The No. 3 Trojans kicked off the tournament by dominating San Jose State to set up a semifinal clash with No. 2 Stanford on Saturday. The Trojans battled all the way until the finish, but wound up just short, losing 6-5 to earn a spot in the consolation game.
There they faced No. 5 Cal, a squad USC had beaten just two weeks before. The Trojans and Bears were even through two periods, but USC's 2-0 run in the third period was all the team needed to secure an 8-6 win and the third place prize.
Senior Stephania Haralabidis led the way with three goals, while sophomore Amanda Longan racked up 14 saves.
The Trojans now look ahead to the NCAA Tournament, which takes place from May 12-14 in Indianapolis. After an undefeated 2016 season which saw USC emerge as the national champion, the Trojans take a 28-3 record into this year's NCAAs.
