The USC women’s lacrosse team enters a pivotal weekend where emotional milestones collide with postseason desperation. As USC Lacrosse hosts Ohio State for Senior Day on Saturday, April 11, the Women of Troy will attempt to secure their first Big Ten victory of the season in front of a home crowd at Rawlinson Stadium.
The stakes for the Trojans extend beyond the celebration of their graduating class. Currently holding a 7-8 overall record and sitting at 0-6 in conference play, USC finds itself in a precarious position. To keep their hopes alive for a spot in the Big Ten postseason tournament in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the team must win both of its remaining regular-season contests. The Buckeyes, who enter the match with a 7-6 record (2-4 Big Ten), provide a formidable but familiar opponent for a USC squad looking to reclaim its momentum.
The action begins at 1 p.m. PT, with the game streaming live on Big Ten Plus. Though, the festivities start earlier; pregame ceremonies honoring eight graduating seniors are scheduled for 12:45 p.m. At midfield, marking the conclusion of several distinguished collegiate careers in the heart of Los Angeles.
Honoring a Legacy of Leadership
The Senior Day tradition is one of the most successful stretches in the program’s history. USC has historically dominated these matchups, boasting an 11-1 all-time record in Senior Day games. Their solitary loss in such a contest occurred in 2021, a narrow one-goal defeat to Stanford.
This year, the university will recognize eight athletes for their contributions to the program: Hannah Barron, Lillie Bea Cope, Kate Gerrity, Hollis Mulry, Haley Newton, Maggie Ramsay, Asjia Roberson and Casey Roberts. These players have navigated the program through a significant era of transition, including the university’s move into the Big Ten conference.
Among the honorees, Casey Roberts carries a particular narrative for this weekend’s matchup. Before donning the Cardinal and Gold, Roberts spent her first two collegiate seasons with Ohio State. During her tenure with the Buckeyes, she appeared in 28 games, recording 21 goals and 14 assists for a total of 35 points, along with 19 ground balls. Facing her former teammates adds a layer of personal intensity to a game that is already critical for USC’s postseason aspirations.
The Path to Ann Arbor
The transition to the Big Ten has proven challenging for the Women of Troy. Since joining the league in 2025—a season in which they finished sixth with a 3-5 conference record—USC has struggled to find consistent footing, holding an all-time conference record of 3-11.
Coming off a difficult 11-5 loss to sixth-ranked Northwestern, where the Trojans struggled early before a second-half surge led by Kaylee Fravert, the team is searching for a spark. While the Northwestern game highlighted defensive gaps, a subsequent nonconference victory over Central Michigan (15-4) showed the offense’s true ceiling, with Reese Robinson and Emma Bunting leading a balanced attack that saw nine different players find the back of the net.
To reverse their 0-6 conference slide, USC will rely on the stability of head coach Lindsey Munday. Now in her 14th year, Munday is the only head coach in program history and a four-time conference Coach of the Year. With a career record of 168-78 (.683), her experience will be vital in managing the pressure of a “must-win” scenario.
Key Statistical Matchups
USC’s success on Saturday will likely depend on three specific areas of the game: possession, distribution, and defensive disruption.
- Possession: Junior midfielder Anna Regan remains one of the most dangerous players in the country at the draw. With 311 career draw controls—the second-most in USC history—Regan currently ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 79 draw controls this season.
- Distribution: Junior attacker Emma Bunting has emerged as the primary engine of the Trojan offense. Her 26 assists this spring rank sixth in the Big Ten, averaging 1.86 assists per game.
- Defense: Sophomore defender Sophie Gangemi leads the team in both ground balls (27) and caused turnovers (16), providing the necessary grit to disrupt Ohio State’s transition game.
A New Home and Familiar Faces
The setting for this clash is the brand new Rawlinson Stadium, which was completed in July 2025 on the footprint of the former McAlister Field. The Trojans have played a balanced set of games in the new venue, currently holding a 4-4 record. This follows a storied history of home dominance, including a 25-game winning streak that spanned McAlister Field and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum between 2015 and 2018.
Beyond the players, the coaching staff also shares a deep connection with the visiting Buckeyes. Second-year USC assistant Jill Rizzo is a legend in the Ohio State program, having served as their goalie from 2017 to 2021. Rizzo holds the program record for saves with 777. Interestingly, Rizzo’s first encounter with USC occurred as a freshman in 2017 in a neutral-site game in New Jersey, where she recorded 13 saves in a 16-7 loss.
The current USC roster is also characterized by a unique family dynamic, featuring three sets of twins: the Buntings (Emma and Lily), the Mays (Alex and Skylar), and the Hollands (Hadley and Riley). This familial chemistry, combined with a diverse roster representing 12 different states, creates a tight-knit culture that Munday has leveraged to maintain competitiveness against top-10 opponents.
| Player | Primary Stat | Big Ten Rank/Note |
|---|---|---|
| Reese Robinson | 22 Goals | Team Leader |
| Kaylee Fravert | 21 Goals | 4 Hat Tricks |
| Emma Bunting | 26 Assists | 6th in B1G |
| Anna Regan | 79 Draw Controls | 7th in B1G |
Looking Ahead
While the afternoon will be dedicated to honoring the seniors, the result of the game will dictate the final chapter of the Trojans’ season. A victory over Ohio State would keep the door open for a postseason berth, while a loss would effectively end their campaign. Following Saturday’s draw, USC will play its final regular-season game before the league’s postseason tournament begins in Ann Arbor in two weeks.
For those following the Women of Troy, official updates and roster changes can be tracked via the USC Trojans official athletics site.
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