Thursday, August 29
Los Angeles, Calif.
8:00 PM
USC
vs
Florida
Players Mentioned
F/MF
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MF
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D
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GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF/D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF/D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
Photo by: Katie Chin
Trojans Host Battle at the Banc This Week
August 28, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Features
THIS WEEK - The No. 5 USC women's soccer team plays a pair of big-time non-conference matches this week, hosting Florida on Thursday at Banc of California Stadium and then facing No. 1 Florida State on Sunday at UCLA.
GAME 1 - No. 5 USC vs. Florida - Thursday, Aug. 29, 8 p.m. PT (at Banc of California Stadium)
GAME 2 - No. 5 USC vs. No. 1 Florida State - Sunday, Sept. 1, 2 p.m. PT (at UCLA)
BATTLE AT THE BANC - The Trojans host a marquee doubleheader at Banc of California Stadium (home of LAFC) on Thursday. UCLA will take on Florida State in the opener at 5:30 p.m. and then the Trojans will face Florida at 8 p.m. Both games will be shown live on Pac-12 Network. The four teams involved own a total of six NCAA titles and have won four of the last six collegiate crowns (Florida State 2018/2014, USC 2016/2007, UCLA 2013, Florida 1998). The Trojans and Bruins traveled to the Sunshine State last year, with USC coming up with a draw at Florida State and 3-0 win at Florida. The Bruins drew at Florida and fell to Florida State in 2018.
SUNDAY DOUBLEHEADER - Sunday's game at UCLA will also be part of a doubleheader, with the Trojans opening against the defending National Champs Florida State at 2 p.m. and then UCLA taking on Florida at 5 p.m. Both games will be on Pac-12 Network.
HOW TO FOLLOW - All games this week will be shown live on Pac-12 Network. Live stats will be available for both of the Trojans games as well, with links found on the women's soccer schedule page at USCTrojans.com. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter by following @USC_Wsoccer.
SOCIAL MEDIA - Keep up with everything USC women's soccer this year by following the Trojans on all of their social media platforms. You can follow @USCWsoccer on Instagram and @USC_Wsoccer on Twitter, and like USC Women's Soccer on Facebook.
OPENING IN HAWAII - USC opened the season on the road in Hawaii this past week, coming away with a pair of wins. The Trojans opened the year with a 3-0 win over Hawaii on Thursday and then beat San Francisco in a neutral site game 2-0 on Saturday. Tara McKeown led the way with two goals and an assist over the two games, and Penelope Hocking and Natalie Jacobs each tallied a goal and an assist. Kaylie Collins came away with the shutout in both games, giving her 19 clean sheets on her career.
PLAYER OF THE WEEKS - After helping the Trojans to a pair of shutouts and drawing the foul that led to the opening PK against San Francisco, Julia Bingham was named to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week. Tara McKeown and her two goals and one assist earned honorable mention on the TDS Team of the Week as well.
TROJANS IN THE RANKINGS - The Trojans come in as the No. 5 team in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and were selected to finish third in the preseason Pac-12 Coaches Poll. USC checks in at No. 7 in the Top Drawer Soccer Rankings.
NEW RECRUITS - USC welcomed the No. 3 recruiting class in the country this offseason, giving the Trojans back-to-back years with Top 5 classes. USC brought in a total of 12 players, with one transfer and 11 freshmen enrolling this fall. The Trojans have seven players in the class ranked in the Top Drawer Soccer 150, including one in the top 10 and three in the top 25. Trojans in the rankings included: Croix Bethune (8), Olufolasade Adamolekun (22), Jaelyn Eisenhart (25), Hannah White (46), Lilly Babalola (109), Savianna Gomez (116), Savannah Kessler (122).
SUMMER TRAVELS - The Trojans traveled to England and France this offseason, attending three World Cup Games on the trip. The Team spent 12 days overseas, starting in England with training, playing a friendly and sightseeing. The Trojans then Traveled to Paris, where they caught a pair of opening round games, including France's 4-0 win over South Korea in the very first game of the tournament. The trip concluded in Reims, where the team got to see the USWNT's historic 13-0 victory to open up their World Cup winning run.
TOUGH ROAD - USC will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the country this year as the Trojans face a total of four teams that have national titles, including Florida State and Stanford, which have both won twice, and Florida and UCLA, which have single titles to their names. Seven of the Trojans' opponents made it to last year's NCAA Tournament and six of those seven won at least one game in the postseason. AllWhiteKit.com has the Trojans' strength of schedule tied for 13th in the country according to their metrics.
MAC HERMANN WATCH - Trojans returning goalkeeper Kaylie Collins was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list at the beginning of the season. Savannah DeMelo was also named to the list before her likely season-ending injury was announced.
INJURED LIST - All-American Savannah DeMelo will likely miss the season with an Achilles injury. Senior returner Daria Petredes is out with an injury and does not have a timetable for her return. Top recruit Croix Bethune is likely to miss the season after tearing her ACL and fellow incoming freshman Isabel Rolley will also most likely miss the season with an ankle injury.
LAST YEAR - The Trojans are coming off of a 17-2-3 season in which they finished third in the Pac-12 and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. USC fell in the postseason to eventual national champions Florida State on the road in PK's.
PAC-12 AWARDS - Seven Trojans were honored with Pac-12 awards last season, highlighted by Kaylie Collins being named Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and Penelope Hocking being named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Collins, Ally Prisock, Leah Pruitt and Savannah DeMelo all earned All Pac-12 first team, Hocking and Julia Bingham earned second team honors and Tara McKeown was named to the third team. Hocking was also on the All-Freshman squad.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returners: 18 / Newcomers: 12 (1 transfer, 11 freshmen) / Players lost: 9
By class - GRAD: 1 / SR: 6 (1 RS) / JR: 7 (2 RS) / SO: 4 / FR: 12 (1 RS)
By position - GK: 2 / DEF: 11 / MF: 11 / FWD: 6 (7 total players listed at multiple positions)
By home state - CA: 17 / NV: 4 / GA: 4 / WA: 2 / MA, TX: 1 / England: 1
WORLD CUP FRESHMAN - Olufolasade Adamolekun gave Trojan fans a sneak preview of her skills as she competed for Jamaica in the World Cup this past summer. Adamolekun, who also played in the U.S. youth system before deciding to compete for Jamaica, made a start against Italy in the group stage. She also competed for Jamaica at the 2019 Pan Am Games this summer.
TROJANS IN THE NWSL - Trojan alums currently playing in the NWSL include Morgan Andrews, Sammy Jo Prudhomme (Seattle Reign), Mandy Freeman, Elizabeth Eddy (Sky Blue FC), Leah Pruitt (NC Courage), Samantha Johnson, Amy Rodriguez (Utah Royals FC), Katie Johnson (Chicago Red Stars) and Ally Prisock (Houston Dash).
GAME 1 - No. 5 USC vs. Florida - Thursday, Aug. 29, 8 p.m. PT (at Banc of California Stadium)
GAME 2 - No. 5 USC vs. No. 1 Florida State - Sunday, Sept. 1, 2 p.m. PT (at UCLA)
BATTLE AT THE BANC - The Trojans host a marquee doubleheader at Banc of California Stadium (home of LAFC) on Thursday. UCLA will take on Florida State in the opener at 5:30 p.m. and then the Trojans will face Florida at 8 p.m. Both games will be shown live on Pac-12 Network. The four teams involved own a total of six NCAA titles and have won four of the last six collegiate crowns (Florida State 2018/2014, USC 2016/2007, UCLA 2013, Florida 1998). The Trojans and Bruins traveled to the Sunshine State last year, with USC coming up with a draw at Florida State and 3-0 win at Florida. The Bruins drew at Florida and fell to Florida State in 2018.
SUNDAY DOUBLEHEADER - Sunday's game at UCLA will also be part of a doubleheader, with the Trojans opening against the defending National Champs Florida State at 2 p.m. and then UCLA taking on Florida at 5 p.m. Both games will be on Pac-12 Network.
HOW TO FOLLOW - All games this week will be shown live on Pac-12 Network. Live stats will be available for both of the Trojans games as well, with links found on the women's soccer schedule page at USCTrojans.com. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter by following @USC_Wsoccer.
SOCIAL MEDIA - Keep up with everything USC women's soccer this year by following the Trojans on all of their social media platforms. You can follow @USCWsoccer on Instagram and @USC_Wsoccer on Twitter, and like USC Women's Soccer on Facebook.
OPENING IN HAWAII - USC opened the season on the road in Hawaii this past week, coming away with a pair of wins. The Trojans opened the year with a 3-0 win over Hawaii on Thursday and then beat San Francisco in a neutral site game 2-0 on Saturday. Tara McKeown led the way with two goals and an assist over the two games, and Penelope Hocking and Natalie Jacobs each tallied a goal and an assist. Kaylie Collins came away with the shutout in both games, giving her 19 clean sheets on her career.
PLAYER OF THE WEEKS - After helping the Trojans to a pair of shutouts and drawing the foul that led to the opening PK against San Francisco, Julia Bingham was named to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week. Tara McKeown and her two goals and one assist earned honorable mention on the TDS Team of the Week as well.
TROJANS IN THE RANKINGS - The Trojans come in as the No. 5 team in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and were selected to finish third in the preseason Pac-12 Coaches Poll. USC checks in at No. 7 in the Top Drawer Soccer Rankings.
NEW RECRUITS - USC welcomed the No. 3 recruiting class in the country this offseason, giving the Trojans back-to-back years with Top 5 classes. USC brought in a total of 12 players, with one transfer and 11 freshmen enrolling this fall. The Trojans have seven players in the class ranked in the Top Drawer Soccer 150, including one in the top 10 and three in the top 25. Trojans in the rankings included: Croix Bethune (8), Olufolasade Adamolekun (22), Jaelyn Eisenhart (25), Hannah White (46), Lilly Babalola (109), Savianna Gomez (116), Savannah Kessler (122).
SUMMER TRAVELS - The Trojans traveled to England and France this offseason, attending three World Cup Games on the trip. The Team spent 12 days overseas, starting in England with training, playing a friendly and sightseeing. The Trojans then Traveled to Paris, where they caught a pair of opening round games, including France's 4-0 win over South Korea in the very first game of the tournament. The trip concluded in Reims, where the team got to see the USWNT's historic 13-0 victory to open up their World Cup winning run.
TOUGH ROAD - USC will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the country this year as the Trojans face a total of four teams that have national titles, including Florida State and Stanford, which have both won twice, and Florida and UCLA, which have single titles to their names. Seven of the Trojans' opponents made it to last year's NCAA Tournament and six of those seven won at least one game in the postseason. AllWhiteKit.com has the Trojans' strength of schedule tied for 13th in the country according to their metrics.
MAC HERMANN WATCH - Trojans returning goalkeeper Kaylie Collins was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list at the beginning of the season. Savannah DeMelo was also named to the list before her likely season-ending injury was announced.
INJURED LIST - All-American Savannah DeMelo will likely miss the season with an Achilles injury. Senior returner Daria Petredes is out with an injury and does not have a timetable for her return. Top recruit Croix Bethune is likely to miss the season after tearing her ACL and fellow incoming freshman Isabel Rolley will also most likely miss the season with an ankle injury.
LAST YEAR - The Trojans are coming off of a 17-2-3 season in which they finished third in the Pac-12 and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. USC fell in the postseason to eventual national champions Florida State on the road in PK's.
PAC-12 AWARDS - Seven Trojans were honored with Pac-12 awards last season, highlighted by Kaylie Collins being named Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and Penelope Hocking being named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Collins, Ally Prisock, Leah Pruitt and Savannah DeMelo all earned All Pac-12 first team, Hocking and Julia Bingham earned second team honors and Tara McKeown was named to the third team. Hocking was also on the All-Freshman squad.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returners: 18 / Newcomers: 12 (1 transfer, 11 freshmen) / Players lost: 9
By class - GRAD: 1 / SR: 6 (1 RS) / JR: 7 (2 RS) / SO: 4 / FR: 12 (1 RS)
By position - GK: 2 / DEF: 11 / MF: 11 / FWD: 6 (7 total players listed at multiple positions)
By home state - CA: 17 / NV: 4 / GA: 4 / WA: 2 / MA, TX: 1 / England: 1
WORLD CUP FRESHMAN - Olufolasade Adamolekun gave Trojan fans a sneak preview of her skills as she competed for Jamaica in the World Cup this past summer. Adamolekun, who also played in the U.S. youth system before deciding to compete for Jamaica, made a start against Italy in the group stage. She also competed for Jamaica at the 2019 Pan Am Games this summer.
TROJANS IN THE NWSL - Trojan alums currently playing in the NWSL include Morgan Andrews, Sammy Jo Prudhomme (Seattle Reign), Mandy Freeman, Elizabeth Eddy (Sky Blue FC), Leah Pruitt (NC Courage), Samantha Johnson, Amy Rodriguez (Utah Royals FC), Katie Johnson (Chicago Red Stars) and Ally Prisock (Houston Dash).
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