In five games the Michigan women’s soccer team had never won in the state of California.

That streak continued after this weekend's losses at Cal State Fullerton and Southern California.

Michigan lost 2-0 against the Titans at Titan Stadium on Friday and then fell 2-1 to the Trojans at McAlister Field yesterday.

With the teams combining for two red cards on Friday, four yellow cards yesterday and a total of 37 total fouls committed in both games, Michigan coach Greg Ryan liked the physicality his team showed all weekend, despite the negative outcomes.

“We won’t play against a team that plays more physically than USC,” Ryan said. “They’re just a bunch of beaters. They took a lot of cheap shots. They were fouling from behind all the time – the refs let them get away with it. And so our players had to learn to deal with the physical aspect of that game. And I thought they did really well. … The refs were the 12th man today for USC.”

Junior forward Amanda Bowery was given a red card in the 33rd minute of Friday’s game and was forced to sit out yesterday’s game because of the penalty. The team clearly missed the player that Ryan called his “top striker.”

Ryan said that in Sunday’s game against Southern Cal, the Wolverines had to start half of their second-string players because of a lack of depth, Bowery’s absence and being downright “gassed” from the first game.

But, even after the resulting loss, Ryan still thought Michigan put up a good fight against the Trojans.

“It was a real credit to the team that they came back with that kind of effort,” Ryan said. “I mean, we’re better than Fullerton, and we lost the game by two goals. I think a lot of teams would just throw in the towel. … They didn’t, they responded and played their hearts out. And could’ve gotten a win.”

Sophomore Kristen Goncalves scored in the 28th minute when junior Jackie Carron sent a free kick to the left of the Southern Cal wall, Goncalves, who was making a run behind the wall, was able to deflect the ball past the outstretched arms of Trojan goalkeeper Kristin Olsen.

The Wolverines (3-5) held the lead until the middle of the second half, when Southern Cal scored on a free kick. Ryan wasn’t hesitant to note his disappointment in the officials’ choice to award a free kick.

“It was never a foul,” Ryan said. “And anybody looking at it would see it was never a foul. And our player had no idea what had happened, but their player just threw herself to the ground and took a dive and it ended up being the tying goal.”

The Trojans scored the winning goal with less than nine minutes left to play.

Goncalves' goal against Southern Cal was the only one of the weekend for the Wolverines. Two days earlier against Cal State Fullerton, Michigan couldn't capitalize on its scoring chances.

The Wolverines had two shots find their way to the back of the net, but both goals were nullified. Sophomore Kelsey Rogind scored on a rebound in the middle of the first half, but she was ruled offsides. And junior Sarah Stanczyk buried a header, but it was called back because she had come in contact with the Cal State goalkeeper.

Michigan also had a chance early in the game with a penalty kick, but the team failed to convert. The Titans scored on a penalty kick of their own in the 31st minute and added another goal in the middle of the second half.

Despite being swept, the Wolverines had plenty to gain from the West Coast trip. According to Ryan, the physical play this weekend is similar to what Michigan will see in the Big Ten – minus the cheap shots.

Michigan also currently has four players from California, and Ryan said that players from the Wolverines’ 2011 recruiting class were at yesterday’s game. As Ryan continues his effort to build up the program, he thinks California is the place where Michigan can expose its players and benefit by building a recruiting pipeline.

“We’re going to be making a trip to Southern Cal every year,” Ryan said. “This is one of the best areas to recruit in the country. And it’s a big part of helping us land recruits.”

The Wolverines may not have gotten a win this weekend, but Michigan showed it could contend with a preseason eighth-ranked team in USC. And as for the Wolverines’ 0-7 record in California?

“It’s going to come next year,” Ryan said confidently.