No. 19 USC Lacrosse Falls In Nailbiter At Stanford

Sunday, April 2

Stanford, Calif.

1:00 PM

USC

9-2, 4-0

Stanford

5-5, 3-1

USC

Stanford

Photo by: Harrison Cho

No. 19 USC Lacrosse Falls In Nailbiter At Stanford

April 02, 2023 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Highlights

The Trojans were dominated in the draw control category, as the Cardinal claimed the 25-6 advantage

STANFORD, Calif. - The 19th-ranked USC Lacrosse (9-3, 4-1 Pac-12) program could not find its way around the circle, as they were bested by Stanford (6-5, 4-1 Pac-12) 15-12 at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium Sunday, Apr. 2.

KEY PLAYERS:

Junior Maggie Brown positioned herself to be the player of the game for USC, as she produced a career-high five goals. Senior Ella Heaney helped on the offensive end, as she posted four total points with three assists and one goal.
On the defensive end, USC was led by senior Olivia Dooley as she claimed four caused turnovers and three groundballs.
Stanford was led by a big day from Annabel Frist. Frist claimed five points with four goals and one assist while grabbing two groundballs, a caused turnover, and 13 draw controls.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Stanford claimed a stifling advantage in the draw controls category with a 25-6 lead. This difference proved essential, as the Cardinal could hold possession of the ball and claim a shot advantage of 33-21.
USC fell behind in the initial portion of the game, as Stanford found the back of the net at 11:04. The Cardinal came out strong, intending to retain possession every way they could as they secured all six draw controls in the first quarter. However, USC's defense wrestled the ball away from them multiple times, as the Women of Troy scored two straight goals to overcome the initial deficit and finished out on a 3-1 run to make it 3-2.
The second quarter played like a movie, as both squads hit various ups and downs before the break. USC produced the first two of the bunch within a minute of each other, as Brown knotted a goal at 12:30 and 11:51. Stanford took control from there with five straight before USC took back two to enter the half knotted at seven all.
Coming out of the break, Stanford had all the momentum, as they posted a 4-1 run to start. USC limited the damage in the latter half of the quarter with redshirt sophomore Isabelle Vitale's goal with 12 seconds left.
Entering the fourth, USC trailed 11-9, but it quickly got on the board with a goal from senior Sloane Murphy at 11:17. However, Stanford would control the momentum with two quick goals to push it back to a three-point advantage. Brown and Shevitz struck again during the middle portion of the quarter to limit it back to a one-goal game. USC tried everything in the fleeting moments of the game, but a turnover at 3:43 and then 1:44 left the Trojans in the dust, as the Cardinal would claim one more after the turnover and another on an empty net.

UP NEXT:
The Trojans return home for the final homestead of the regular season with a matchup against California at 3 p.m. Friday (Apr. 7) and Stanford at noon Sunday (Apr. 9).

GAME NOTES:

USC has lost four straight against Stanford, with the Cardinal three of the last four by three or fewer goals.
The Trojans are 105-18 all-time against unranked opponents.
USC is 35-11 in Pac-12 games, with six of those losses coming from Stanford.
The Trojans are 15-6 in Pac-12 road games.