University Southern California Trojans
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
F/D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F/D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F/D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
Photo by: John McGillen
USC Women's Soccer 2018 Season Outlook
August 13, 2018 | Women's Soccer, Features
LOS ANGELES – The 2018 season is just days away as the No. 12 USC women's soccer team opens on the road at UC Irvine on Thursday night.
The Trojans enter the 2018 campaign with a deep and talented roster as they look to continue their run of postseason success. USC is coming off a 15-3-2 season in which the Trojans made their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under Head Coach Keidane McAlpine. The Trojans fell in the second round of last year's tournament and are a season removed from winning the 2016 National Championship, bringing back a number of players with championship experience. The Women of Troy were ranked 12th in the preseason coaches poll and selected to finish third in the Pac-12 preseason poll.
USC returns 16 players from last year's squad and has added 11 newcomers this offseason. Notably returning for the Trojans are a pair of All Pac-12 first-teamers in senior Ally Prisock and sophomore Savannah DeMelo, along with All Pac-12 second team honoree Leah Pruitt. DeMelo was also named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team along with fellow returners Tara McKeown and Kaylie Collins. The Trojans added the second-ranked recruiting class in the nation this offseason and bring in four highly-experienced transfers as well.
Here's a look at how the Trojans will line up this year…
Goalkeepers
Kaylie Collins started 19 games in goal for the Trojans as a freshman last year, allowing just 17 goals and posting seven shutouts. Emily Cuthbert also returns to the USC lineup after redshirting her freshman season in Troy. The Trojans added a pair of recruits to the mix this year in Anna Smith and Mackenna Carmichael. Smith, who hails from the Seattle area, is the 34th ranked player in the 2018 recruiting class according to Top Drawer Soccer and comes in with a number of accolades with both the Seattle Reign Academy club and Skyline HS. Carmichael hails from Ladera Ranch in southern Orange County and comes to the Trojans after a decorated club career with both the LA Galaxy SD and San Diego Surf.
"Coming back, Kaylie has all the experience, so we're very comfortable with her in the goal," said McAlpine. "Emily has been training really well and is looking good. The freshmen, Anna and Mackenna, have been very solid and will push those returning players to stay sharp. I have been very pleased with the energy and competition of our goalkeeper training so far."
Defenders
The Trojans are lead on the backline by one of the nation's best in Ally Prisock, who comes into her senior year with All Pac-12 honors on her resume and a preseason listing on the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list. Junior Julia Bingham has started 41 games in her two seasons at USC and will again solidify the left side for the Trojans. Jessica Haidet got 10 games of experience as a freshman in 2017, and Tara McKeown returns after earning Pac-12 All-Freshman honors primarily as the Trojans' right back last year. McKeown was tied for third on the team with 13 points, coming on four goals and five assists.
Entering the picture this season for USC will be a mix of high-level transfers and exciting newcomers. Natalie Jacobs, who was Notre Dame's leading scorer in 2017, transferred to USC this offseason and will play both on the backline and at forward. Jessie Holmes comes in as a grad transfer from perennial contender Florida as well. A trio of freshmen will also join the defenders ranks, with Kaylin Martin, Ashley Soto and Logan Wells added to the roster. Soto is coming off of a U-20 Women's World Cup appearance with Mexico in which the Los Alamitos High product started all three games. Martin is another Southern California recruit, who comes to USC after winning titles at both the prep and club levels with Santa Margarita Catholic HS and the SoCal Blues. Wells played at Eastlake HS in Chula Vista, Calif. and for the highly-touted San Diego Surf. She comes to USC with an injury and will redshirt her freshman season.
"Ally, going into her senior year, is by far the most experienced defender we have," said McAlpine. "She's our vocal leader and our rock back there, and the expectation is for her to lead the line. Julia Bingham has played left back since she got here, so she brings great consistency at that spot. Jessica Haidet, after getting some experience last year, has come in and done well at the centerback spot. Tara McKeown has been away with the U.S. U-20 squad, but she's our returning right back, though her versatility will also allow me to move her around as needed. The line is intact, though. They've been together and they know what to do. We've also made some great additions. Natalie Jacobs could play some centerback, she's played defender with youth national teams and could play back there for us. Kaylin Martin is a freshman who is getting her learning experience at this level, but has done a great job in training. Ashley Soto is a right back who has been playing with the Mexican U-20 squad and getting great experience there. Logan Wells is another freshman, she unfortunately has an injury and won't play this year, but we hope to get her healthy and at least training as the year progresses. And then we have Jessie Holmes, our transfer from Florida, bringing some maturity from a high-level program."
Midfielders
The Trojan midfield is highlighted by six accomplished returners and will be bolstered in 2018 by a trio of impact additions. Redshirt sophomore Savannah DeMelo comes in as another USC name (along with Prisock) on the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list after earning All Pac-12 first team recognition in 2017. Jalen Woodward enters her junior season with 42 games under her belt and a trio of assists in 2017. Ashleigh Plumptre, another junior returner, has played in 17 games each of the last two years and scored two goals to go with one assist last season. Daria Petredes is coming off of a redshirt season, but does have 13 games of experience from the Trojans' 2016 title run. Samantha Trinceri notched eight appearances and one start as a freshman in 2017, and fellow sophomore Arlie Jones will split time in the midfield and at forward after playing in 14 games last year.
Joining the USC midfield will be a graduate transfer out of Notre Dame, Megan McCashland, a sophomore transfer from North Carolina, Alea Hyatt, and freshman recruit Madeline Vergura out of Concord, Mass. McCashland played in 35 games and scored a pair of goals for the Irish during her tenure in South Bend, and Hyatt comes to USC after playing in 19 games and helping North Carolina to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2017. Vergura was twice nominated for the Gatorade State Player of the Year Award in Massachusetts after earning All-State honors. She played her club soccer for the FC Stars.
"Jalen is our vocal leader in the midfield right now and she does a good job organizing us," said McAlpine. "We have a lot of great players coming back in this group. Ashleigh Plumptre, Daria Petredes and Samantha Trinceri have all played on that line, so they know the expectations. Then obviously Savannah DeMelo is a special player and has played plenty in the midfield. Arlie Jones could also get some minutes in the midfield, but she'll mostly be up top. We return enough experience and have players who have been in some big games, so we expect to be solid and consistent throughout the midfield. To add to that, we brought in Megan McCashland, a rugged and tough player from Notre Dame. We have added two big-time players in Alea Hyatt and Madeline Vergura, who have the ability to be difference makers. We really have great depth at every position across the midfield with this group."
Forwards
The USC forwards are another group anchored by some great veteran talent, namely senior Leah Pruitt, who enters her final year after a pair of impressive campaigns in 2016 and 2017 following her transfer from San Diego State. Pruitt has scored a total of 10 goals and posted 12 assists for the Cardinal and Gold, earning All Pac-12 second team honors in 2017. Aforementioned Notre Dame transfer Natalie Jacobs will see plenty of time up top as well, along with returners Samantha Bruder, Hailey Hite and Taylor McMorrow. Bruder, a redshirt sophomore, appeared in 10 games last year and tallied one assist. McMorrow, a junior, has appeared in 23 games over the last two years and has scored a pair of goals. Hite enters her senior year with a total of 40 games played, three goals and three assists. Incoming freshman Penelope Hocking is another Trojan who is coming off a U-20 Women's World Cup Appearance (along with DeMelo, McKeown and Soto) and has shown a great scoring prowess with not only the U.S Youth National Team, but with her club, the SoCal Blues, and at Canyon HS in Anaheim. Her U-20 teammate, McKeown, is also expected to get time on the attack for the Trojans.
"Leah Pruitt should be our go-to forward this year, but she will have some help," said McAlpine. "Natalie Jacobs will play up front some and is another experienced player we added this offseason. Samantha Bruder had a fantastic spring and should add some depth. Hailey Hite is coming back as a senior and has played in some big games, so she will help us out at the forward position. Taylor McMorrow always adds a burst of speed and intensity, and we have incoming freshman Penelope Hocking, who has been with the U.S. U-20's. She's a proven goal-scorer and should add a nice punch to our attack. I also mentioned Tara earlier, she's scored goals for us in the past and with our improved depth on the backline, you could see here up top more often."
Outlook
"The biggest thing for us with this team is our overall improved depth," said McAlpine. "Every position has talent, which forces us to compete, but it also gives us flexibility as a coaching staff to change games tactically, to rest players and hopefully stay healthy longer. I also think last year's disappointment is going fuel us this year. We didn't like the way last year ended, but the team worked incredibly hard in the offseason and came back extremely fit and ready to go. Their mentality has been phenomenal and they have been able to create a really united bond amongst the team, which is going to be crucial for us to take the next step."
The Trojans enter the 2018 campaign with a deep and talented roster as they look to continue their run of postseason success. USC is coming off a 15-3-2 season in which the Trojans made their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under Head Coach Keidane McAlpine. The Trojans fell in the second round of last year's tournament and are a season removed from winning the 2016 National Championship, bringing back a number of players with championship experience. The Women of Troy were ranked 12th in the preseason coaches poll and selected to finish third in the Pac-12 preseason poll.
USC returns 16 players from last year's squad and has added 11 newcomers this offseason. Notably returning for the Trojans are a pair of All Pac-12 first-teamers in senior Ally Prisock and sophomore Savannah DeMelo, along with All Pac-12 second team honoree Leah Pruitt. DeMelo was also named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team along with fellow returners Tara McKeown and Kaylie Collins. The Trojans added the second-ranked recruiting class in the nation this offseason and bring in four highly-experienced transfers as well.
Here's a look at how the Trojans will line up this year…
Goalkeepers
Kaylie Collins started 19 games in goal for the Trojans as a freshman last year, allowing just 17 goals and posting seven shutouts. Emily Cuthbert also returns to the USC lineup after redshirting her freshman season in Troy. The Trojans added a pair of recruits to the mix this year in Anna Smith and Mackenna Carmichael. Smith, who hails from the Seattle area, is the 34th ranked player in the 2018 recruiting class according to Top Drawer Soccer and comes in with a number of accolades with both the Seattle Reign Academy club and Skyline HS. Carmichael hails from Ladera Ranch in southern Orange County and comes to the Trojans after a decorated club career with both the LA Galaxy SD and San Diego Surf.
"Coming back, Kaylie has all the experience, so we're very comfortable with her in the goal," said McAlpine. "Emily has been training really well and is looking good. The freshmen, Anna and Mackenna, have been very solid and will push those returning players to stay sharp. I have been very pleased with the energy and competition of our goalkeeper training so far."
Defenders
The Trojans are lead on the backline by one of the nation's best in Ally Prisock, who comes into her senior year with All Pac-12 honors on her resume and a preseason listing on the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list. Junior Julia Bingham has started 41 games in her two seasons at USC and will again solidify the left side for the Trojans. Jessica Haidet got 10 games of experience as a freshman in 2017, and Tara McKeown returns after earning Pac-12 All-Freshman honors primarily as the Trojans' right back last year. McKeown was tied for third on the team with 13 points, coming on four goals and five assists.
Entering the picture this season for USC will be a mix of high-level transfers and exciting newcomers. Natalie Jacobs, who was Notre Dame's leading scorer in 2017, transferred to USC this offseason and will play both on the backline and at forward. Jessie Holmes comes in as a grad transfer from perennial contender Florida as well. A trio of freshmen will also join the defenders ranks, with Kaylin Martin, Ashley Soto and Logan Wells added to the roster. Soto is coming off of a U-20 Women's World Cup appearance with Mexico in which the Los Alamitos High product started all three games. Martin is another Southern California recruit, who comes to USC after winning titles at both the prep and club levels with Santa Margarita Catholic HS and the SoCal Blues. Wells played at Eastlake HS in Chula Vista, Calif. and for the highly-touted San Diego Surf. She comes to USC with an injury and will redshirt her freshman season.
"Ally, going into her senior year, is by far the most experienced defender we have," said McAlpine. "She's our vocal leader and our rock back there, and the expectation is for her to lead the line. Julia Bingham has played left back since she got here, so she brings great consistency at that spot. Jessica Haidet, after getting some experience last year, has come in and done well at the centerback spot. Tara McKeown has been away with the U.S. U-20 squad, but she's our returning right back, though her versatility will also allow me to move her around as needed. The line is intact, though. They've been together and they know what to do. We've also made some great additions. Natalie Jacobs could play some centerback, she's played defender with youth national teams and could play back there for us. Kaylin Martin is a freshman who is getting her learning experience at this level, but has done a great job in training. Ashley Soto is a right back who has been playing with the Mexican U-20 squad and getting great experience there. Logan Wells is another freshman, she unfortunately has an injury and won't play this year, but we hope to get her healthy and at least training as the year progresses. And then we have Jessie Holmes, our transfer from Florida, bringing some maturity from a high-level program."
Midfielders
The Trojan midfield is highlighted by six accomplished returners and will be bolstered in 2018 by a trio of impact additions. Redshirt sophomore Savannah DeMelo comes in as another USC name (along with Prisock) on the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list after earning All Pac-12 first team recognition in 2017. Jalen Woodward enters her junior season with 42 games under her belt and a trio of assists in 2017. Ashleigh Plumptre, another junior returner, has played in 17 games each of the last two years and scored two goals to go with one assist last season. Daria Petredes is coming off of a redshirt season, but does have 13 games of experience from the Trojans' 2016 title run. Samantha Trinceri notched eight appearances and one start as a freshman in 2017, and fellow sophomore Arlie Jones will split time in the midfield and at forward after playing in 14 games last year.
Joining the USC midfield will be a graduate transfer out of Notre Dame, Megan McCashland, a sophomore transfer from North Carolina, Alea Hyatt, and freshman recruit Madeline Vergura out of Concord, Mass. McCashland played in 35 games and scored a pair of goals for the Irish during her tenure in South Bend, and Hyatt comes to USC after playing in 19 games and helping North Carolina to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2017. Vergura was twice nominated for the Gatorade State Player of the Year Award in Massachusetts after earning All-State honors. She played her club soccer for the FC Stars.
"Jalen is our vocal leader in the midfield right now and she does a good job organizing us," said McAlpine. "We have a lot of great players coming back in this group. Ashleigh Plumptre, Daria Petredes and Samantha Trinceri have all played on that line, so they know the expectations. Then obviously Savannah DeMelo is a special player and has played plenty in the midfield. Arlie Jones could also get some minutes in the midfield, but she'll mostly be up top. We return enough experience and have players who have been in some big games, so we expect to be solid and consistent throughout the midfield. To add to that, we brought in Megan McCashland, a rugged and tough player from Notre Dame. We have added two big-time players in Alea Hyatt and Madeline Vergura, who have the ability to be difference makers. We really have great depth at every position across the midfield with this group."
Forwards
The USC forwards are another group anchored by some great veteran talent, namely senior Leah Pruitt, who enters her final year after a pair of impressive campaigns in 2016 and 2017 following her transfer from San Diego State. Pruitt has scored a total of 10 goals and posted 12 assists for the Cardinal and Gold, earning All Pac-12 second team honors in 2017. Aforementioned Notre Dame transfer Natalie Jacobs will see plenty of time up top as well, along with returners Samantha Bruder, Hailey Hite and Taylor McMorrow. Bruder, a redshirt sophomore, appeared in 10 games last year and tallied one assist. McMorrow, a junior, has appeared in 23 games over the last two years and has scored a pair of goals. Hite enters her senior year with a total of 40 games played, three goals and three assists. Incoming freshman Penelope Hocking is another Trojan who is coming off a U-20 Women's World Cup Appearance (along with DeMelo, McKeown and Soto) and has shown a great scoring prowess with not only the U.S Youth National Team, but with her club, the SoCal Blues, and at Canyon HS in Anaheim. Her U-20 teammate, McKeown, is also expected to get time on the attack for the Trojans.
"Leah Pruitt should be our go-to forward this year, but she will have some help," said McAlpine. "Natalie Jacobs will play up front some and is another experienced player we added this offseason. Samantha Bruder had a fantastic spring and should add some depth. Hailey Hite is coming back as a senior and has played in some big games, so she will help us out at the forward position. Taylor McMorrow always adds a burst of speed and intensity, and we have incoming freshman Penelope Hocking, who has been with the U.S. U-20's. She's a proven goal-scorer and should add a nice punch to our attack. I also mentioned Tara earlier, she's scored goals for us in the past and with our improved depth on the backline, you could see here up top more often."
Outlook
"The biggest thing for us with this team is our overall improved depth," said McAlpine. "Every position has talent, which forces us to compete, but it also gives us flexibility as a coaching staff to change games tactically, to rest players and hopefully stay healthy longer. I also think last year's disappointment is going fuel us this year. We didn't like the way last year ended, but the team worked incredibly hard in the offseason and came back extremely fit and ready to go. Their mentality has been phenomenal and they have been able to create a really united bond amongst the team, which is going to be crucial for us to take the next step."
Sunday, October 26
Sunday, October 19
Thursday, October 16
Sunday, September 28
