 "Photo: Photo courtesy of USC Student Publications")
While receiving congratulatory remarks from those passing by, USC women's soccer coach Ali Khosroshahin was drenched from behind by his team, a full barrel of Gatorade pouring over him. The soccer savior had just been baptized.
The USC women's soccer team won the 2007 National Championship on Dec. 9, beating Florida State 2-0 in College Station, Texas.
It was a fitting conclusion to an astonishing turnaround crafted by first-year coach Khosroshahin, who took an underachieving program that finished sixth in the Pac-10 last year and fashioned it into the nation's best in one short season.
To put his accomplishment into perspective, USC (20-3-2) had never been to the third round of the postseason prior to 2007.
The Women of Troy won through scrappy play, stifling defense and good positioning - a formula that worked for them throughout the year.
USC midfielder Marihelen Tomer put her team up 1-0 in the 25th minute by scoring a ball that had rebounded off the crossbar.
USC sent in a cross from the right wing, and the Florida State (18-6-3) defender on the back post failed to communicate with her goalkeeper, Erin McNulty. The defender tried to head it back, but McNulty was unprepared and deflected the ball with her hands off the top bar. It bounced straight to Tomer, who headed it into an open net.
Tomer said the goal was a product of training.
"We talk about using our heads in the box," she said. "That was my first instinct. It wasn't very hard, but it went in."
USC's second goal came off a corner kick in the 76th minute. Midfielder Ashli Sandoval lofted one to the front post, where USC defender Janessa Currier hit the ball with her thigh.
McNulty made the initial save, but the ball bounced off her hands and straight back to Currier, who then blasted the ball into the top corner.
The two goals were more than enough for USC's stingy defense.
The team limited Florida State's explosive attack, which had scored 17 goals in its five other postseason matches, to only 11 shots.
Meanwhile, USC goalkeeper Kristin Olsen collected her 12th shutout of the season. She was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the tournament.
In total, USC conceded only one goal in its six postseason matches.
When asked if he was surprised about winning the title, Khosroshahin insisted his team had the confidence and faith necessary to win.
"You have to have that belief in yourself and in your players," he said. "With this group, it took them awhile to start believing, but once they started it's been spectacular."
Junior forward Amy Rodriguez, who was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the postseason, said that a national title seemed reachable once USC started playing in the tournament.
"I don't think it became a reality until the playoffs," she said. "With each game we gained so much confidence."
Now that the Women of Troy have their first trophy, they have time to celebrate. So what are they going to do with that newfound freedom?
"Whatever they want," Khosroshahin said. "Whatever they want."
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The National Championship wasn't the only honor that the 2007 squad earned.
Khosroshahin was named Coach of the Year by online magazines Soccer America and Soccer Buzz after becoming the first coach to win a national title in an inaugural season.
Meanwhile, both Olsen and midfielder Ashley Nick were named second-team All-Americans by Soccer Buzz and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Soccer Buzz also honored three other Women of Troy. Forward Megan Ohai was chosen for its first-team Freshman All-America team. In addition, Sandoval and defender Kasey Johnson were named second-team Freshmen All-Americans.
But Rodriguez, who is taking her talents to a higher level, received perhaps the biggest honor.
She was named to the full U.S. National squad for the Four
Nations Tournament, which is being held in Foshan, China and runs from today until Jan. 20.
This is the second time that Rodriguez will play for her country. She had three appearances at the 2006 Algarve Cup in Portugal.
