Colorado
9-4-1, 1-3-1
USC
11-1-1, 4-1-0
Tompkins Sets Saves Record in Loss
October 13, 2019 | Soccer
The senior goalkeeper made a season-high 11 saves
LOS ANGELES – It was another busy afternoon in net for senior Jalen Tompkins on Sunday. The Colorado keeper made season-high 11 saves in the Buffaloes 2-1 loss at No. 4 Southern California.
Tompkins' 11 saves moved her past Sloane Cox for the most saves in Colorado history with 322 for her career.
Sophomore Libby Geraghty picked up the Colorado goal, but the Buffs offense could not match the Trojans effort. USC totaled 24 shots to CU's five.
The loss drops CU to 9-4-1 overall and 1-3-1 in Pac-12 play. USC improves to 11-1-1 and 4-1-0 in the conference.
How it happened
Both teams took a little time to warm up to each other in the early minutes. Southern California was the first to register a shot in the 16th minute. Tompkins first save came in the same sequence, going to the ground to secure a flick on net from the top of the six.
One of Tompkins best saves of the afternoon came in the 24th minute. She came off the post and charged at the USC attempt, making a sliding save that was cleared to safety by the Buffs. Tompkins kept a clean sheet in the first half, making six saves.
The Trojans got out to a quick start in the second half. USC had a pair of chances in the 47th minute, hitting the crossbar on the second shot. Colorado went back down the field but was unable to sustain the attack, giving the ball back to USC on a goal kick.
Southern California flipped the field, quickly moving the ball up the sideline in the 49th minute. USC's Tara McKeown centered to the front of the goalmouth and Penelope Hocking turned and beat Tompkins to the far post from six yards out.
The Buffs kept working and found the net in the 55th minute. Senior Kelsey Aaknes served up a corner kick that found Geraghty. Geraghty put her head on the ball while going to the ground and snuck it inside the left post to bring Colorado back to even.
Southern Cal. got the go-ahead goal three minutes later off a header to the far post by McKeown.
CU continued to battle in search of the next goal. Aaknes took a free kick in the 82nd minute that was bounced into the box by Hannah Sharts and cleared to the corner by USC. Geraghty got a second header chance in the 83rd but CU was waved offsides.
The Trojans stalled in the corner in the final minute to close out the match.
BY THE NUMBERS:
Colorado
Goals: 1
Shots: 5
Fouls: 9
Saves: 8
Southern Cal
Goals: 2
Shots: 24
Fouls: 8
Saves: 1
Up Next: The Buffs play just one match at home next week. Colorado will take on Arizona State on Saturday (1 p.m.).
Notes: Geraghty's goal was her third of the season and fourth of her career…Aaknes picked up her second assist this season…Colorado falls to 3-8 all-time against USC…the Buffs are now 1-3 vs ranked opponents this season…Colorado faced 49 shots on the weekend.
Quotes
Head coach Danny Sanchez
Overall thoughts
"I thought we competed and gave ourselves a chance. Their [USC's] two front runners are super dangerous, and I thought we had stretches where we dealt with them but not enough. I thought we did a better job, especially in the first half of keeping the ball and getting the ball more but we didn't create enough opportunities. Like I told the team [I was] little disappointed give the goal [back] right after we got the equalizer. We always talk about how that is as a dangerous time. We talked about the first 10 to 15 minutes of the second half and we give them that early goal there. So, some breakdowns and a lot of things to learn from. We knew this to be a tough weekend and it was. Our focus is all on Arizona State next Saturday."
On Jalen Tompkins
"I thought the first half first most their shots were from distance and they were easy for her to handle. I thought as we got tired as the game went on, they're putting pressure on us started dropping in and defending too close to our goal and it's a recipe for disaster against a good team. She did very well today. I'm sure she's disappointed that we didn't get a result."
On team's set-pieces
"It was a good serve from Kelsey and a nice finish from Libby. Having said that, we have to do a better job with the second balls. We're putting balls in dangerous spots and players need to be brave and be willing to challenge for stuff that maybe isn't perfectly clear. Sometimes we must get some sloppy goals and we haven't been getting those. There is a reason why USC is a top-five team and you can see their quality today. They deserve the result and we can take some pauses be getting ready for next Saturday."
Team Stats
Penelope Hocking (1)
Assisted By: Tara McKeown
Cross from left, gathered in box, turn and shot off far post
48:12
Libby Geraghty (1)
Assisted By: Kelsey Aaknes
Header to near post of corner from left
54:59
Tara McKeown (1)
Assisted By: Savianna Gomez
Header to right post off center from right side
56:03
