Nov. 5, 2010

Box Score

LOS ANGELES - LMU wanted nothing more than to send its six seniors out with a victory in their regular season finale but San Diego spoiled the party as Stephanie Ochs scored 4:30 into the first overtime period for a 2-1 victory on Friday afternoon at Sullivan Field. The Lions (10-6-2, 2-3-2 WCC) hit the woodwork three times in the first half and rallied back from a second-half deficit but were victimized by the late Toreros (11-7-2, 4-3-0 WCC) goal.

After honoring the six seniors - Julie Gallaudet, Nickey Ha, Kelley Lawson, Gabrielle Parisella, Dominique Penaranda, and Lily Sorentino - in a pregame ceremony, LMU got straight to work, dominating the opening 30 minutes of the game. The Lions were unlucky not to take the lead on three separate occasions as they were denied by the frame on three of their five first-half shot attempts. The first came just six minutes in as a long throw from freshman Etajha Gilmer was flicked on by sophomore Cori McGovern at the near post. The flick seemed to catch USD goalie Courtney Parsons off-guard and the ball slipped between her legs and towards an open goalmouth. At the last second, a Torero defender slid in and the clearance came off the underside of the crossbar. Sorentino followed but her shot was high.

Meanwhile, the LMU defense was suffocating, holding USD without its first shot until the 29:44 mark. Seconds after that, the woodwork came to USD's rescue twice more to keep out freshman Tawni Martino. LMU's leading scorer sent a long-range shot off the top of the crossbar in the 31st minute, then broke through the USD defense four minutes later. Her shot across the goal from the right side beat Parsons but came squarely off the foot of the far post to keep the game scoreless at the half.

With all of LMU's first-half chances, it was USD who took the lead three minutes after the break. Ochs got loose on the right side and crossed from the by-line, finding Taylor Housley arriving in the middle of the six-yard box to turn home the Toreros' first real chance of the half.

LMU would trail for only seven minutes before equalizing on an outstanding display of teamwork. From a throw-in on the left side of the attacking third, McGovern played the ball back to freshman Darien Pyka, who picked out a streaking Gilmer on the right. Pyka's pass was picture-perfect, hitting Gilmer in stride to one-touch it past Parsons for her second goal of the season.

Rejuvenated by Gilmer's goal, LMU remained on the offensive and had several chances for the win if not for the play of Parsons. In the 58th minute, Martino found Lawson alone on the left side of the penalty area but the USD goalie came off her line to smother the shot. Martino then had a pair of efforts herself - in the 72nd and 77th minutes, respectively - only to fire straight at the keeper both times. In the final minute, LMU had one last opportunity when it won a free kick 30 yards out with 50 seconds left in regulation. Sophomore Rachel Fell stood over the deadball and struck her shot towards the upper left corner but Parsons was there to tip over for a corner.

LMU had the first two opportunities in overtime but it was Ochs who displayed individual skill to win it for the visitors. She began with a mazy run down the right to the end line, then cut inside two defenders before finishing low to the far post.

Redshirt freshman Brittany Jagger made four saves in goal for the Lions to move into sole possession of seventh place on the LMU single-season record list with 75. Parsons stopped six shots for the Toreros. The overall shot tally was even at 15 apiece.

LMU now awaits the NCAA Tournament Selection Show to see if its season will continue. The show will air on ESPNU at 1:30 p.m. PT on Monday.