FRESNO, Calif. — The No 7-ranked USC women’s lacrosse team (10-0, 4-0 MPSF) pushed its school-record winning streak to 10 games following a 17-3 win over Fresno State (3-8, 0-5) at the Lacrosse Field on Thursday, March 31. The Women of Troy earned their seventh double-digit win of the year and held an opponent under 10 goals for the ninth time in 10 games. The Trojans are outscoring MPSF foes by a gaping 69-12 margin in four games.

Photo Courtesy | James Kerr

12 different Trojans scored against the Bulldogs led by a hat trick from junior attacker Cynthia Del Core. Del Core took just three shots to net her three goals including one from the eight-meter arc. Junior attacker Michaela Michael led all players with four points (2g, 2a) and added two draw controls and a ground ball. Michael scored twice from free position.

Junior attackers Gabby McMahon and Kylie Drexel each also scored two goals. Senior midfielder Amanda Johansenand senior attacker Caroline deLyra each scored a goal and dished out an assist. Off the bench, juniors Drew Jackson and Shannon Nugent, sophomore Alexis Kardias, and freshmen Emily Concialdi, Gabbi Klein, and Allie Gershman each scored solo goals.

In goal, sophomore Gussie Johns had four saves and didn’t allow a goal in the first half. Seniors Cassandra Collins and Liz Shaeffer split time in the cage in the second half. Collins allowed one goal and had three saves. On defense, 10 different Trojans caused turnovers as USC forced the Bulldogs into 28 turnovers. Senior midfielder Kelsey Dreyer picked up a pair of ground balls and had a caused turnover to go with a draw control on her birthday.

For the Bulldogs, Anjelica Fuccillo, Lindsey Hobson, and Caroline Dineen-Carlson each scored goals in the second half. Ryleigh Bone had the lone Fresno State assist. For just the third time this season, an opponent out-drew the Trojans in the center circle. Kyleigh Westgarth led all players with four draw controls while Sarah Bloise had three. In goal, Meganne Weissenfels took the loss with 11 goals against in the first half.

The Trojans were methodical in the first half and scored at regular intervals to put up a 13-0 lead heading into halftime. Del Core had her hat trick and Michael and Drexel each scored their pair of goals in the first frame. It took 36 minutes before the Bulldogs scratched the scoreboard. Fuccillo’s goal at 23:36 in the second half put Fresno State on the board, but USC scored four more over the next 15 minutes to lead, 17-1, with just over five minutes to play. The Bulldogs scored the final two goals of the game to close the gap before the clock ran out on a 17-3 final.

USC returns home to host San Diego State (4-6, 3-1 MPSF) on Saturday, April 2, at McAlister Field. USC has won 13 straight games at home and is 21-8 all-time on McAlister. The Trojans also hold a 3-0 all-time record over the Aztecs. The game will be streamed live on the USC Pac-12 Networks portal at Pac-12.com/live/usc.

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

GAME NOTES

• USC improves to 10-0 for the first time in program history, continuing the program’s best start to a season.
• The 10-game winning streak is the longest in program history.
• The Trojans improved to 4-0 in their all-time series with Fresno State.
• The Women of Troy moved to 4-0 in MPSF games for the third time in the last three seasons.
• USC defeated an opponent by a double-digit margin for the seventh time this season and held an opponent under 10 goals for the ninth time in 10 games.
• Through 10 games, USC is out-scoring its opponents, 163-44, for an average margin of victory of 11.90 goals.
• In MPSF games, USC has outscored opponents, 69-12, for an average margin of victory of 14.25 goals.
• Senior goaltender Cassandra Collins matched her career high with three saves.
• Sophomore attacker Alexis Kardias took a career-high four shots.
• Junior attacker Gabby McMahon had a career-best with two draw controls.