USC Women’s Soccer Holds Off UC Irvine, 3-2

LOS ANGELES – The USC women’s soccer team scored three first-half goals to take down the defending Big West Champions UC Irvine, 3-2.
 
USC withstood two second half goals from the Anteaters, with the second coming in the 82nd minute, but were able to hold on and move to 4-1-1 on the season.
 
Zoe Burns scored the opening goal in the fourth minute and then assisted Simi Awujo on the second as USC took a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of play. Aaliyah Farmer made it 3-0 in the 24th minute.
 
UC Irvine found their footing in the second half, getting a goal from Sophie Gillies in the 50th minute and then a late goal in the 82nd from Emilie Castagna.
 
Croix Bethune nearly missed a fourth goal of the game for USC, hitting the crossbar late in the half. Anna Smith played the first half in goal for USC, making a pair of saves, and Reezyn Turk took the second half and had two saves as well.
 
GOALS
4′ – USC: Zoe Burns (assisted by Croix Bethune, Helena Sampaio) – Sampaio played a ball to Bethune at the top of the area and she tapped a quick pass to Burns who fired home a one-time shot from the right side.
 
10′ – USC: Simi Awujo (assisted by Zoe Burns) – Awujo played a ball to Burns and Burns gave it right back to Awujo who fired home a shot…