Your Fightin' Texas Aggies defeated TCU last weekend to advance to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. They head to Los Angeles with hopes of a two game weekend.
First up on Friday afternoon, the Aggies face host and #2 seed USC. This game is set to kick at 3:30PM Central (1:30 Pacific). The early kick is attributed to the fact that the Trojans' field is not equipped with lights. But what can you expect from such a humdrum athletic department. However, the game will be televised live on the Pac-12 network.
USC comes into this match with a #7 national ranking fresh off of a 3-1 win over Eastern Washington in the 1st round. The Aggies and Lady Trojans have faced each other once before, in College Station in 2009. Coincidentally, the Aggies were ranked #7 in that match. A&M defeated #8 USC in that match by a final score of 3-0. The return trip to USC only took 7 years.
USC is currently 15-4-1 on the season and are 8-1 at home. The two schools share several common opponents. USC defeated Georgia 3-0 and Auburn 2-0 while A&M won more narrowly with 1-0 and 2-1 finals against the two SEC opponents. A&M and USC also share UCLA as a common opponent and share the same result against that opponent - a 0-1 loss.
USC has outmuscled opposition this season totaling a goal differential of 43 - 10. Scoring has been led by the duo of junior forward Alex Anthony (#21) and senior midfielder Morgan Andrews (#3) who each have 9 goals on the season. Anthony also has 5 assists and a team high 77 shots. Andrews goal total is propped up by converting on 3 of 5 PKs on the season. She also has 3 assists and was named to the All-Pac 12 team this season.
USC's defense has been even more impressive statistically. The Trojans rank 9th in the country in scoring defense (and only 12th in scoring offense - yawn). The Trojans' .49 goal against average come thanks in part to two Pac-12 players of the year.
Senior Mandy Freeman (#12) was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year this season for her efforts as defender and midfielder. She leads all field players in minutes played as she was on the field for 1813 of 1826 minutes this season. Freeman has not recorded a single shot in the 30 hours she's played this season but has contributed 2 assists on the year.
The Trojans also have the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year as the final line of defense for this stingy side. Senior Sammy Jo Prudhome (#1) earned player of the year honors while compiling a .892 save percentage, which is #5 in the nation this season. Prudhomme has allowed 10 goals while totaling 81 saves on the year. Her 11 shutouts this season breaks the school record previously held by Kristin Olsen, who was in goal for the last match with the Aggies in 2009. (Note: The team has totaled 12 shutouts this season, but because the backup keeper came in for 2 minutes, Prudhomme does not get full credit).
Saying that USC is a tough matchup for the Aggies would be putting it lightly. USC carried their ridiculous 43 - 10 goal differential through a tough schedule. All four of the Trojans' losses were by just 1 goal and OH, their wins... #1 Stanford has one loss on the season and came as a 0-3 trouncing from USC. USC also handed UNC a 0-3 loss, their only multi-goal loss of the season (and one of three total losses on the year). USC has demolished some of the best teams in the nation and has a great chance at reaching the College Cup. And that is unfortunate for Texas A&M.
But the good news is that the Aggies have played their best games against the best teams they've faced this season. So the Aggies always have a chance.
First up on Friday afternoon, the Aggies face host and #2 seed USC. This game is set to kick at 3:30PM Central (1:30 Pacific). The early kick is attributed to the fact that the Trojans' field is not equipped with lights. But what can you expect from such a humdrum athletic department. However, the game will be televised live on the Pac-12 network.
USC comes into this match with a #7 national ranking fresh off of a 3-1 win over Eastern Washington in the 1st round. The Aggies and Lady Trojans have faced each other once before, in College Station in 2009. Coincidentally, the Aggies were ranked #7 in that match. A&M defeated #8 USC in that match by a final score of 3-0. The return trip to USC only took 7 years.
USC is currently 15-4-1 on the season and are 8-1 at home. The two schools share several common opponents. USC defeated Georgia 3-0 and Auburn 2-0 while A&M won more narrowly with 1-0 and 2-1 finals against the two SEC opponents. A&M and USC also share UCLA as a common opponent and share the same result against that opponent - a 0-1 loss.
USC has outmuscled opposition this season totaling a goal differential of 43 - 10. Scoring has been led by the duo of junior forward Alex Anthony (#21) and senior midfielder Morgan Andrews (#3) who each have 9 goals on the season. Anthony also has 5 assists and a team high 77 shots. Andrews goal total is propped up by converting on 3 of 5 PKs on the season. She also has 3 assists and was named to the All-Pac 12 team this season.
USC's defense has been even more impressive statistically. The Trojans rank 9th in the country in scoring defense (and only 12th in scoring offense - yawn). The Trojans' .49 goal against average come thanks in part to two Pac-12 players of the year.
Senior Mandy Freeman (#12) was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year this season for her efforts as defender and midfielder. She leads all field players in minutes played as she was on the field for 1813 of 1826 minutes this season. Freeman has not recorded a single shot in the 30 hours she's played this season but has contributed 2 assists on the year.
The Trojans also have the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year as the final line of defense for this stingy side. Senior Sammy Jo Prudhome (#1) earned player of the year honors while compiling a .892 save percentage, which is #5 in the nation this season. Prudhomme has allowed 10 goals while totaling 81 saves on the year. Her 11 shutouts this season breaks the school record previously held by Kristin Olsen, who was in goal for the last match with the Aggies in 2009. (Note: The team has totaled 12 shutouts this season, but because the backup keeper came in for 2 minutes, Prudhomme does not get full credit).
Saying that USC is a tough matchup for the Aggies would be putting it lightly. USC carried their ridiculous 43 - 10 goal differential through a tough schedule. All four of the Trojans' losses were by just 1 goal and OH, their wins... #1 Stanford has one loss on the season and came as a 0-3 trouncing from USC. USC also handed UNC a 0-3 loss, their only multi-goal loss of the season (and one of three total losses on the year). USC has demolished some of the best teams in the nation and has a great chance at reaching the College Cup. And that is unfortunate for Texas A&M.
But the good news is that the Aggies have played their best games against the best teams they've faced this season. So the Aggies always have a chance.