On Sunday afternoon the USC women's soccer team will take the field at the iconic venue in Malibu, facing Pepperdine in a non‑conference showdown streamed live on ESPN+ at noon.
The Trojans hold a 10‑7‑1 record against the Waves since 1993, highlighted by a 3‑2 home victory last season and a 3‑1 win in Malibu earlier this year, with Ines Simas and Edra Bello providing assists in that triumph.
Guiding the squad is head coach Jane Alukonis, whose 48‑16‑13 career mark earned her Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 2024 and a preseason Big Ten seventh‑place projection for the 2026 campaign.
The New Home of Trojan Soccer
This season marks the second year of Rawlinson Stadium, a $38 million facility that can accommodate 2,500 fans and features state‑of‑the‑art amenities, providing a fresh backdrop for a roster that blends seasoned veterans with a top‑ranked recruiting class.
The 2026 schedule is stacked with twelve opponents who reached the NCAA Tournament last year, including powerhouses Stanford and Duke, whose opening matchup ended in a 3‑1 defeat for USC, with Eleanor Morrissey scoring the program’s first career goal in the 63rd minute and Jaiden Rodriguez and Savannah Leifried helping set up the strike.
Among the fresh talent, Charlotte Ward, daughter of Pepperdine head coach Tim Ward, returns after appearing in seven matches as a freshman, while newcomers such as Josie Biehl, Jordan Hill and Rhiannon Mahon bring elite goalkeeper and forward depth to the squad.
The incoming class, lauded as the nation’s top recruiting group by Prep Soccer, features transfers Annabel Austen and Mary Cochran alongside freshmen Josie Biehl, Jordan Hill and Rhiannon Mahon, each ranked among the nation’s best in their respective positions.
With a blend of experienced leaders and high‑profile freshmen, the Trojans aim to translate their strong non‑conference pedigree into a deep postseason run, leveraging the energy of their new stadium and the momentum of a program that earned its first No. 1 seed in school history.