Pac-12 Women: UCLA edges USC before 8,508 fans

• by Soccer America , Nov 5, 2016

UCLA shut out USC, 1-0, on Annie Alvarado's goal in the 27th minute in the Pac-12 finale for both teams. Freshman goalkeeper Teagan Micah made a career-high seven saves to earn the shutout. The game drew 8,508 fans at StubHub Center.
 
The goal came after a ball was cleared out by a USC defender, but right to Alvarado in the middle of the box, and she volleyed it past USC goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme for her second goal of the season.
 
“It’s huge for confidence,” said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell. “We just needed to play well after last weekend. I think the girls responded really well. We executed the game-plan. It was fantastic, their effort, how they were plugged into what we wanted to do.”
 
UCLA finished Pac-12 play in a tie for fourth place. USC had come into the game with a chance to overtake Stanford for the conference title.

The Trojans pushed hard in the second half for the equalizer, taking 11 shots. Micah made three saves, including a fingertip stop in the 76th minute on a shot by Katie Johnson.
 
“Their mission all along is to play some fantastic soccer,” Cromwell said. “Especially the first half tonight, you saw some tremendous soccer. It was fun to watch. Our body of work all year has shown that we can play with the best in the country, and we can beat the best in the country.”