Nov. 10, 2002

Box Score

SEATTLE - Melissa Bennett recorded a hat trick Sunday and the Washington Huskies dominated the No. 15 USC Trojans, 5-0, in the Pac-10 Conference regular season finale for both teams. Bennett had three goals and an assist while Kim Taylor also had a goal and three assists for the Huskies.

Washington (9-8-3, 4-4-1) needed a win to be eligible for NCAA Tournament play and jumped out early at 1:11 on Taylor's goal. Bennett scored the first of her three consecutive goals at 22:55 for a 2-0 lead at halftime. The Huskies held an 18-5 advantage in shots for the game.

Bennett scored twice in the second half before Megan McKinstry completed the scoring at 80:48 for the Huskies.

USC (10-7-3, 5-4-0) suffered its worst loss since a similar 5-0 decision against North Carolina during the 1999 season and has been outscored 9-1 in the last two games.

The Women of Troy played without starting goalkeeper Julie Peterson, who sat out the game with a left shoulder injury, and midfielder Megan Abbamonto, who is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. Abbamonto suffered the injury in the Nov. 1 game vs. Oregon State.

USC will learn about its postseason fate on Monday when the 64-team NCAA Tournament bracket is announced at 1:30 p.m. Pacific.

USC (10-7-3, 5-4-0)  			0-0---0
Washington State (11-5-2, 5-1-2)	2-3---5

WASH	1:11	Kim Taylor (Dana Dibble)
WASH	22:55	Melissa Bennett (Kim Taylor)
WASH	61:07	Melissa Bennett (Kim Taylor, Nicole Martinez)
WASH	66:20	Melissa Bennett (Kim Taylor, Tina Frimpong)
WASH	80:48	Megan McKinstry (Melissa Bennett)

Shots: USC 5, WASH 18	Corners: USC 1, WASH 1
Fouls: USC 12, WASH 19

Saves:  Katy Boynton (USC) 2; Hope Solo (WASH) 2