USC women’s lacrosse fell to unranked Penn State by a score of 16-8 on Sunday at Panzer Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. After the Trojans led late in the second quarter, the Nittany Lions ultimately pulled away to secure the victory.
In their final road game of the season, the Trojans looked to sweep their two-game road trip. After defeating Rutgers 13-4 on Thursday, the Trojans tried to match that success against another unranked Big Ten opponent in their first-ever meeting against the Nittany Lions.
Before facing Rutgers, USC women’s lacrosse played five consecutive ranked opponents, supposedly setting up the squad for an easier run of the schedule. In that five-game stretch, the Trojans went 1-4, earning their lone victory at No. 19-ranked Ohio State.
USC started off the game hot against the Nittany Lions. Behind two unassisted goals from senior attacker Maddie Dora and an unassisted goal from redshirt junior midfielder Kailey Pelkey, the Trojans were tied up at 3-3 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Trojans jumped out to their first multi-goal lead of the day. Goals from redshirt senior Isabelle attacker Vitale and sophomore attacker Emma Bunting put the Trojans up top 5-3 early on in the second quarter. With 6:44 remaining in the quarter, the Trojans led 6-4.
But it was all Penn State after that.
The Nittany Lions proceeded to score five unanswered goals before the Trojans finally stopped the bleeding. However, after just one USC goal in response, the Nittany Lions reopened the wound, scoring another seven consecutive goals.
The Nittany Lions outscored the Trojans 10-2 in the second half, finishing on a 12-4 run stretching back to the second quarter.
Despite the loss, there were some positive takeaways for USC.
Dora continued her strong season, as she scored her 12th hat trick of the season. She now has 55 goals in 15 games. Bunting was strong on the defensive end for the Trojans, causing four turnovers and collecting six ground balls. The Trojans won the turnover margin (16 to 11) and forced 11 of Penn State’s 16 turnovers.
The Trojans now hold a 9-6 record (2-5 in Big Ten play) and are 23-14 all time against Big Ten opponents.
On next Wednesday, April 23, the Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Tournament kicks off in College Park, Maryland. The Tournament consists of the top seven teams in the conference, with the regular season conference winner getting a bye in the first round. The Trojans currently sit seventh in the standings, earning them the last spot in the tournament.
Fortunately for the Trojans, regardless of the outcome of their final game, they have already clinched their spot in the Big Ten Tournament. The two teams below the Trojans, the Ohio State Buckeyes (who USC owns the tiebreaker with) and the Oregon Ducks, can’t mathematically earn the seventh spot.
The Trojans host Oregon at Dignity Health Sports Park at 1 p.m. Saturday to wrap up the regular season.