away before a shot came but found themselves behind early when USC scored in the fifth minute. The Trojans goal came on the game's first shot, on a turn-and-fire from the middle of the box to make it 1-0.

The Huskies kept attacking looking to tie, earning a free kick in the 22^nd minute when Perez was fouled on the left wing. Simon sent a cross in that was cleared toward Villanueva, who was bumped hard off the ball. Bond-Flasza then sent the ball back in but could not find a Husky in the box.

Perez was taken down on the right wing at 27' after getting around her defender. The free kick by Simon was cleared out as Lewis slid for it, falling to Bond-Flasza high in the center of the field. The senior then ripped a long shot that was blocked in the box off a defender's body.

In the 28^th minute, Siemonsma was taken down on a break, leading to a free kick above the right corner of the box. It was Bond-Flasza taking this free kick, with the senior finding Villanueva on the other side of the box. Villanueva took the shot, with the ball curving away from a possibly Husky header before being caught by the goalie.

USC made it a 2-0 deficit for the Huskies at 35'. Shimer rushed out and made a great first save on a breakaway, but a bad bounce on the rebound straight back to USC gave the Trojans an open net for the goal.

Shots were 7-2 in the Trojans' favor after the first half, with USC holding on to their 2-0 lead.

With 15 minutes gone in the second half, Olivia Van Der Jagt was fouled on a breakaway down the left wing for another Husky free kick. Perez's pass into the box ended in a scrum, with a controversial foul killing the attack.

Just over a minute later, Keever had a shot for the Huskies. Siemonsma had some nifty footwork to find room for a centering pass that hit the foot of Keever on the run. Keever wasn't able to turn into the shot fully and the ball went wide of goal.

Sekyra saved a goal for Washington at 79'. Shimer made an aggressive play to top a breakaway but an unfortunate bounce off her chest left USC with an open goal in front of them. Sekyra fought back and made a slide while in stride with the attacker to knock it out wide and away.

Unfortunately, the Huskies couldn't find another chance in the game, with the rest of the second half bogged down in possession battles in midfield.

Shots ended 13-3 in USC's favor, with corners 9-2 USC.

The Huskies have one more home game this week, taking on #2 UCLA on Sunday, October 22 at 2:00 pm. Tickets for all home games are available online.

Make sure to follow Husky women's soccer on Twitter with the username @UW_WSoccer and on Instagram at uw_wsoccer.