LOS ANGELES – Cal's shutout streak came to an end on Thursday afternoon, dropping a 1-0 decision to No. 5 USC at McAlister Field. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Golden Bears (13-3-1, 6-2-1 Pac-12) while the defending national champion Trojans (14-1-1, 8-0-1 Pac-12) remain perfect in conference play.

Trojans sophomore Ashleigh Plumptre scored the game's lone goal in the 53^rd minute, cracking a shot from the edge of the 18 that beat Cal goalkeeper Emily Boyd to the upper 90. USC's goal was the first the Bears have conceded since a 1-0 loss to Arizona on October 1, ending Cal's streak of five consecutive shutouts. Boyd, the Bears' all-time shutout leader, saw her shutout streak come to an end at a career-best 510 minutes.

Winners of five straight on the road entering Thursday's match, the 16^th-ranked Golden Bears' defensive commitment was on display in the early stages of match, as the Trojans came out with energy in the attack. Boyd was called upon early, making an impressive double-save in the seventh minute on a point-blank attempt. Just minutes later the senior from Seattle tipped away a dangerous cross by USC before it could reach the far-post runner. USC outshot Cal 13-5 in the first half and held a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks over the first 45 minutes. Cal's defensive was active and aggressive, blocking numerous shot attempts by the Trojans. 

Cal's best chances in the first half came just minutes before halftime, when midfielder Kelly Fitzgerald got into the box and played a cross into the six. Sophomore midfielder Maggie Bell got on the end of it, but her volley went off target. Bell played a dangerous cross in just second before the halftime whistle, but the Bears were unable to get on the end of it.

USC got on the board in the early stages of the second half as Plumptre scored her second of the season. The midfielder from England carried the ball to the edge of the box and ripped a shot that beat Boyd to the upper right corner to give the Trojans the lead. USC continued creating dangerous opportunities, but Boyd and the Bears backline were there to keep the deficit at one.

Pressing for the equalizer, Cal found its rhythm midway through the second half and created opportunities of its own. Heather Walleigh took a shot from outside the box that was headed out by the defender. The ensuing corner kick by Kelly Fitzgerald glanced off the crossbar and fell to Mia Corbin, but Corbin's shot from close range was blocked by the Trojans' defense.

Corbin was inches away from tying the game in the 85^th minute, picking up the ball and cracking a shot from 25 yards out that bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and out. 

USC outshot Cal, 21-10, on the afternoon and held a 3-1 edge in corners. Boyd finished the match with four saves while Kaylie Collins made one stop for the Trojans in the win. Fitzgerald led the Bears with three shots while Caroline Clark put the Bears' lone shot on frame.

Cal continues its Southern California road trip on Sunday, taking on the sixth-ranked UCLA Bruins at 1 p.m. PT. The Bruins entered the weekend tied with the Golden Bears for third in the conference standings and take on Stanford at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.   

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