Late Goal Spoils Strong Second Half From Ducks

Friday, October 3

Eugene, OR

1:00 PM

University of Oregon

2-8-3, 0-4-2

USC

7-3-1, 4-2-0

Southern California

Oregon

Photo by: GoDucks.com

10/03/25 | Women's Soccer

Box Score USC 1, Oregon 0 Photo Gallery

Oregon created several breakaways after halftime Friday at Papé Field, but ultimately USC left with a 1-0 win.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — The home team made quality second-half adjustments that led to exciting chances, but ultimately it was the visitors who broke through for the only goal.

The Oregon soccer team tweaked its approach at halftime and tilted the pitch in the second half Friday at Papé Field. But USC broke the Ducks' hearts with a goal in the 86th minute to escape with a 1-0 win before 392 sun-splashed fans.

"That is the fourth goal in three games that we've given up in the last 10 minutes," said UO coach Tracy Joyner, whose team settled for a tie at Indiana five days earlier after allowing a goal in the 84th minute. "I know I've talked about mentality all season, but you've got to stay locked in; you take one play off and that's what happens. Against a team with this type of attacking threat you can't afford it, and that's what we got — we gave up a goal. A special player scored a special goal, but that's what they do."

The Ducks (2-8-3, 0-4-2 Big Ten) had two shots at halftime and opened things up in the second half to generate seven shots, a number of them on breakaways. But they were unable to break through and take the lead before the Women of Troy managed the only goal of the matinee.

"You gotta finish those chances," Joyner said. "Typically you only get one or two a game, and I think we had five breakaways this game. There's a really great goalkeeper, for sure, and they've got a good back line, but yeah, we've got to be better in those moments and that's something that we can continue to keep talking about."

How It Happened: The game was played largely in Oregon's end for the first 20 minutes or so, and USC had the first six shots of the afternoon. Taylor Bryan finally put a shot on the USC goal at the 35:03 mark of the game, but the game was scoreless at halftime thanks in part to a pair of saves by UO keeper Caeley Goldstein.

The tone was different from the outset after halftime. In the 48th minute, Addisen Boyer made a run up the right side and put a ball in front of the USC net that Bryan couldn't quite get a toe on. Later in the same minute, Jayde Holley registered the first UO shot of the second half.

"I think we were over-working defensively in the first half," Joyner said. "We had some difficulty kind of taking advantage or capitalizing on some counter attacks. So we just made a couple little adjustments, to hopefully exploit their passing and take advantage, and we were able to intercept quite a few of their passes or win the first touch and generate some more offense."

The Ducks, who lost a couple of matches in September on penalty kicks, almost saw their fortunes turn on that front a couple times Friday. Bryan had a free run in the 68th minute and went to the turf after a collision inside the top of the box, and seven minutes later Cailin Bloom also hit the turf inside the box, but neither drew a foul.

In the 77th minute, Bloom won a battle for possession at the top of the box, got off a shot that was saved and couldn't get a clean touch on the rebound for a potential goal.

"I'm definitely gonna want that one back," said Bloom, who recently announced she'll return for a sixth year of eligibility next fall. "I felt like, when my momentum was going forward, all I saw was goalie and I was like, gotta wrap my hips. And she just happened to be there, and then I fully dove forward to try and get something on the next play. But definitely gonna want that one back. Just more motivation to keep on wanting more and getting more hungry, because I think it's definitely coming."

The Trojans broke through in the 86th minute, making a run out of a stoppage and beating the UO defense for a goal.

Oregon fell despite what Joyner said was the best game of the season from midfielder Carly Cormack.

"Carly was unbelievable today," Joyner said. "… We ask so much of her defensively. Typically an attacking mid doesn't have to do quite the work that she does defensively, and to see her be so impactful on both sides of the ball today was really, really special. I was really proud of her."

Notable: Playing in her 75th career match, Goldstein moved within four saves of 300 for her career with four against the Trojans. … Oregon has allowed six fewer goals (16) through 13 games than at the same point in 2024. … Bryana Pizarro returned to the field for the first time since the UCLA game on Sept. 13. … Defender Jasmine Young has played in all 1,170 minutes this season.

Up Next: The Ducks play at No. 21 Ohio State on Thursday (4 p.m., B1G+).