BERKELEY – The No. 17 California women’s soccer team scored two goals in the second half to tie No. 9 USC, 2-2, at the end of regulation, but could not score in overtime and USC (11-4-0 overall, 3-1-0 in the Pac-10) won the 3-2 overtime decision over Cal (8-5-1, 2-2-0 Pac-10) on Sunday afternoon at Edwards Stadium. Sophomore defender/forward Miranda White scored first for the Bears and junior forward Alex Morgan netted the second. A 2009 season-high 753 fans came out to Sunday’s Pac-10 match.

“I think we had chance after chance,” Cal head coach Neil McGuire said. “USC’s goalkeeper came up big for them. We knew that we were always going to be susceptible to the counter attack off them with all the pressure, and they got the goal. I think we deserve something from this game, as we did against UCLA. It’s a real tough loss.”

Just under 19 minutes into the match, USC scored its first goal from Ashley Freyer when Marihelem Tomer crossed it to Freyer from the end line. In the 31st minute, Alyssa Davila took a shot on goal and Cal keeper Rosie Aguilera got hand but it tipped in for the Trojans’ second score. With USC leading, 2-0, the teams headed into the locker room at halftime.

The Bears came out firing in the second half – taking 16 shots in the second compared to seven in the first half.

“I think that our second-half energy was good,” McGuire said. “We were much more compact as a team. We created as much offense as I’ve ever seen us create.”

After having a near miss on a shot from White that hit the crossbar, Cal found the back of the net with its ninth shot of the half. White struck a pass from Morgan at the tail end of the 74th minute to bring the Bears within one, 2-1.

“We always felt like we would be able to get in around their right corner and as a result, we were able to create an opportunity,” McGuire noted. “Miranda took it really, really well.”

Morgan tied things up, 2-2, with a goal at 77:24 with White returning the favor with the assist. Morgan, who was attacking left to right, shot the ball around her defender to find the upper left corner.

“Alex is a great player,” McGuire said. “Their goalkeeper is very talented so to get two by her speaks to our offense.”

Following Morgan’s game-tying goal, the Bears had five shots before the close of regulation.

After 2:43 minutes of play had expired in the first overtime period, USC earned a corner kick, which Carly Butcher took from the near side. She crossed it into Davila, who headed the ball in for her second score of the game and eighth goal of the 2009 season and to send the Trojans home victorious, 3-2.

The Bears take to the friendly skies for a trip to Washington for the third weekend of Pac-10 play. Cal is set to play Washington, which is No. 14 according to Top Drawer Soccer and receiving votes in two polls, Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. before traveling East to Pullman for a match against No. 24 Washington State on Sunday, Oct. 25 and 11 a.m.