Last season, USC soccer finished its final season in the Pac-12 with an 11-5-3 record overall and a 6-2-3 record within the conference, placing it third in the conference. The Trojans had a shaky start to the season. They dropped two of three matches, but they rebounded on a six-match win streak right after where they rose as high as No. 11 in the national rankings. To cap off the year, USC made its 10th consecutive NCAA postseason appearance but fell to Brigham Young University in the second round.
With Rawlinson Stadium under construction and a new slate of conference competition on the horizon, this year beholds big changes for the Trojans. They will play the majority of their home games at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, with two at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against Ohio State and UCLA. None of USC’s non-conference schedule will be played at home.
The absence of a traditional home field will certainly present unique challenges for the Trojans, but they still have an exciting season ahead.
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Ten new players made their first trip with the Trojans against New Mexico State University last week, including transfers midfielder Maria Alagoa, defender Molly McDougal, goalkeeper Laurence Gladu and forward Maile Hayes along with their eighth-ranked freshman recruit class.
Alagoa is the player to watch this season as she’s won two national championships, taking home the 2021 and 2023 NCAA College Cup with Florida State. During her time with FSU, she was named to the 2021 ACC All-Freshman Team and the 2021 All-Tournament Team.
Beyond the collegiate circuit, Alagoa participated in the 2023 FIFA World Cup, representing her home country, Portugal, in the tournament.
“[Alagoa] brings a creativity and passion for the game that is infectious to everyone around her,” said Head Coach Jane Alukonis in an interview with USC Athletics. “[She] will be key in helping us create and finish in the final third. She is a competitor and a winner!”
As for returners, sophomore forward Maribel Flores will return to the pitch in Cardinal and Gold. She had a breakout first year, winning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Flores scored six goals, tying her for the Trojans’ leading scorer, despite only starting in 13 of 19 games.
Like Alagoa, Flores has also had success on the international stage, boosting Mexico to victory in the 2023 CONCACAF U20 Championship.
The Trojans’ fall season began with an exhibition match against Long Beach State five days prior to their first game against New Mexico State University, which ended in a 2-2 draw. At 0-0-1, the Trojans are looking to get in the win column during their next five road non-conference games.
USC will end its non-conference slate against former Pac-12 foe No. 2 Stanford. The Cardinal are a longtime rival of the Trojans and the Sept. 8 matchup marks their first meeting since both teams departed the Pac-12 to separate conferences.
The Trojans’ first conference matchup of the season is an away game against Washington, another former Pac-12 team now in the Big Ten. Last season, USC secured a 3-0 win on the road over Washington with senior forward Izzy Kimberly, sophomore forward Florianne Jourde and senior midfielder Helena Sampaio each notching a goal. With all three still on USC’s roster, this early conference game might lend itself to repeating the past.
USC’s hardest game of the season may be their penultimate match against No. 4 Penn State. This match will be played at Dignity Health Sports Park.
With this season being USC’s inaugural season in the Big Ten, the Trojans have a chance of cementing themselves as the team to beat in their new conference.
