In a rematch of the 2023 women’s lacrosse Pac-12 Tournament championship game, the Trojans looked to repeat their success against the Colorado Buffaloes Thursday night.
But coming off of a 13-10 win Wednesday night against UC Davis, the Buffs had other plans. Colorado defeated reigning Pac-12 champion USC 12-9 in the tournament semifinals at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.
“Colorado is a great team and they played incredibly well,” head coach Lindsay Munday said.
The Trojans and the Buffs are familiar conference foes. Munday’s squad had already defeated Colorado earlier this season 15-6 at home. Last year, USC defeated Colorado 12-6 at the California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley to earn its second-ever Pac-12 Tournament title.
On Thursday night, though, senior attacker Madeline Pisani led the Colorado charge, netting four goals. For the Trojans, senior attacker Maggie Brown scored five of USC’s nine goals. Meanwhile, the Pac-12 Attacker of the Year, graduate Ella Heaney, did not touch the score sheet.
The Buffs started hot Thursday night, racing out to a quick 2-0 lead in just three minutes. It was this quick, aggressive offense that propelled the Buffs to victory against the Trojans. Colorado scored first in every quarter and led for the game’s entirety.
The Trojans tightened up their defense following Colorado’s fiery offensive start; senior goalkeeper Kait Devir came up with a big stop midway through the first. USC also picked up two ground balls and forced Colorado to commit two turnovers.
However, the Buffs’ offense proved to be dynamic and adapted to USC’s awakened defense. Their patient passing scheme allowed them to penetrate USC’s tight defense before sophomore midfielder Lily Assini buried the ball in the back of the net to put Colorado up 3-1.
After allowing five Colorado goals in the first quarter, the Trojans limited the Buffs’ scoring in the second. Devir was the Trojans’ savior again, coming up with back-to-back saves to keep her team in the game.
However, when USC’s defensive stops finally allowed the Trojans to put one on the board, Colorado responded almost immediately with back-to-back goals to extend its lead to four.
Munday also credited Colorado’s success at the draw as a factor in USC’s offensive struggles Wednesday night.
“I think they did a great job at the draw control in the first half,” Munday said. “In the second quarter, we didn’t win any draws, so it’s hard to get a rhythm offensively when you don’t have the ball. That kind of set the tone for us.”
Colorado completely dominated the third quarter, with five shots on goal to USC’s one and picking up six ground balls to USC’s four.
The Trojans are no stranger to trailing in a game, yet they just couldn’t dig themselves out of the scoring deficit Thursday night. Munday’s squad did not score once in the third quarter and entered the final period trailing 10-5.
Despite the lackluster third, the Trojans started what seemed to be a comeback in the fourth. With a little over six minutes to play, USC had scored three unanswered goals to cut its six-goal deficit in half.
The Trojans felt the pressure, and a comeback was on the horizon.
USC’s offensive stints became shorter as the Trojans were launching shots more quickly. The traveling pack of Buffs’ fans grew quiet — a stark contrast to their loud chants all game long.
However, late turnovers from USC and saves by Colorado’s senior goalkeeper Danielle Heintz thwarted the Trojans’ momentum, ultimately allowing the Buffs to come away with the win.
Colorado advances to face No. 1 seed Stanford in the championship game on Saturday at 12 p.m.
Following its loss Thursday night, USC will eagerly await Selection Sunday to see if they will be competing in the NCAA tournament.
“For the younger players, you use [this loss] as fuel,” Munday said. “If this is the end of our season, it stays with you — and it should. You should remember this throughout the entire summer and throughout the entire next year and use it as motivation to not let it happen ever again.”
For the seniors who may have played their final collegiate match Wednesday night, Munday reassured them of their legacy.
“The message most importantly is that we’re grateful for the group that we had, grateful for the seniors,” Munday said. The seniors’ legacy isn’t wins and losses, it’s so much more than that.”
The draw will be announced at 6 p.m. on Sunday.