Sept. 17, 1999

LOS ANGELES - Freshman midfielder Ali Fennell scored two goals to erase a 1-0 deficit and lead the No. 9 USC women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over No. 8 BYU in a non-conference match on Friday afternoon in the first-ever matchup of Top 10 soccer teams at the Coliseum.

The Women of Troy (5-1), in the midst of a six-match run against ranked teams, have beaten three of the country's top teams in Portland, UConn and BYU consecutively.

"It was a scrappy, hard-fought match on both sides," said USC Coach Jim Millinder, who earned his 50th victory at USC in just his fourth season. "Our defense — Christina Kushnir, Megan Orach, Erin Reed and Susie Mora — was tremendous. Ali Fennell continues to be impressive. It's another big, big win for the program."

The Cougars (6-1) took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute when junior midfielder Sara Reading, moving to her right, blasted a well-placed shot from about 25 yards out that found the upper-right-hand corner of the net.

But USC wasted no time in getting the equalizer, as about 30 seconds later, Fennell (Santa Ana/Mater Dei HS) took the ball up the right sideline, then cut into the middle and past a few defenders. Her left-footed shot from about 15 yards out made it just inside the right post.

In the second half, Fennell scored the game-winner in the 68th minute with a bit of controversy. USC senior defender Christina Kushnir (San Diego/Bishop's) lifted the ball into the air toward the box while BYU was seeking to push USC's players offsides. The linesman briefly put his flag up to signal offsides, but the referee waved him off because the offsides player was not involved in the play. Fennell, who was onside, swooped past a startled defense and onto the ball, and kicked it past the goalkeeper.

Fennell has scored the game-winner for USC in two straight matches, as her overtime goal beat UConn last weekend.

USC next travels to Durham, N.C. for the Duke Classic (Sept. 24-26) to play the host Blue Devils and North Carolina.

BYU (6-1) 1-0---1

USC (5-1) 1-1---2

Scoring: Sara Reading (Rachelle Dixon), BYU, 30:00, Ali Fennell, USC, 31:00, Ali Fennell (Christina Kushnir), USC, 68:00.

Shots: USC 12, BYU 13 Saves: Lauren Arase (USC) 5, Jennifer Waldron (BYU) 4

Fouls: USC 9, BYU 17 Corners: USC 4, BYU 2 Offsides: USC 2, BYU 0 Att: 324