In its final games of conference play, No. 9 USC has two top-25 home matchups within the next week.

“Some of our hardest games are here at the end, so I am very proud of how the team has performed in the run-up to this,” said Head Coach Jane Alukonis in an interview with the Daily Trojan yesterday.

As construction of the team’s new permanent facility continues, these upcoming matches will be played on pitches fit for the occasion. On Thursday, the Trojans (11-1-2, 7-0-1 Big Ten) will face No. 15 Ohio State (10-2-3, 5-1-2) at BMO Stadium, the home of professional teams Los Angeles Football Club of the MLS and Angel City Football Club of the NWSL.

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USC will then switch gears to face No. 16 Penn State (11-3-2, 5-2-1) Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park, home of the L.A. Galaxy of the MLS.

USC currently leads the Big Ten alongside crosstown rival and fellow former Pacific-12 member No. 10 UCLA (12-2-2, 7-0-1). Meanwhile, Ohio State is tied for fourth in the conference, with Penn State coming in sixth.

Entering the week on a four-game winning streak, the Trojans seem to have found a groove. In its last eight matches, the team is 7-0-1. USC’s last loss was the last time it faced a ranked opponent, falling 2-1 to then-No. 1 Stanford (12-2-1, 4-2-1 ACC).

“It was a game we knew we could win,” Alukonis said. “Stanford outplayed us in the beginning, but we outplayed them in the second half. We’re right there against top teams.”

On the other hand, Ohio State is looking to regather momentum by extending its win streak to two after a loss last Thursday against Minnesota (9-3-3, 3-2-2 Big Ten). The last clash between the Trojans and the Buckeyes resulted in a 1-0 loss for USC in 2009. This week’s match marks the second meeting between the two squads and the first as Big Ten opponents.

Although Penn State enters the week on a two-game win streak, the Nittany Lions will have a difficult matchup across town against the Bruins before facing USC on Sunday. The Trojans have more history with Penn State, with an all-time record of 1-1-1.

The teams last met in 2021 during the second round of the NCAA tournament, resulting in a 2-2 draw that ultimately ended in a loss for USC following a penalty shootout. In the game, senior forward Simone Jackson, then a freshman, scored the game-tying goal in the 85th minute and also assisted the Trojans’ first goal.

Jackson has not been as active on the scorecard this season, but she has contributed to USC’s offensive pressure with 21 shots, 10 of which were on target, in 13 games played so far this year.

Overall, the team averages 13.5 shots per game with a shot-on-goal percentage of 0.413. Key players for the Trojans’ attack include senior forward Maile Hayes with seven goals in 14 games and senior midfielder Helena Sampaio with five assists in 14 games.

Offensive pushes do not always result in the ball in the back of the net, so USC must make use of any goal-scoring opportunities, such as set pieces. The Trojans already have 71 corner kicks so far this season.

“We’re doing a good job, but I know we can produce even more,” Alukonis said on the Trojans’ attack. “I’m always proud of when we create things as a team rather than relying on individual efforts.”

Ohio State has the ability to match USC’s prowess in attack, averaging 15.9 shots per game and a shot-on-goal percentage of 0.439. The Buckeyes are outscoring their opponents, with an average of 2.27 goals per game to their opponents’ 0.87.

Ohio State’s leading goalscorer is senior forward Kailyn Dudukovich, who has 15 goals. Sophomore forward/midfielder Amanda Schlueter leads the team in assists with 8 this year.

Penn State has looked even more dangerous in attack, with 16.43 shots per game, 47.5% of which have been on goal.

Redshirt senior Kaitlyn MacBean leads the Nittany Lions in goals with 13, and senior midfielder Jordan Fusco leads the squad in assists with 8. Another danger is graduate midfielder Rowan Lapi, who, despite having just two shots, has scored on both efforts, adding two goals in 10 games played.

“The team is super excited, and in these games, you have nothing to lose,” Alukonis said. “Each team is a great opponent. Of course, we hope to win, but we can’t face any matches with nervousness because only good can come from them.”

USC will face Ohio State Thursday at 6 p.m. at BMO Stadium before challenging Penn State Sunday at noon at Dignity Health Sports Park.