The USC women’s lacrosse team opened its first game of the 2026 season with a dominant win in the brand new Rawlinson Stadium. After a strong 2025 season and a defeat by No. 12 Michigan in the Big Ten Quarterfinals, the team is eager and determined to begin the next chapter.
On Sunday afternoon, alumni, fans, family and friends gathered to watch the Trojans take on the California Golden Bears in their home opener. Heading into the competition, players expressed their anticipation to kick off the 2026 season.
“It means a lot that the school has invested enough into us to build up this amazing place for us to play,” Sophomore goalkeeper Ellie Thomas said. “We’re really pumped to hopefully show them that their investment is gonna pay off.”
Not only are the players enjoying the stadium but alumni also had the opportunity to experience the vision come to life this weekend. Gussie Johns ‘18, visited with alumni to share the moment.
“It’s awesome to see the new stadium,” Johns said. “I graduated eight years ago so it’s been a little bit of time. It’s my first game back and I’m pumped to see the girls play and see a bunch of old alumni.”
Johns traveled from her home in Washington, D.C., joining others who made the trip from the East Coast.
“It’s great, great to see the investment from Lindsey and former players,” Jones said. “It definitely means a lot for the school and the program to recognize the players that came before and help make this possible.”
After a tight first quarter, Berkeley led 4-3. Meanwhile both teams tied in total shots, shots on goal and ground balls. However, the Trojans set the tone of the second quarter with an early goal by redshirt junior midfielder Hannah Barron. Vivian Leuthold, a sophomore attacker and Emma Bunting, a junior midfielder shortly followed putting USC ahead by two goals over California.
Heading into the half, the Trojans kept the lead with a pair of goals from sophomore attacker Reese Robinson and contributions from sophomore attacker Kaylee Fravert. After the first half, the Trojans led in shots, shots on goal and ground balls with fewer turnovers although the Bears held the edge in draw controls.
In a tale of two halves, USC pulled away, closing the third quarter with a score of 11-7. Fravert netted her second goal of the game and season while Bunting added to her tally of assists.
Finally, as the fourth quarter came around, three Trojans: Robinson, Fravert, and Leuthold recorded hattricks; Leuthold finished the game with four goals to kickoff her sophomore season. In addition, Bunting totalled four assists, cementing herself as a key playmaker throughout the game. Other honorable mentions include sophomore midfielder Alex May with a pair of goals as well as Bunting, Barron, freshman midfielder Sydney Stewart, and junior midfielder Anna Regan contributing their first goals of the season.
“All four of my goals were assisted,” Leuthold said. “It was such a good motion offense, and everyone did their part so really, I got to hand it to the feeders.”
She described the moment as “surreal,” playing on her new home grass and in front of alumni who laid the foundation before her.
“We’ve been focusing on our belief,” head coach Lindsey Munday said. “I believe in this group, the staff believes in this group and I think they believe in each other and so it’s just exciting to see that comfort circle.”
With a win notched to open the 2026 season, the Trojans will return to host the Denver Pioneers on February 12. Catch the action at Rawlinson Stadium or streamed live on the Big Ten Network.