USC Women's Soccer Earns Dominant 3-0 Win at Northwestern

Saturday, October 17

Evanston, Ill.

11:00 a.m. PT

USC

2-8-5, 1-5-3

Northwestern

5-8-3, 3-5-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Southern California	2	1	3
Northwestern	0	0	0

Highlights

USC Women's Soccer Earns Dominant 3-0 Win at Northwestern

October 17, 2026 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Highlights Final Book (PDF)

Evanston, Ill. — After two first-half goals, the USC women's soccer team never looked back, earning a dominant 3-0 win on the road at Northwestern on Saturday afternoon.

The Trojans improve to 2-8-5 overall and 1-5-3 in Big Ten play with the victory, while the Wildcats fall to 5-8-3 overall and 3-5-1 in conference play. USC outshot the Wildcats 15-3, including a 10-2 advantage with shots on target.

For a second consecutive game, the Trojans found themselves on the scoreboard in the opening minute. This time, forward Peyton Nakagawara found herself on the end of an Eleanor Morrisey cross before putting away her second goal of the season with a one-time effort. Nakagawara's goal came after 54 seconds of play. Morrissey and Savannah Leifried were credited with the assists.

Nearly 20 minutes later, the Trojans doubled the lead. Jaiden Rodriguez fired in a 25-yard effort into the bottom left corner. The sophomore's wonder strike came in the 19th minute of play, tallying her second goal of the season. USC midfielder Taylor Jenkins recorded the assist on Rodriguez's goal.

The Trojans' Alyssa Parsons sealed the victory in the 84th minute after Morrissey squared the ball to the freshman midfielder for her first-career collegiate goal. Morrissey recorded a team-leading fourth assist on the goal-scoring sequence. Nakagawara was credited with an assist on the play as well.

USC goalkeeper Josie Biehl had a quiet afternoon except for a big second-half save – one of two saves on the afternoon – to keep her clean sheet intact. It was Biehl's second-career clean sheet, her first since the Trojans' 4-0 win against New Mexico State on Aug. 27.

Northwestern played 62 minutes down a player after midfielder Megan Norkett was sent off in the 38th minute for violent conduct.

GOALS

1' – USC Peyton Nakagawara (assisted by Eleanor Morrissey, Savannah Leifried)

19' – USC Jaiden Rodriguez (assisted by Taylor Jenkins)

84' – USC Alyssa Parsons (assisted by Eleanor Morrissey, Peyton Nakagawara)

UP NEXT

The Trojans stay on the road next week, heading to Nebraska on Thursday and Iowa on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast live on B1G+.