No. 4 USC women’s soccer earned its first-ever Big Ten conference title on Sunday, concluding the Big Ten regular season and marking the program’s first outright conference championship. 

But the journey is not over, as the Trojans (10-0-1, 14-1-2 Big Ten) are headed to the Big Ten tournament — a two-week, single-elimination tournament to decide the best team in the conference that begins Thursday, with the first round held at Minnesota. 

As a newcomer to the Big Ten, USC has stormed through the season with an impressive unbeaten conference record and secured the regular season title with just one draw. Now, the Trojans enter the postseason tournament as the No. 1 seed, aiming to continue their invincible run. 

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USC also heads into the Big Ten Tournament with impressive rankings across the board. The Trojans hold the No. 5 spot in the latest RPI, making them one of only three Big Ten teams in the top 10 alongside No. 9 Penn State (11-5-3, 5-4-2 ) and No. 10 Iowa (13-2-3, 8-2-1). 

USC also climbed to No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll their highest position this season after starting at No. 23. In the D1 committee’s Top 16 postseason projections, USC is ranked No. 11, with a recent 3-0 run against ranked teams, solidifying its momentum as they seek a national title.

“For the Big Ten, we hope to have all three games,” said Head Coach Jane Alukonis in an interview with the Daily Trojan.

The Big Ten soccer tournament consists of 10 teams. Seeds 7 through 10 will play first to determine who will face the top two seeds in Sunday’s quarterfinals. As the No. 1 seed, USC has a bye for the first round and will play its first match Sunday at 10 a.m. in Minnesota against the winner of Ohio State (11-4-3, 6-3-2)  and Wisconsin (9-4-4, 5-3-3)

The Trojans faced both of these teams less than a month ago. Earlier this season, USC secured victories against both potential opponents. On Sept. 29, USC triumphed over Wisconsin with a strong second-half showing, securing a 3-0 home victory, and on Oct. 17, the Trojans defeated Ohio State 1-0, with senior forward Simone Jackson scoring the penalty goal in the 83rd minute.

If USC qualifies for Sunday’s game, it will face either Michigan State (12-1-5, 7-1-3) or Rutgers (10-3-4, 6-2-3). The semi-finals and championship final will be held at CITY PARK in St. Louis.

“We always want players to play with calm and confidence and focus on obtaining certain things rather than worrying about the pressure,” Alukonis said. “We know that we’re sitting in a nice spot right now; with therefore for the opponents, some of them are probably fighting to increase their ranking for the tournament.” 

Normally, after the regular NCAA season, teams wouldn’t have additional games unless they qualify for the national tournament. 

“There’s going to be more games, there’s going to be more travel, there’s going to be more missed classes, there’s just going to be a lot more, overall,” Alukonis said. “Our team’s done a really, really good job of looking out for their bodies, making sure that, despite all the variables, they’re getting enough sleep and avoiding anything that could jeopardize their performance, health and wellness.”

Although the Trojans may have a packed schedule ahead full of demanding opponents, Alukonis said she views it as an exciting opportunity.

“It was a little daunting to look at it at the outset of so many games, but it’s also really exciting, and our players love playing in competition and championship,” Alukonis said.

Adding to the novelty of all these tournaments, USC has a unique chance to win three different titles in one season. The Trojans have already notched the Big Ten title, so they’ve acquired a ticket to the NCAA Tournament, which means they will be competing for two additional titles in the Big Ten Tournament and the College Cup. 

As USC prepares for the weekend, Alukonis aims to keep the team consistent with their performance in key areas, including possession, expected goals and wide box entries. 

“[We need to] be diverse in our attack,” Alukonis said. “The main thing is just keeping the ball, controlling the game as a team. So when we do that, well, usually the score takes care of itself.”

Furthermore, Alukonis has been preparing the team physically and mentally for the challenges of playing in unfamiliar territory. “We know we’re going to be in different weather, a different setting, and on a field we haven’t played on before,” Alukonis noted. “So we’ll go out there, get in a training session, and make sure we’re comfortable.”

Despite the single-elimination format, the focus remains on maintaining a clear, disciplined mindset. “It’s about going in with a clear head, staying focused on the game, working extremely hard, and not worrying about it being a single knockout or anything like that,” Alukonis added.

This season, USC has already made history with its first Big Ten title and impressive rankings, but it seems just like the beginning as the Trojans have their sights set on adding more rings to their fingers and trophies to the cabinet. As the No. 1 seed entering the Big Ten Tournament, USC stands poised to continue its groundbreaking season with a shot at both a conference and national title.