Indiana women’s soccer ended their six-game losing streak on Sunday, as the Hoosiers rallied on the road to tie the USC Trojans 2-2. After being down 2-0 at halftime, Indiana was able to mount a second-half comeback behind goals from Grace Hamm and Amaya Falzarano.
The game started out with fireworks from the home team, as the Trojans’ first time being in possession lead to them getting on the board, just 56 seconds into the game. The goal came off a left-footed attack from Rhea Moore after a beautiful feed from Jaiden Rodriguez. This was Moore’s first goal of her career, as the freshman was able to have an immediate impact in the game.
Indiana nearly countered in the sixth minute, as Bella Haggerty looked to tie the game, but a diving catch from freshman goalkeeper Josie Biehl prevented the goal. This wasn’t her only strong save of the half, as she was tested later by Amaya Falzarano. Falzarano was able to outrun her defender, but Biehl was able to come up and make her second save of the game.
With just under eight minutes left in the first half, the Trojans were able to extend their lead, with another goal from a freshman, this time coming from the forward Jordan Hill. Rhiannon Mahon’s pass from the right wing was able to find Hill inside the box, and Hill was able to capitalize with a right-footed tap in to give USC a 2-0 lead before halftime.
The second half started similarly to the first, but this time it started with the Hoosiers striking early. A great crossing pass from Kennedy Neighbors found Hamm’s right foot, who was able to sneak it past Biehl on the right side to cut the lead to one.
Hamm was nearly able to follow her first goal with another, as she nearly knocked in a bending left-footed shot from outside the box, but couldn’t get it to turn over enough.
However, the Hoosiers were still able to come up with an equalizer in the 70th minute, this time coming from a corner kick. They decided to play the corner short to Neighbors, who was then able to deliver a perfect pass to a group inside the box, where Falzarano finished the play with her right foot.
The game’s physicality started to ramp up from here. In the 71st minute, Falzarano and Biehl collided inside the box, resulting in a yellow card for Falzarano. Just a minute later, Haden Vlcek and Peyton Nakagawara were tangled up, which kept Vlcek sidelined for the remaining of the game with an injury.
However, each team was able to get a few more opportunities to break through with a win. Dani Jacobsen came up with two clutch saves in the 74th and 76th minutes for Indiana. Then, in the 84th minute Jenna Chatterton and Maggie Ledwith found themselves with a two-on-one opportunity in a counterattack but couldn’t capitalize.
This tie gives the Hoosiers a 4-8-2 record for the season, and they’ll look to pick up their first win since Sept. 10 on Friday at home against Michigan State.
