USC and Stanford women’s soccer have had several historic matchups throughout the decade, considering the two programs have combined for five national championships.
On Thursday, history was made, but not for the reason USC would’ve hoped for. The No. 6 Trojans were trounced by No. 1 Stanford 5-1 in Rawlinson Stadium, marking it as the worst home loss in the Jane Alukonis era from when she first became head coach in 2022.
“We have to take care of the ball better,” Alukonis said. “We give the ball away too easily and therefore we have to run a lot so when we do get it, we’re tired.”
USC’s first loss of the new season as the Trojans drops them to 3-1-1.
Stanford’s ranking atop of the NCAA women’s soccer poll was in part of its non-stop, accelerating offense. The Cardinal’s five goals and 27.5 shots, plus a 23 goal differential led the country heading into its matchup with its highest ranked opponent in USC.
The Trojans impressed early by holding a high-scoring Cardinal team to just a 1-0 lead at the end of what was a highly intense first half where both teams wouldn’t relent on pressing high.
USC had some excellent through balls early in the first half, especially a few from junior forward Maribel Flores to sophomore forward Faith George, but the Trojans lacked the finishing touch. That theme of getting in close without putting a solid chance on net became constant throughout the match.
“We have to have more patience, creativity and cohesiveness in working together in the final third,” Alukonis said. “[Stanford] has experience, they have depth. They have everything that you need in a successful team, but at the same time, so do we. I think that’s what we’re frustrated with.”
In the 25th minute, Stanford would strike first by capitalizing on USC’s misfortune. The Trojans couldn’t clear the ball from their own 18-yard box and after rattling around to the top, redshirt senior forward Andrea Kitahata placed one above USC’s senior goalkeeper Bella Grust to score.
Kitahata celebrated by walking over to the USC marching band, waving her fingers and conducting them to play a song.
The Cardinal stuck again 12 minutes into the second half through quick, attacking play. Sophomore midfielder Charlotte Kohler sidestepped her defender right above the box to pass it into the area on the left side where Kitahata was running into.
Kitahata then played a centering pass to senior midfielder Jasmine Aikey who buried the chance on her first touch to give the Cardinal a more comfortable two goal lead.
Even though the game was fast-paced and highly physical to this point, the real chaos began in the 78th minute. After Grust had to parry away a low shot on the near post, the rebound went straight to sophomore midfielder Elanor Klinger who had to shoot across her body, twisting her back from goal in order to get the shot off and make it 3-0.
Two minutes later, USC had its best offensive sequence of the night. After a sloppy Stanford goal kick, sophomore midfielder Elanor Morrissey played a pass up to Flores who recognized the run being made into the box by sophomore forward Jaiden Anderson. Anderson received Flores’ ball and buried a low, hard driven shot into the bottom left corner to give the Trojans some life.
With the fans now starting to make their way back into the game, Stanford decided to shut them up for good two minutes after Anderson’s goal.
Recognizing the space she had and where Grust was positioned, Klinger lifted a volley off a throw-in and deflection from about 25 yards out to chip USC’s goalkeeper and stun almost everyone in Rawlinson Stadium.
Klinger’s second goal of the match was the statement moment, effectively deadening USC’s spirits because four minutes later, Stanford scored again from another centering pass, this time from sophomore forward Jaden Thomas to freshman midfielder Brooke Holden to wrap it up at 5-1.
The Stanford machine never shut down the entire game as the team continually applied pressure almost every single time USC had possession of the ball, making play more difficult.
It’s evident that this Stanford team is the team to beat in the country this season, with several veterans leading the way for a program that’s made back-to-back NCAA tournament semi-final appearances.
Like Alukonis mentioned, USC has the tools needed to become a successful team and it only suffered its first loss of the season, but the Trojans need more in-game experience in order for each other to be on the same wavelength offensively and defensively.
USC will have another week to prepare for its first Big Ten conference matchup when it takes on Washington next Thursday at Rawlinson Stadium at 7 p.m.