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Bears edge USC in overtime
LOS ANGELES – California sophomore midfielder Brittany Kirk scored the game-winning goal with 1:15 remaining in the second overtime period to lift the No. 5 Golden Bears to a 2-1 victory over No. 12 USC Friday at McAlister Field. The Bears improved to 15-1-1, 5-1 in Pac-10 play, while the Trojans dropped to 11-4-2 and 3-2-1 in league play. The win also avenged the Bears 2-1 double overtime loss to the Trojans last season in Berkeley.
The game was scoreless until the 80th minute when Cal's go-to player Laura Schott posted her Pac-10-best 21st goal of the season. Senior midfielder Natalie Stuhmueller sent a 30-yard free kick in front of the Trojan goal, and Schott headed the ball into the net for her league-best 42nd and 43rd point.
Less than a minute later, USC's Jessica Edwards tied the score by converting on a Christy Callier pass from eight-yards out.
The game went to overtime with the score 1-1 and the shots even at 11-11. USC also was forced to play down a player in the 81st minute when Katie Ticehurst was issued her second yellow card.
With the second and final 15-minute overtime period winding down, the Bears held a 7-4 edge on shots, but the game looked as if it was going to end in a tie. With 75 ticks on the clock, Kirk nailed her second-game winning goal of the season on the Bears eighth shot in extra time, and senior forward Regina Holan was credited with the assist on Kirk's 10-yard winning strike. Kirk's other game-winning goal came in Cal's 2-1 overtime victory against Missouri Sept.15 in Winston Salem, N.C.
The Bears created more dangerous opportunities throughout the match, as USC's goalkeeper Shaelyn Fernandes was forced to make nine saves, while Cal's Maite Zabala only had to save three shots with the help of a veteran Bear defense.
Cal remains in second-place in the Pac-10 with second-ranked Washington (16-1, 7-0 Pac-10) defeating Oregon State, 2-1, in double overtime Friday afternoon.
Cal looks to remain in the Pac-10 title hunt when it battles No. 3 UCLA Sunday at 1 p.m.
