No. 20 USC Lacrosse Hit Gold on the Oregon Trail in 10-5 Victory

Sunday, April 16

Eugene, Ore.

12:00 PM

USC

13-3 (8-1Pac-12)

Oregon

5-8 (1-6Pac-12)

USC

Oregon

Photo by: Yannick Peterhans

No. 20 USC Lacrosse Hit Gold on the Oregon Trail in 10-5 Victory

April 16, 2023 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

The Trojans claimed at least a share of the Pac-12 Regular Season Title for the fourth time in program history after their decisive win against the Ducks

EUGENE, Ore. - The 20th-ranked USC Lacrosse squad (13-3, 8-1 Pac-12) found the gold in Oregon as it secured at least a share of the Pac-12 regular season title after a 10-5 victory over the Ducks (5-8, 1-6 Pac-12) on their home turf at Pape' Field on Sunday (Apr. 16).

KEY PLAYERS:

Four players contributed four points for the Trojans as junior Maggie Brown had four goals, redshirt sophomore Isabelle Vitale had three goals and an assist, and junior Claudia Shevitz posted two goals and two assists. Sophomore Alexis Niblock contributed her first career assist as she helped out on Vitale's goal at 1:24 in the third.
On the defensive side, USC dominated as Niblock, senior Olivia Dooley, and graduate transfer Emma Wightman all produced multiple caused turnovers. Niblock and Dooley contributed three, while Wightman posted two.
In the circle, the Trojans were led by graduate student Katie Ramsay, sophomore Catherine Lord, and Brown. Ramsay posted a team-high five, Lord picked up four, and Brown took home three.
Junior goalie Kait Devir took home the win today, as she allowed just five goals and added five saves to her resume today.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The first half was all defensively orientated, as neither team mustered any offense. USC was held scoreless for the opening quarter, the first time that has happened this season. The Trojans held Oregon to one goal in the first quarter and one in the second to give them two at halftime. Luckily, USC was able to provide some offensive support in the second, as the Women of Troy scored for the first time at 14:13 in the second, as Vitale found the back of the net on a free position shot. USC would add to that as Vitale got her second, and Brown got her first goal of the afternoon.
One of the most prominent aspects that led to the Trojans' success after the first was their ability to control the circle and get some shots off. In the first quarter, the Trojans were out-drawn 2-0 and mustered zero shots. However, from then on, USC outshot the Ducks 20-12.
In the second half, the Women of Troy outscored Oregon 7-3. Brown led USC in the second half, as she put her second-third-and-fourth goal in the net before the game ended. Junior Claudia Shevitz also added to her running total, securing two goals in the second half. Shevitz also added two assists in the game and finished her weekend with nine points.
The Trojans' defense continued to clamp the Ducks' offense this season, as Oregon has nine goals against USC. That is the second-lowest total for a single season in the all-time series between the two. The lowest season total came in 2019 when the Ducks only managed five in a two-game split.

UP NEXT:
USC has the week off before finishing the regular season with Arizona State on Apr. 28. That game will be decisive for the conference, as the Trojans can claim sole possession of the Pac-12 regular season title. The final game of the regular season will take place at 3 p.m. at the Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

GAME NOTES:

The Trojans have now taken home at least a share of the Pac-12 regular season title five different times (2016, '17, '18, '19, '22, and '23).
The Women of Troy have won eight straight versus Oregon. That mark is the second-longest current streak for USC.
USC is now 4-3 when its opponents score first.