On Saturday night, as USC football took on Washington in Los Angeles, the two schools’ soccer teams were facing off a thousand miles north in Seattle.

And while the Trojans escaped with a win in football, they were far less successful on the soccer pitch: USC (1-8-3, 0-5-1 Big Ten) suffered yet another shutout loss Saturday, falling 1-0 to No. 15 Washington (9-1-2, 4-1-1) and remaining winless in conference competition.

Through two-thirds of the season, the Trojans already have their highest loss total in over a decade, dropping eight matches for the first time since a rough 8-10-2 campaign in 2013. With six matches left, USC would need to win out and make a run in the Big Ten Tournament to avoid the first sub-.500 finish in Head Coach Jane Alukonis’ tenure.

Trojans go scoreless again

The Huskies pounced right out of the gate, with senior midfielder Jadyn Holdenried finding the net less than three minutes in to take a 1-0 lead. Though Washington didn’t score again, Holdenried’s goal proved enough, as the Trojans were held off the scoreboard for the fifth time in six conference matches and the seventh time overall this season.

After failing to take a single shot in its previous match at Penn State (5-2-4, 3-1-2), USC found plenty of opportunities against the Huskies, taking 13 shots to Washington’s nine. However, none of the Trojans’ shots were on goal, making it an easy night for star Husky junior goalkeeper Tanner Ijams.

Sophomore midfielder Jaiden Rodriguez led USC with four attempts, adding to her team-high total of 25. Despite being the Trojans’ primary shot taker this season, Rodriguez still has just one goal to show for it, scoring against No. 8 Stanford (7-2-2, 1-2-1 ACC) over a month ago.

Behind Rodriguez, junior midfielder Eleanor Morrissey and freshman forward Jordan Hill were USC’s most aggressive players, taking two shots apiece. Both scored in their season debuts against Duke (6-1-4, 1-1-3 ACC) and New Mexico State University (2-9-2, 1-2 Conference USA), respectively, but neither has found the net again since.

Scoring troubles have plagued the Trojans all year: Through six Big Ten matches, they have totaled just one goal — a second-half score against Oregon (6-4-2, 1-4-1 Big Ten) — on 54 attempts. Last year, USC had a much stronger success rate, with 13 goals on 128 attempts in conference play.

Overall, USC has nine goals this season, though four came in one matchup against New Mexico State. That count ranks second to last in the conference, ahead of only fellow cellar dweller Maryland (3-8-1, 0-6).

Biehl continues to excel despite adversity

While the Trojans have struggled this season, a bright spot has gradually emerged in freshman goalkeeper Josie Biehl, who continued to demonstrate Saturday why she was ranked as the No. 1 goalie in the Class of 2026.

After allowing the match-opening goal to Holdenried, Biehl was a brick wall for the final 87 minutes, making six consecutive saves — several in one-on-one situations — and holding the Huskies scoreless down the stretch. Saturday marked her third straight match with five or more saves and her fifth such performance overall.

Across 12 matches, Biehl has racked up an impressive 51 saves, just one behind then-graduate goalkeeper Bella Grust’s total from last season. Biehl’s average of 4.25 saves per match ranks fourth among all Big Ten goalies.

Despite performing well for much of her first collegiate season, Biehl has just one win to show for it: a 4-0 victory over New Mexico State on Aug. 27. However, she’ll have an opportunity to secure another against USC’s next opponent: Illinois (4-3-5, 1-3-2).

The Fighting Illini have suffered a near-identical offensive slump, matching the Trojans’ nine season goals and five scoreless showings in Big Ten play. Their defense, on the other hand, is much stronger, allowing just eight goals in 12 matches so far to USC’s 21.

If Illinois’ scoring woes continue, Biehl may be in line to record her second clean sheet of the year — and, if USC can manage to nab a goal or two, it may get its second win of the year as well.

The Trojans will return home to face the Illini on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Rawlinson Stadium.