PULLMAN, Wash. – The No. 23 Washington State women's soccer team (7-3, 0-2) was defeated by the No. 19 USC Trojans (6-2, 2-0), 2-1, Thursday evening at Lower Soccer Field. The Cougars scored the first-half goal courtesy of senior Margie Detrizio, before USC tallied a pair of second-half goals to clinch the win.
 
The Trojans controlled possession throughout the evening, finishing with over 60 percent of total ball control. WSU took advantage of the possession disadvantage midway through the first half, when the USC midfield was caught in front of the ball. WSU's Detrizio gathered the ball at midfield, dribbling down the right flank. The Arizona native cut inside twice, beating two defenders before finishing past the 'keeper in the 27th minute.
 
The goal was Detrizio's team-best fourth of the season and marked her 22nd career goal. With the finish, Detrizio moved into sole possession with the eighth-most goals in program history. The senior's point total increased to 58 in her career and one point shy of 7th in Washington State history.
 
WSU entered the break with the lead, as the Trojans continued to dominate possession. Returning from the locker room, the Cougars looked to control more of the game, but ultimately allowed the Trojans to possess and looked to counter. Minutes before USC's goal, WSU's Rajanah Reed found space, beating her defender one-on-one and chipping a shot at goal, which bounced off the top of the crossbar in the 56th minute.
 
USC's Maribel Flores found the equalizer in the 62nd minute when a deflected shot fell to the feet of Izzy Kimberly, who laid the ball off at the top of the are for Flores to finish. The goal was Flores' fourth of the season and gave USC its equalizer.
 
With the game tied and half an hour remaining, both sides produced opportunities to clinch the win. Entering the 71st minute, WSU freshman Naomi Clark also hit the woodwork, cutting to her left from the right side of the box and firing a curling shot up and over the Trojan GK before clanging off the crossbar.
 
No. 19 Southern California netted the game-winner in the 78th minute. A set piece delivery from Angeles Escobar found the head of Hannah Griffin at the top of the 6-yard box. A collision between WSU's Nadia Cooper and Reese Tappan gave Griffin the gap she needed to put the goal away.
 
In total, Cooper faced 17 shots and made six saves. The Cougars, who entered the match ranked fourth nationally in corner kick opportunities, had a season-low one corner kick in Thursday night's match.
 
The Cougars return to the pitch Sunday, Oct. 1, to close an 8-game homestand against No. 5 UCLA with kickoff scheduled for noon from Lower Soccer Field and coverage on Pac-12 Networks.
 
Stat of the Match
Tonight was the third time the Cougars were outshot, but just the first time defeated this year when being outshot.
 
Postgame Notes

• The Cougars fall to 7-18-4 all-time against the Trojans
• Margie Detrizio earns a team-best fourth goal of the season
• Detrizio scored her 22nd career goal (8th in program history)
• Detrizio increased her point total to 58 career points (ninth in program history)
• Bridget Rieken started her 76th career match, moving into the program's top-10 all-time matches started by a field player
• The Cougars have not defeated a ranked opponent since the 2019 season that ended at the College Cup
• Nadia Cooper increased her career save total to 138, and just 10 saves shy of seventh in school history