CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State women's soccer team fell, 3-1 to No. 9 USC on Sunday in a Pacific-12 Conference game at Lorenz Field.
 
Senior forward Katie Johnson scored the three-goal hat trick to lead the No. 9-ranked Trojans (9-2, 3-0 Pac-12) over the Beavers (5-2-2, 0-3-0 Pac-12), who lost their third match in a row.
 
Junior Nikki Faris scored her fourth goal of the season at 87:45 to bring the Beavers within 3-1 when she tapped home the rebound of her own shot, which had caromed off the right post. Faris tied junior Natalie Higgins, who assisted, and senior Helene Haavik for the team lead in goals. Faris also assumed the team lead in points (12).
 
The Beavers outshot USC 8-7 in the second half and had a 2-1 edge in corner kicks in an evenly-played second half.  Faris's goal was just the sixth allowed by USC, which has won nine consecutive games after a season-opening overtime loss to Santa Clara.
 
USC's Johnson scored twice within 3:10 of the first half to take a 2-0 intermission lead. She opened the scoring at 7:25, finished off a nice three-way combination with her second tally at 10:35 and completed her natural hat trick at 55:42.
 
USC outshot the Beavers 17-11. OSU junior keeper Bella Geist had four saves, giving her 44 for the season and 255 for her career to now rank No. 3 all-time at OSU.
 
The Beavers resume Pac-12 play at Utah at 6 p.m. Thursday. They conclude the mountain road trip at Colorado on Oct.9 in a noon game that will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.
 
For more information on the Oregon State women's soccer team, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram at @BeaverWSoccer or its Facebook page at BeaverWSoccer

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