Tar Heels Lose First Match Of Season

Sunday, September 11

Los Angeles, Calif.

4:00 PM

North Carolina

5-1-1

USC

5-2-0

North Carolina

USC

September 11, 2016 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Two days after securing a win at #9 UCLA, the #8 University of North Carolina women's soccer team ended its West Coast swing by falling at Southern California 3-0 before a crowd of 521 fans at McAlister Field.

The loss was the first of the season for Carolina, which fell to 5-1-1 as it wrapped up its non-conference season. USC has won five games in a row and is now 5-2. The Trojans got on the board early and built on its lead throughout, prevailing 3-0 and with a 17-10 edge in the shot department. USC also led in corner kicks 7-3.

Carolina fell behind in the fifth minute of play as Morgan Andrews scored her third goal of the season on a header off a corner kick. Kayla Mills had the assist on the goal. The Trojans added to their lead in the 29th minute when Katie Johnson scored her second goal of the year, assisted by Savannah Levin. Johnson scored from inside the six-yard box, going top right corner after taking a cross from the right side from Levin.

USC finished off the scoring in the 65th minute as Alex Anthony tallied her sixth goal of the season, blasting a shot from 35 yards out into the top shelf. Johnson, who had scored the second goal, assisted on the play.

Southern Cal placed seven of its 17 shots on goal. Lindsey Harris played 83:37 in goal for the Tar Heels and made three saves while allowing the three Trojans' goals. Samantha Leshnak played the final 6:23 in goal and made one save.

Sammy Prudhomme played 87:16 in goal for USC, making four saves. Julia Murphy played the final 2:44 of the match to finish up the shutout.

The three goals conceded by the Tar Heels were the most since September 11, 2011 when the Tar Heels fell to Texas A&M 4-3 in overtime. The three-goal margin of defeat was the most since November 20, 2010 when Carolina fell to Notre Dame 4-1. In fact, the match marked only the fourth time since 1985 that the Tar Heels have lost a game by more than one goal –Notre Dame 2010, Virginia 2013, Virginia 2014, USC 2016.

Carolina will open ACC play this coming Friday when it plays host to NC State at Fetzer Field at 5 p.m. The game will be telecast live on ACC Network Extra and aired on WCHL Radio in Chapel Hill (97.9 FM).