Hokie ClubThe Virginia Tech lacrosse team has traveled out west to California for a two-game road trip over the University's spring break. The Hokies will head to Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon to take on the 19th-ranked Southern Cal Trojans before heading down to Fresno for a matchup against the Bulldogs on Tuesday, March 12.
The 4-3 Hokies, last stepped onto the field on Sunday facing NRV foe Radford in a game that ended in a 23-8 victory for Tech. Plenty of Hokies made it on the scoresheet, led by eight points from Paige Petty. Petty and Emma Crooks led the team in goals with five, while Sara Goodwin and Reilly Reed each scored three. Attackers Julia Bolte, Sarah Lubnow and Taylor Caskey all had two goals in the contest.
On the defensive end, goaltender Morgan Berman made two saves and scooped up three ground balls for the Hokies. Tech never allowed consecutive goals to Radford for the entirety of the game. The Hokies held their opponent under 10 goals for the fourth time this season.
The Trojans
USC is ranked 19th in the country with a record of 5-1. Their only loss came at the hands of No. 1 Boston College, losing 12-9 in Boston. USC opened PAC-12 play Friday afternoon routing Arizona State 15-3 on the road behind three different players who scored three points and a goalkeeping tandem who combined for 10 saves.
The Trojans are led by senior Emily Concialdi, who has scored 13 goals and 16 points this season. Both marks are best on the team. Izzy McMahon and Kelsey Huff each have 15 and 14 points respectively in 2019, and Sophia Donovan has 13.
In goal, sophomore Riley Hertford has made 48 saves and started all six games for the Trojans.
The series
This will be the second-ever meeting between the Hokies and Trojans. The first came last season at the Beamer-Lawson Practice Facility, with USC coming away with an 11-5 victory. Paige Petty scored two goals and Mary-Claire Byrne scored one in last year's game. Byrne led the team in ground balls in the game with four.
Looking ahead
The Hokies will stay in California for the second of their two-game road trip, visiting Fresno St. on March 12. That game is scheduled for 5 p.m. eastern. Tech will then return home to take on No. 13 Denver on St. Patrick's Day.