In a back and forth game Friday night at McAlister Field in Los Angeles, USC junior Caroline De Lyra’s second goal with 13:46 remaining proved to make the difference. Freshman midfielder Darby Kiernan did all she could to keep the University of Colorado in the game against USC, scoring four goals in a 12-9 loss. USC’s 5-0 run in the second half put the nail in the coffin for Colorado. Sophomores Marie Moore and Johnna Fusco added two goals apiece, followed by a goal from Katie Macleay.

Moore started things off with a goal that put the Buffs up 1-0. Both teams jockeyed for momentum in the first half. The Trojans scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead but the Buffs stayed in it. Moore’s second came with just 33 seconds left in the first half to cut USC’s lead to one at halftime.

The momentum carried into the second half for Colorado as Kiernan’s second tied things up in the first minute. USC quickly retook the lead, but two unanswered goals by Colorado flipped things right back in the Buffs’ favor.

Kiernan broke a 7-7 tie with her third and fourth of the night, giving Colorado a temporary 9-7 lead.

The deadlock didn’t last long and the Trojans scored the last five goals of the game. USC’s Michaela Michael and Caroline De Lyra scored two quick goals within 30 seconds of each other to tie it at nine. De Lyra added another only minutes later to take the lead for good with 13:46 left in the game. The Trojans netted two more by the game’s end.

Sophomore goalie Paige Soenksen had 11 saves even with the loss. Fusco and Darby now have 33 and 28 goals in the season respectively.

The Buffs drop to 6-5 (1-3 MPSF) on the year, looking to stay above .500 with Sunday’s game at San Diego State (8-3) at 1 p.m. The game will be live streamed and can be found through the women’s lacrosse website or through SDSU’s Youtube channel.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Cannon Casey at Cannon.Casey@colorado.edu.