March 26, 2011

Final Stats

Box Score in PDF Format

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - In a game that featured 22 6-on-5 opportunities and a five-meter goal, the third-ranked USC Trojans (14-3) used an early six-goal edge to outlast sixth-ranked LMU (17-5), 13-8, at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center on Saturday afternoon.

USC jumped out to a 9-3 lead and fought off a late Lions rally in a game that featured 6-on-5 chances. The Trojans went 5-for-9 (56 percent) on the 6-on-5 while the Lions went 7-for-14 (50 percent), LMU also scored on a 5-meter penalty,

"We made some key mistakes early that USC jumped on and put us in a whole early," said Head Coach Kyle Witt. "You can't do that against a team like USC as they make you pay and it because nearly impossible to come back. We did a good job of fighting to the end, but we just got down too many early."

The teams traded goals to start the game and the Trojans led 3-2 after one. They then took over in the second quarter, outscoring the Lions 4-1, getting two goals each from Patricia Jancso and Joelle Bekhazi. Both would led the Trojans with three goals each on the game.

USC would stretch the lead to 9-3 on goals from Jancso and Nadia Dan to start the third. Casey Flacks and Kimberly Benedetti would score for the Lions as USC led 10-5 after three.

The Lions would cut the lead to four, 11-7 on goals from Benedetti and Romero. However, the Trojans would answer the Lions goal-for-goal on the quarter to secure the win.

LMU will head to UC Irvine on Thursday, March 31 for a 7:00 p.m., start. They will then return home Saturday, April 2 for a tripleheader with Cal State San Bernardino and Santa Clara.