Friday, November 29
Chapel Hill, N.C.
3:00 PM
USC
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North Carolina
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Photo by: John McGillen
No. 9 Trojans Head to No. 2 North Carolina for Elite 8 Matchup
November 26, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Features
THIS WEEK - The No. 9 USC women's soccer team hits the road for an NCAA quarterfinal matchup at No. 2 North Carolina on Friday night at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
GAME 23 - No. 9 USC (17-4-1) vs. No. 2 North Carolina (22-1-1) - Friday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
HOW TO FOLLOW - Friday's game will be streamed live via ACC Network Extra. Links for the broadcast and live stats can be 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.
SWEET 16 WIN - USC advanced past the NCAA third round for the third time in program history with a 1-0 victory over Santa Clara. Natalie Ward scored the lone goal on a volley from 25 yards out and the Trojans shut out the high-powered Bronco attack for the first time this year. Ward's goal was the first of her collegiate career.
SECOND ROUND VICTORY - The Trojans advanced to the third round with a 2-1 win over No. 22 Texas A&M on Friday at McAlister Field. USC's dynamic duo of Penelope Hocking and Tara McKeown provided the goals, and goalkeeper Kaylie Collins came up with some big saves late. It is the fourth time in the last five years that the Trojans have made the third round of the tournament.
OPENING ROUND WIN - USC rolled through Cal State Fullerton, 5-1, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament last week, exploding for all five goals in the second half after a scoreless first 45 minutes form both teams. Sophomore forward Penelope Hocking had a record-setting day, matching the program mark and setting a USC postseason record with four goals in the game, and setting the USC record with nine total points (4 goals, 1 assist). Alea Hyatt also matches a program record with three assists in the game.
POSTSEASON HISTORY - The Trojans are making their 18th NCAA Tournament appearance overall and the team has advanced past the opening round each of the last five seasons, including this year. USC has never missed the postseason during Head Coach Keidance McAlpine's tenure (six straight seasons) and has won one of its two National Championships (2016) under his watch. The Trojans won their first title in 2007 and became the first Pac-12 side with multiple titles when they won again in 2016. USC made a run into the third round last year, falling to eventual national champs Florida State in PK's on the road. USC has made the quarterfinal round three times in its history (including this year), with the team winning the National Championship the last two times.
SERIES VS UNC - USC is 1-3 all-time against the Tar Heels. The Trojans won the last meeting between the teams, 3-0, in 2016. UNC won the first three meetings in the series. The teams have never played in the postseason.
MAC HERMANN SEMIFINALIST - Tara McKeown was named one of 15 semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy this week. She is the fifth Trojan to be named a semifinalist for college soccer's top honor, and the third Trojan in the last four years to earn the distinction. Ally Prisock was a semifinalist last year and Morgan Andrews was a finalist in 2016.
PAC-12 AWARDS - Eight Trojans were honored with the release of the Pac-12 Postseason Awards, with Tara McKeown highlighting the list with Pac-12 Forward of the Year honors. McKeown and Penelope Hocking were named to the All-Pac-12 first team, Ashleigh Plumptre and Jalen Woodward to the second team, and Julia Bingham to the third team. Olufolasade Adamolekun, Jaelyn Eisenhart and Kaylin Martin were named to the All-Freshman Team. McKeown is the first USC player to be named Forward of the Year. The Trojans have had at least five players earn all-conference honors each of the last four years, and have had at least three players on the freshman team two of the last three seasons.
DYNAMIC DUO - Tara McKeown and Penelope Hocking have been an explosive combination up top for the Trojans, scoring 32 of the team's 45 goals and accounting for 78 of the team's 133 total points. At least one of the two have scored in all but six games this year and 12 times one of the two has assisted the other for a score. The two are one of just five sets of teammates in the NCAA with at least 15 goals each so far this year, and overall they are the fourth highest scoring duo in the country.
HOCKING CONTINUES TO SHINE: Penelope Hocking continues shine on the pitch after her stellar freshman season. Her 17 goals lead the team and are good for second in the Pac-12 and 10th in the nation. The 17 goals are also the second most ever scored in a season by a Trojan, surpassing her total of 14 from last year. Isabelle Harvey holds the USC record with 20 goals in 1996. Hocking's 41 total points are also second in the Pac-12 and are 11th in the NCAA, and the third most ever in a season by a Trojan. Her game against Cal State Fullerton in the opening round was an all-time great one, with Hocking scoring four times to match the USC record and adding an assist to total nine points in the contest and set a new Trojan single-game mark. She scored the game-winner against FSU in OT and notched her third career multi-goal game with two scores against Nebraska. Her seven game-winning goals are second in the Pac-12. She is the first USC player to score at least 10 goals in each of her first two collegiate seasons after 14 goals last year in which she was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Her 31 career goals are already fourth on the USC career list. Hocking has five goals and two assists this postseason.
McKEOWN'S SPECIAL SEASON - Tara McKeown is also in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history with her 15 goals and seven assists. Her 37 total points are the third most in a season in program history, and her 15 goals are the third best season total every by a Trojan. McKeown's 1.85 points per game are good for 16th in the country this season, and her 15 goals are also 18th in the nation and third in the conference. She has picked up both National and Pac-12 Player of the Week twice this season in addition to her Pac-12 Forward of the Year and Hermann Trophy semifinalist honors. McKeown has four braces on the year, including scoring twice and assisting the game-winner in overtime against then-No. 1 Florida State. She has four game-winning goals on the season. Her 25 career goals are tied for seventh on the USC career list and her 19 career assists are good for seventh on that list as well.
PLAYER NOTES -
TEAM NOTES -
PLAYER OF THE WEEKS -
Week 15: GK Kaylie Collins (shutout) - TDS Team/week
F Penelope Hocking (1 G, 1 A) - TDS Team/week
MF Natalie Jacobs (2 A) - TDS honorable mention
Week 14: F Penelope Hocking (4G, 1A) - TDS Team/week
Week 12: D Ashleigh Plumptre (1 GW goal) - TDS Team/week
Week 8: F Tara McKeown (3G, 1A) - TDS National Player of the Week, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
F Penelope Hocking (1G) - TDS honorable mention
Week 7: GK Anna Smith (PK save, shutout) - Pac-12, TDS honorable mention
D Kaylin Martin (1G, 1A) - Pac-12 Defender of the Week
Week 3: GK Anna Smith (7SV, 2SO, 0GA) - Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week
Week 2: F Tara McKeown (4G, 1A) - United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week / Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Week 1: D Julia Bingham (drew PK) - TDS National Team of the Week
F Tara McKeown (2G, 1A) - TDS honorable mention
STAT RANKINGS -
TEAM
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. Of the 12 incoming players, the Trojans have seven players in the class ranked in the Top Drawer Soccer 150: Croix Bethune (8), Olufolasade Adamolekun (22), Jaelyn Eisenhart (25), Hannah White (46), Lilly Babalola (109), Savianna Gomez (116), Savannah Kessler (122).
SEASON INJURED LIST - All-American Savannah DeMelo (Achilles), senior Daria Petredes (ankle), Top recruit Croix Bethune (ACL), freshman Isabel Rolley (ankle), freshman Hannah White (foot).
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.
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 23 - No. 9 USC (17-4-1) vs. No. 2 North Carolina (22-1-1) - Friday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
HOW TO FOLLOW - Friday's game will be streamed live via ACC Network Extra. Links for the broadcast and live stats can be 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.
SWEET 16 WIN - USC advanced past the NCAA third round for the third time in program history with a 1-0 victory over Santa Clara. Natalie Ward scored the lone goal on a volley from 25 yards out and the Trojans shut out the high-powered Bronco attack for the first time this year. Ward's goal was the first of her collegiate career.
SECOND ROUND VICTORY - The Trojans advanced to the third round with a 2-1 win over No. 22 Texas A&M on Friday at McAlister Field. USC's dynamic duo of Penelope Hocking and Tara McKeown provided the goals, and goalkeeper Kaylie Collins came up with some big saves late. It is the fourth time in the last five years that the Trojans have made the third round of the tournament.
OPENING ROUND WIN - USC rolled through Cal State Fullerton, 5-1, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament last week, exploding for all five goals in the second half after a scoreless first 45 minutes form both teams. Sophomore forward Penelope Hocking had a record-setting day, matching the program mark and setting a USC postseason record with four goals in the game, and setting the USC record with nine total points (4 goals, 1 assist). Alea Hyatt also matches a program record with three assists in the game.
POSTSEASON HISTORY - The Trojans are making their 18th NCAA Tournament appearance overall and the team has advanced past the opening round each of the last five seasons, including this year. USC has never missed the postseason during Head Coach Keidance McAlpine's tenure (six straight seasons) and has won one of its two National Championships (2016) under his watch. The Trojans won their first title in 2007 and became the first Pac-12 side with multiple titles when they won again in 2016. USC made a run into the third round last year, falling to eventual national champs Florida State in PK's on the road. USC has made the quarterfinal round three times in its history (including this year), with the team winning the National Championship the last two times.
SERIES VS UNC - USC is 1-3 all-time against the Tar Heels. The Trojans won the last meeting between the teams, 3-0, in 2016. UNC won the first three meetings in the series. The teams have never played in the postseason.
MAC HERMANN SEMIFINALIST - Tara McKeown was named one of 15 semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy this week. She is the fifth Trojan to be named a semifinalist for college soccer's top honor, and the third Trojan in the last four years to earn the distinction. Ally Prisock was a semifinalist last year and Morgan Andrews was a finalist in 2016.
PAC-12 AWARDS - Eight Trojans were honored with the release of the Pac-12 Postseason Awards, with Tara McKeown highlighting the list with Pac-12 Forward of the Year honors. McKeown and Penelope Hocking were named to the All-Pac-12 first team, Ashleigh Plumptre and Jalen Woodward to the second team, and Julia Bingham to the third team. Olufolasade Adamolekun, Jaelyn Eisenhart and Kaylin Martin were named to the All-Freshman Team. McKeown is the first USC player to be named Forward of the Year. The Trojans have had at least five players earn all-conference honors each of the last four years, and have had at least three players on the freshman team two of the last three seasons.
DYNAMIC DUO - Tara McKeown and Penelope Hocking have been an explosive combination up top for the Trojans, scoring 32 of the team's 45 goals and accounting for 78 of the team's 133 total points. At least one of the two have scored in all but six games this year and 12 times one of the two has assisted the other for a score. The two are one of just five sets of teammates in the NCAA with at least 15 goals each so far this year, and overall they are the fourth highest scoring duo in the country.
HOCKING CONTINUES TO SHINE: Penelope Hocking continues shine on the pitch after her stellar freshman season. Her 17 goals lead the team and are good for second in the Pac-12 and 10th in the nation. The 17 goals are also the second most ever scored in a season by a Trojan, surpassing her total of 14 from last year. Isabelle Harvey holds the USC record with 20 goals in 1996. Hocking's 41 total points are also second in the Pac-12 and are 11th in the NCAA, and the third most ever in a season by a Trojan. Her game against Cal State Fullerton in the opening round was an all-time great one, with Hocking scoring four times to match the USC record and adding an assist to total nine points in the contest and set a new Trojan single-game mark. She scored the game-winner against FSU in OT and notched her third career multi-goal game with two scores against Nebraska. Her seven game-winning goals are second in the Pac-12. She is the first USC player to score at least 10 goals in each of her first two collegiate seasons after 14 goals last year in which she was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Her 31 career goals are already fourth on the USC career list. Hocking has five goals and two assists this postseason.
McKEOWN'S SPECIAL SEASON - Tara McKeown is also in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history with her 15 goals and seven assists. Her 37 total points are the third most in a season in program history, and her 15 goals are the third best season total every by a Trojan. McKeown's 1.85 points per game are good for 16th in the country this season, and her 15 goals are also 18th in the nation and third in the conference. She has picked up both National and Pac-12 Player of the Week twice this season in addition to her Pac-12 Forward of the Year and Hermann Trophy semifinalist honors. McKeown has four braces on the year, including scoring twice and assisting the game-winner in overtime against then-No. 1 Florida State. She has four game-winning goals on the season. Her 25 career goals are tied for seventh on the USC career list and her 19 career assists are good for seventh on that list as well.
PLAYER NOTES -
- Kaylie Collins: Six shutouts this year give her 23 for her career, the 4th most in program history. Returned to action on 10/18 after being out with an injury since 8/25, playing the second half against Cal. Last year's Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year has started all games since. She matched a career high with 10 saves agasinst UCLA and had seven big saves in the Trojans' second round win over Texas A&M. Her 159 career saves are good for ninth on the USC career list.
- Anna Smith: Got wins over Florida and then-No. 1 Florida State in her first two career starts filling in for Collins in goal, and then picked up Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week after shutouts against Northern Arizona and Nebraska. Stopped a PK in the final minute to seal a 2-1 win over ASU and notched her third shutout against Arizona to again win Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week.
- A pair of Trojan newcomers had firsts in the game at Baylor, with Jaelyn Eisenhart scoring the first goal of her career and Olufolasade Adamolekun notching her first two assists.
- Kaylin Martin scored her first career goal in the final minute against ASU to give the Trojans a 2-1 win, and notched her first career assist on the game-winner against Arizona to earn Pac-12 Defender of the Week.
- Julia Bingham has been a mainstay on the backline for USC since coming to Troy as a freshman in 2016, starting 83 of the 87 games she has played in. Bingham has started 41 straight games dating back to last season, and prior to missing the 2018 opener, had a streak of 39 straight starts. Her 87 games played lead all active Trojans.
- Savianna Gomez leads all Trojan newcomers with six points on the year (2 goals, 2 assists). She scored her second career goals in USC's opening round win.
- Ashleigh Plumptre switched to centerback from outside back/midfield this year and has helped USC to eight shutouts. She also leads all Trojan defenders with four points (1 goal, 2 assists) after scoring the game-winner on a free kick against Oregon State.
- Natalie Jacobs is first on the team and fifth in the conference in assists with nine this year. Including her time at Notre Dame, Jacobs has 25 career goals and 23 assists, making her the only member of the 20-20 club on the team. She also has never missed a game in her college career between USC and Notre Dame, making 73 starts in 86 career games.
- Jalen Woodward returned to action against Cal State Fullerton after missing the previous three games with injury. Woodward has appeared in 83 games for her career and started 65.
- Alea Hyatt Tied the program record for assists in a game with three against Cal State Fullerton. She has five assists on the year. Hyatt is the eighth USC player to ever record three assists in a game and the first since Savannah DeMelo in 2017.
- Grad transfer Natalie Ward scored her first career goal in a 1-0 win over Santa Clara to advance the Trojans to the quarterfinals.
TEAM NOTES -
- USC has recorded nine shutouts on the year.
- The Trojans finished non-conference play undefeated for the second straight season, marking the only two times in program history the team has made it through their non-conference schedule without a loss.
- 10 different players have scored goals for the Trojans this season and 17 different players have points this year.
- The Trojans have 43 assists on their 45 goals. Only 9 Trojan goals have been unassisted.
- USC has had at least 10 wins every year since Head Coach Keidane McAlpine arrived (6 years) and has had at least 15 wins each of the last five years.
- The Trojans have reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament four of the last five years.
PLAYER OF THE WEEKS -
Week 15: GK Kaylie Collins (shutout) - TDS Team/week
F Penelope Hocking (1 G, 1 A) - TDS Team/week
MF Natalie Jacobs (2 A) - TDS honorable mention
Week 14: F Penelope Hocking (4G, 1A) - TDS Team/week
Week 12: D Ashleigh Plumptre (1 GW goal) - TDS Team/week
Week 8: F Tara McKeown (3G, 1A) - TDS National Player of the Week, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
F Penelope Hocking (1G) - TDS honorable mention
Week 7: GK Anna Smith (PK save, shutout) - Pac-12, TDS honorable mention
D Kaylin Martin (1G, 1A) - Pac-12 Defender of the Week
Week 3: GK Anna Smith (7SV, 2SO, 0GA) - Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week
Week 2: F Tara McKeown (4G, 1A) - United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week / Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Week 1: D Julia Bingham (drew PK) - TDS National Team of the Week
F Tara McKeown (2G, 1A) - TDS honorable mention
STAT RANKINGS -
TEAM
- Total Goals (45) - 3rd Pac-12
- Goals Per Game (2.05) - 4th Pac-12
- Total Assists (43) - 23rd NCAA, 4th Pac-12
- Total Points (133) - 24th NCAA, 3rd Pac-12
- Shots Per Game (15.5) - 4th Pac-12
- Corner Kicks (131) - 4th Pac-12
- Points Per Game - Hocking (1.86) - 15th NCAA
- Points Per Game - McKeown (1.85) - 16th NCAA
- Goals Per Game - Hocking (0.77) - 15th NCAA
- Goals Per Game - McKeown (0.75) - 18th NCAA
- Total Assists - N. Jacobs (9) - 5th Pac-12
- Total Assists - McKeown (7) - T-9th Pac-12
- Total Assists - Hocking (7) - T-9th Pac-12
- Total Goals - Hocking (17) - 7th NCAA, 2nd Pac-12
- Total Goals - McKeown (15) - 18th NCAA, 3rd Pac-12
- Total Points - Hocking (41) - 7th NCAA, 2nd Pac-12
- Total Points - McKeown (37) - 19th NCAA, 3rd Pac-12
- GW Goals - Hocking (7) - 5th NCAA, 2nd Pac-12
- GW Goals - McKeown (4) - T-4th Pac-12
- Shots on Goal Per Game - McKeown (2.35) - 12th NCAA
- Shots on Goal Per Game - Hocking (2.18) - 15th NCAA
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. Of the 12 incoming players, the Trojans have seven players in the class ranked in the Top Drawer Soccer 150: Croix Bethune (8), Olufolasade Adamolekun (22), Jaelyn Eisenhart (25), Hannah White (46), Lilly Babalola (109), Savianna Gomez (116), Savannah Kessler (122).
SEASON INJURED LIST - All-American Savannah DeMelo (Achilles), senior Daria Petredes (ankle), Top recruit Croix Bethune (ACL), freshman Isabel Rolley (ankle), freshman Hannah White (foot).
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.
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).
Women's Soccer - USC 0, Washington 1: Highlights
Thursday, September 11
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Thursday, August 28
Women's Soccer - USC 4, NMST 0: Highlights (8/24/25)
Sunday, August 24
Women's Soccer - USC 3, Pepperdine 2: Highlights
Thursday, August 21
