LOS ANGELES – The California women's lacrosse team (4-7, 1-2 Pac-12) led most of the way in its upset bid of No. 21 USC (9-3, 3-0 Pac-12) on Easter Sunday before the Trojans scored the game's final three goals for a 9-8 victory. The game marked the first time Cal had ever played lacrosse at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, as well as the first USC game this season and ninth all-time at the historic venue. which will host the 2024 Pac-12 Championship.

Cal led early and often beginning when Kennedy Mason scored the game's first goal on a free position shot with 7:40 to go in the opening period before a pair of unassisted USC goals from Shelby Tilton (6:26) and Ella Heaney (4:41) put the Trojans ahead 2-1 after the opening 15 minutes.

But Cal came roaring back by scoring the first five goals of the second period to take its biggest lead at 6-2. Mya Wang and Josie Lillquist both started and ended the surge with Wang scoring on assists from Lillquist at both the 12:53 and 3:45 marks of the second period. In between, the Golden Bears got a goal from Isabel King on a free position attempt to go up 3-2 with 9:27 to go and back-to-back unassisted tallies from Courtney Wong (7:42, 4:59).

USC was able to cut Cal's lead to 6-3 just before intermission on Heaney's second goal of the contest on a free position attempt with 0:56 to go in the second.

The teams played nearly eight-and-a-half minutes of scoreless lacrosse to start the third before the Trojans cut their disadvantage to 6-5 when Tilton got her second with 6:37 remaining in the period and Heaney her third with 1:15 to go but King answered just 30 seconds before the end of the third to give Cal a 7-5 lead heading into the final 15 minutes. The goals by both Heaney and King came on free position attempts.

The teams traded the first two goals of the fourth with Lillquist getting her third assist of the game on Mason's second goal with 12:29 to play to answer Maddie Dora's free position goal at the 13:15 mark of the fourth.

Cal was able to maintain its two-goal lead for just over three minutes until Tilton scored a pair of goals over a nine-second period by connecting on a free position attempt with 10:06 to go then finding the back of the net again after the Trojans won the following draw control on an assist from Maggie Brown at the 9:57 mark.

The game remained tied, 8-8, until Dora netted the game-winner unassisted with 4:24 to go.

Cal had three shot attempts in the final 3:35 including one free position try but could not convert.

Only seven players scored goals in the defensive-minded game with Tilton registering a game-high four, while Heaney picked up three and Dora a pair for the Trojans. King, Mason, Wang and Wong each had two goals for the Bears.

Lillquist had all three Cal assists, while Brown had the Trojans' only assist.

Callan Fritsch played the entire and stopped nine of USC's 18 shots on goal, while the Trojans played a pair of goalkeepers. Starter Annie Shields allowed six Cal goals in the opening half, while Kait Devir gave up only two after the break. Both had four saves.

Cal will next play at Arizona State (5-6, 1-2 Pac-12) at the Sun Devil Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium on Saturday. First draw is scheduled for Noon MST/PDT. The contest will be televised live on Pac-12 Arizona.
 
NOTES

• USC's victory was its 17th straight against Cal with the lone Golden Bears' win coming in the first meeting ever between the teams on April 12, 2013, in Los Angeles.
• USC was the second consecutive ranked team Cal has played after not playing any in its' first nine contests.
• Cal allowed 10 goals or fewer for the ninth time in its first 11 contests.
• Cal won the draw control battle for the 10th time in 11 games this season with a 13-8 advantage.
• Isabel King (2 free position goals, 3 free position shots) recorded single-game career highs.
• King (2 goals, 1 caused turnover), Josie Lillquist (3 assists), Kennedy Mason (1 free position goal), Alyssa Studdert (1 ground ball), Mya Wang (7 shots) and Courtney Wong (2 goals, 2 points) tied single-game career highs
• Addie Fischer (1 free position shot, 1 ground ball, 1 caused turnover) tied single-game Cal career highs.

QUOTES

• "I'm so proud of our team for the way we played and for fixing the mistakes that have been causing us problems. We nearly played a complete game but give credit to USC for coming back. While the loss is heartbreaking, our team will use this as a springboard for the rest of the Pac-12 season. We have some big games in the next few weeks and will continue improving."

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