WESTWOOD, Calif. -- Second-ranked UCLA scored four goals en route to a 4-1 victory against Southern California in the regular season finale at Drake Stadium. With the win, the Pac-12 champion Bruins improve to 17-1-2, 9-0-2 in conference play, while USC ends its season at 8-10-2, 3-7-1.
Sam Mewis had a hand in every UCLA goal, scoring the game-winner and tying the school record for assists in a game with three. Taylor Smith added one goal and two assists.
The Trojans scored the game's first goal in the 14th minute off a set piece. Kayla Mills sent a free kick into the box, where it was headed by Marlee Carrillo as Bruin goalkeeper Alana Munger challenged. The ball found its way to Jamie Fink, who one-timed it into the empty net. The goal was the first given up by the Bruins on Drake Stadium all season.
UCLA came back, as it often does, equalizing at 28:48. Sarah Killion and Mewis executed a give and go, and Killion fed Darian Jenkins with a through ball into the box. Jenkins beat USC goalkeeper Caroline Stanley far post to tie the game. The goal was her team-leading 11th of the season.
After going into the locker room tied at 1-1 at the half, the Bruins came out swinging in the second half, blitzing the Trojans with a three-goal spurt in 14 minutes. Mewis scored the go-ahead goal at 51:06, her fifth of the year. Smith set her up nicely by making a run down the right side and crossing to Mewis, who one-timed it to the far post.
Smith and Mewis combined to set up Rosie White for UCLA's third goal at 62:38. Smith passed to Mewis, who hit White with a pass. White collected the ball, turned and then shot far post from just inside the box, beating Stanley for her fourth goal of the season.
The Smith and Mewis show continued a little under three minutes later when Mewis assisted on Smith's long-range bomb at 65:10. Smith, from just inside the 18 at the right corner, blasted a rocket to the upper left corner that Stanley had no chance of stopping.
