No. 13 USC Lacrosse Racks Up 20-11 Win Over California

LOS ANGELES – The 13th-ranked USC lacrosse team (9-2, 5-1 Pac-12) defeated California (1-13, 1-7), 20-11, at McAlister Field on Friday, April 8, to secure its third straight victory.
 
KEY PLAYERS

• Jr. attacker Ella Heaney matched her career high with five goals and secured her third hat trick of the season. It was her ninth-career hat trick and moves her into 11th place in USC history. She also won two draw controls.
• So. attacker Shelby Tilton also matched her career high with four goals and picked up her fifth hat trick of the season.
• So. attacker Claudia Shevitz scored four goals on just four shots and led the Trojans with five draw controls. It was the second hat trick of the season for Shevtiz who returned to action after missing last week's game at Michigan.
• Gr. defender Lizzy Wagner picked up three ground balls and caused two turnovers and Sr. defender Kaleigh Brennan had two ground balls with two caused turnovers.
• So. midfielder Madison Waters scored one goal and had one assist to go with two draw controls, three caused turnovers, and a ground ball. 
• For California, Nikki Zaccaro, Liz Scott, and Amanda Morse each had two goals apiece. Scott also dished out two assists for a total of four points and led all players with nine draw controls. In goal, Riley Drullinger had eight saves.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Trojans out-shot the Golden Bears in every quarter and finished with a 31-22 advantage in shots taken. USC also won the loose-ball game with a 15-11 edge in ground balls and won the center circle, 18-17.
• Morse scored the first goal of the game, but the Trojans ripped through a 5-1 run to seize control before Heaney's goal with 27 seconds left secured her hat trick and a 6-3 lead through one quarter.
• Another 3-0 USC run in the second quarter gave the Trojans a five-goal lead (9-4) and then Heaney picked up her fourth of the day with just six seconds to play to put USC on top, 10-5, at the break.
• Heaney's fifth goal of the day topped a 4-0 run into the third quarter that put USC up by eight, 13-5, but the Bears responded to score four goals through the last eight minutes of the frame and trimmed the lead to four (13-9).
• Shevtiz scored three goals in the fourth and freshman attacker Maddie Dora scored two as part of a 5-0 run to end the game. The Trojans outscored the Bears, 7-2, in the fourth quarter to win, 20-11.

UP NEXT

• USC is back in action on Sunday (April 10) as host to No. 22 Stanford (8-6, 6-2 Pac-12) for a 1 p.m. PT game at McAlister Field. The Cardinal got a 15-14 overtime win over the Trojans the first time the teams met on The Farm (March 20) but come into Sunday off an 18-11 loss to No. 25 Arizona State. 

GAME NOTES

• USC improved to 14-1 all-time against California and has won 14 straight over the Golden Bears.
• The Trojans scored 20 or more goals against the Golden Bears for the third time in the series' history.
• USC recorded its 18th game (13th time at home) with 20 or more goals in program history (18-0 all-time).
• The Trojans improved to 56-14 all-time at McAlister Field.
• The Women of Troy moved to 80-22 in games played when they are ranked.

For more information on the USC women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @USCTrojansLax.