The Marist women’s lacrosse team kicked off their two-game road trip to the golden state with a resounding defeat against No. 21 ranked USC Trojans, 21-5.
Headlined by their star senior attacker, Maddie Dora, the Trojans put up their highest score differential of the season. Coming into the contest, Dora sat eighth in the nation in total goals with 31—she now has 36 after a strong five-score outing today.
Redshirt senior Isabelle Vitale also had an electric outing, operating as the conduit of the offense with 10 total points (four goals, six assists). Vitale is also one of the nation’s best offensive players, entering the game tied for 11th in assists with 24—her performance today would have her tied for first.
Marist junior midfielder Caitlin McNaboe was the lone bright spot of a stagnant Red Fox offense, securing a hat trick in the loss.
Marist failed to establish draw control, making it harder to bandage the bleeding after every Trojan score—USC had a stunning 19 draw controls to Marist’s five. To add on to Marist’s offensive struggles, they had more than double the turnovers as they did shots, with a 22-10 disparity. Overall, USC outshot them 33-10.
Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Morris, despite her recent strong stretch of games, conceded 15 goals to three saves before getting taken out for junior goalkeeper Morgan Carroll, who allowed six goals with two saves. Overall, the two combined for a .192 save percentage.
The Trojans wasted no time opening with a bang, as freshman midfielder Kaylee Fravert netted a free-position shot just 47 seconds into the game. The scores only increased for USC after that: Vitale, Dora, and Fravert all notched two goals in the dominant first frame for the Trojans to lead 7-1. The Red Foxes salvaged one goal from their lead-woman, sophomore attacker Kate Gaven.
The second quarter provided more of the same. The Trojans were once again swarming, netting another five goals amongst four players to Marist’s one. Dora earned herself a first-half hat trick and then some, with two more scores for USC. The Trojans led 12-2 heading into the third period.
The Trojan offense did not take their foot off the gas pedal. After Marist opened up the period with a score, USC went on a 5-1 run in which Vitale earned herself a hat trick and Dora notched her fifth. For Marist, McNaboe scored their only two of the quarter. At 17-4, the benches cleared for both sides, and reserves started to trickle into the game, signaling the white flag for the Red Foxes.
After both sides’ reserves deployed in the final frame, the Trojans pushed it to 21-5 to close the first chapter of Marist’s California road trip. The Red Foxes will attempt to split the state trip this Monday against Cal. The first face-off is set for 3 p.m.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Photo from Cassidy Connors
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