@MizzouSoccer set to face two west coast teams in No. 4 USC and Gonzaga

This Week: Friday, Sept. 7 // Sunday, Sept. 9
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME	VIDEO	STATS
at No. 4 USC	Los Angeles, Ca.	Friday	5 p.m.	Pac 12 Networks	Stats
vs. Gonzaga	Columbia, Mo.	Sunday	1 p.m.	SEC N+	Stats

COLUMBIA, Mo. – @MizzouSoccer is set for two contests featuring west coast teams this week, as the Tigers travel to Los Angeles to face No. 4 USC and then return home to face Gonzaga.

Mizzou is coming off of a series of OT losses, losing to then-No.16 Northwestern 1-0 on August 30, then falling to TCU 1-0 on September 2. Both games went into overtime, and both were ended abruptly with unassisted game winners.

The road doesn't get any easier this week, though, as USC is currently ranked in the top five and undefeated, and Gonzaga currently stands at 2-1-1.

TALKING POINTS

The Tigers have played four of their first five games into OT this season, the only time that has happened in their 23-year history. Mizzou played three of its first five into OT in both 2016 and in 2002.
Mizzou is 1-2-1 in OT contests this season, despite only allowing 3 goals in those games.
Mizzou allowed nearly identical game-winners in both of its OT losses to Northwestern and TCU. Both goals were unassisted, on the break, and came within the first five minutes of the first OT period.
The junior defensive duo Anna Frick (Webster Groves, Mo.) and Peyton Joseph (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) are both currently tied for third in average minutes played per game in the nation, averaging 98.4 minutes played per contest. Only three players in the country (100 mins-per-game) have averaged more this season.

LOOKING AT THE OPPONENT… USC

The Trojans are off to a hot start this season, as they are currently ranked 4^th in the NSCAA poll.
USC sits at 4-0-1 and is undefeated to start the 2018-19 campaign, beating UC Davis, Cal Poly, Pepperdine and No. 22 Florida. Their only draw came against then-No. 4 Florida State, 0-0.
The Trojans have combined a staunch defense with an explosive offense. They have only allowed one goal this season while scoring 15 themselves.
Senior Leah Pruitt leads the team with three goals and 13 shots.
Mizzou Soccer has never beaten USC, going 0-2 all-time. The most recent bout saw the Black & Gold fall at home, losing 0-2 in Columbia, Mo.

LOOKING AT THE OPPONENT… GONZAGA

Due to poor air quality in August, the Bulldogs canceled two of their home games in Spokane.
So far this season, Gonzaga has beaten Grand Canyon and Oregon State, drew with Oklahoma, and lost to Oregon.
Both of their two most recent games have seen double overtime.
Gonzaga has scored six goals this season so far, while allowing five goals.
Redshirt junior India Jencks leads the Bulldogs with two goals, seven shots and one assist.
The Tigers and Zags have never played before. This will be the first-ever matchup between the two schools.

Schedule