University Southern California Trojans
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Trojans Tabbed No. 12 in Coaches Poll and Third in Pac-12 Poll
August 07, 2018 | Women's Soccer, Features
LOS ANGELES – The United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and the Pac-12 Coaches Poll were both released today, and the USC soccer team was picked 12th nationally and third in the conference.
It is the second straight season USC had been tabbed to finish third in the Pac-12. The Trojans were picked third in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll last year after winning the 2016 National Championship.
United Soccer Coaches Poll
The Trojans finished last year at No. 13 in the national poll, moving up one spot in this year's preseason rankings. USC is one of four Pac-12 teams in the preseason Top 25, with Stanford ranked No. 1, UCLA ranked No. 2 and Washington State ranked No. 21. California, Colorado and Arizona are also receiving votes in the coaches poll. Stanford is the reigning National Champion after beating UCLA in last year's title game, with the Cardinal receiving 34 of 35 first-place votes, and the Bruins picking up the other.
Pac-12 Preseason Poll
Stanford and UCLA again come in at No. 1 and 2 in the Pac-12 Preseason Poll after playing in last year's title game. The Trojans sit in third with a total of 98 points in the poll. Stanford has 121 points and 11 first-place votes, while UCLA has 109 points and one first-place vote.
Coming in behind USC is California with 90 points and then Colorado rounds out the top five with 74 points. The Trojans finished tied for second in the conference standings last year, matching UCLA with an 8-2-1 Pac-12 record.
Strength of Schedule
The Top 25 is littered with Trojan opponents this season, with three conference opponents and three non-conference opponents currently ranked. The aforementioned Pac-12 teams of Stanford (No. 1), UCLA (No. 2) and Washington State (No. 21), along with the three receiving votes (Cal, Colorado and Arizona), are all in the national rankings. USC will head to No. 18 Pepperdine on Aug. 26, and then the following week will travel to No. 10 Florida State (Aug. 31) and No. 7 Florida (Sept. 2).
Last Year
The Trojans are coming off a 15-3-2 season in which they made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Baylor in penalty kicks. USC finished tied for second in the Pac-12 after losing only to UCLA and Stanford, and drawing with Utah, during conference play. The Trojans hosted Eastern Washington in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing with a 2-1 win.
2018 at-a-glance
No. 12 USC will open the 2018 season on the road at UC Irvine on Aug. 16 after playing an exhibition at UC Davis on Aug. 11. The Trojans play four of their first five regular season games on the road, with their home opener coming on Aug. 24 against Cal Poly. USC opens Pac-12 play at home against Washington on Sept. 22. The Trojans travel to No. 1 Stanford on Sept. 30 and will host No. 2 UCLA on Nov. 2.
USC brings back 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.
It is the second straight season USC had been tabbed to finish third in the Pac-12. The Trojans were picked third in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll last year after winning the 2016 National Championship.
United Soccer Coaches Poll
The Trojans finished last year at No. 13 in the national poll, moving up one spot in this year's preseason rankings. USC is one of four Pac-12 teams in the preseason Top 25, with Stanford ranked No. 1, UCLA ranked No. 2 and Washington State ranked No. 21. California, Colorado and Arizona are also receiving votes in the coaches poll. Stanford is the reigning National Champion after beating UCLA in last year's title game, with the Cardinal receiving 34 of 35 first-place votes, and the Bruins picking up the other.
Pac-12 Preseason Poll
Stanford and UCLA again come in at No. 1 and 2 in the Pac-12 Preseason Poll after playing in last year's title game. The Trojans sit in third with a total of 98 points in the poll. Stanford has 121 points and 11 first-place votes, while UCLA has 109 points and one first-place vote.
Coming in behind USC is California with 90 points and then Colorado rounds out the top five with 74 points. The Trojans finished tied for second in the conference standings last year, matching UCLA with an 8-2-1 Pac-12 record.
Strength of Schedule
The Top 25 is littered with Trojan opponents this season, with three conference opponents and three non-conference opponents currently ranked. The aforementioned Pac-12 teams of Stanford (No. 1), UCLA (No. 2) and Washington State (No. 21), along with the three receiving votes (Cal, Colorado and Arizona), are all in the national rankings. USC will head to No. 18 Pepperdine on Aug. 26, and then the following week will travel to No. 10 Florida State (Aug. 31) and No. 7 Florida (Sept. 2).
Last Year
The Trojans are coming off a 15-3-2 season in which they made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Baylor in penalty kicks. USC finished tied for second in the Pac-12 after losing only to UCLA and Stanford, and drawing with Utah, during conference play. The Trojans hosted Eastern Washington in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing with a 2-1 win.
2018 at-a-glance
No. 12 USC will open the 2018 season on the road at UC Irvine on Aug. 16 after playing an exhibition at UC Davis on Aug. 11. The Trojans play four of their first five regular season games on the road, with their home opener coming on Aug. 24 against Cal Poly. USC opens Pac-12 play at home against Washington on Sept. 22. The Trojans travel to No. 1 Stanford on Sept. 30 and will host No. 2 UCLA on Nov. 2.
USC brings back 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.
Sunday, October 26
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Sunday, September 28
