Correction: The original version of this article contained an error. The last time the Bruins lost to the Women of Troy before this game was in the semifinal round of the 2007 Women’s College Cup.
The evening scene at the Coliseum on Friday was colossal indeed.
With a record-breaking crowd on hand to witness a rivalry renewed, the visiting UCLA women’s soccer team fought passionately, jostling and tussling to outdo its USC counterpart.
But in the 86th minute of the crosstown showdown, the Women of Troy snuck in the lone goal of the match, and No. 20 UCLA (9-6-1, 2-3 Pac-10) fell to USC (9-4-3, 2-2-1) 1-0 in front of a crowd of 8,527 ““ the largest attendance for an NCAA regular-season women’s soccer game.
The Bruins played the possession game effectively in the first half, even out-shooting the Women of Troy 6-3 before the halftime break.
But with both teams held scoreless heading into the second period, the match turned increasingly scrappy.
Three yellow cards were issued in the final 45-minute frame ““ one against USC and two against UCLA ““ including one called against Bruin sophomore midfielder Chelsea Cline for making a hard tackle against a USC player. The contact led to a verbal exchange between Cline and some of her opponents, prompting sophomore forward Zakiya Bywaters to come to the aid of her teammate.
Yet despite UCLA’s fearless composure, USC seized the lead and the game for good when freshman midfielder Autumn Altamirano sent the ball streaking into the upper right corner of the post with just four minutes left in regulation.
It marked the Bruins’ first defeat against the Women of Troy since a 2-1 loss to USC in the semifinal round of the 2007 Women’s College Cup.