SAN DIEGO – No. 11 San Diego State dropped its season opener to USC, 4-1, Friday afternoon at Torero Stadium on the campus of USD. With the loss, the Aztecs fall to 0-1, while the Trojans move to 1-0.

 

SDSU controlled the pace at the onset, but possession slowly swayed the Women of Troy’s way. In the seventh minute, USC’s Elizabeth Eddy sent in what looked to be a cross, but the ball was misplayed near the goal line and trickled in.

 

The Aztecs had two solid chances of their own in the first half. The initial opportunity came in the 10^th minute when Hannah Keane forced USC goalkeeper Caroline Stanley to make her first save of the day. Then in the 26^th minute, Haley Locker attempted a shot from the left side, which required Stanley to make an impressive stop.

 

In the second half, trailing 1-0, San Diego State continued to struggle to get into an offensive rhythm. USC, meanwhile, maintained its pace and ultimately scored in the 56^th minute when Kayla Mills scored on a breakaway opportunity. The Trojans then tacked on another goal less than two minutes later when Jamie Fink was credited with the goal-scoring header.

 

The Aztecs finally got on the scoreboard in the 70^th minute when Keane took the ball from the right side, dribbled to the middle of the field and connected on a 20-yard shot. Trailing by two, SDSU started to press offensively, but to no avail. USC ended up adding one more goal by Elizabeth Eddy on a breakaway that slipped by Melanie Vaughn in the 89^th minute to provide the final margin.

 

San Diego State returns to action Sunday when it returns home to play host to Saint Mary’s. First tap at SDSU Sports Deck is set for 1 p.m. PT.