USC started its preseason campaign on a heartwarming note with a visit from Keio University.
We love sports partly because of their ability to bridge cultural divides. Many of the sports that Americans love most have been catapulted into the international sphere in recent years; just look at baseball’s influence in Japan and Korea or the NFL’s huge promotional events across the globe.
Now, USC women’s lacrosse is doing its part to connect with the international sporting community and grow the game. On Sunday, the Trojans hosted Keio University of Minato, Japan — a suburb of Tokyo — at Allyson Felix Field to kick off their preseason campaign. Despite having traveled from over 5,000 miles away, the Japanese team brought incredible spirit to the pitch with no sign of jet lag at the early 10 a.m. start.
However, as soon as the game began, the outcome was clear. The Trojans thoroughly routed their Japanese opponents with a margin of 23-2. Redshirt senior attacker Isabelle Vitale masterfully orchestrated the Trojan offense, distributing the ball beautifully and scoring several goals herself.
Junior attacker Maggie Ramsay dominated alongside Vitale, seemingly winning every draw she took, giving USC possession of the ball for most of the game. Sophomore goalkeeper Annie Shields was a wall, frustrating the Keio attackers and only letting in two goals.
The best part of the day, though, came after the game concluded, with the handshake line and gift exchange. USC and Keio players mingled on the pitch for at least 15 minutes after the conclusion of the game to embrace each other, trade gifts and share laughs.
This moment was the real magic of Sunday, bringing joy to everyone involved. This spring, as we inevitably find ourselves in the heat of women’s lacrosse season, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on this game and remember that sports are about much more than just wins and losses.
