USC Lacrosse Set to Host Ranked Foes Denver and Brown Under the Lights at Rawlinson Stadium
LOS ANGELES - USC lacrosse is just getting warmed up, and things are already heating up at Rawlinson Stadium. After opening the season with a win over Cal, the Women of Troy (1-0) are gearing up for a pivotal week, hosting a pair of ranked opponents in No.
22 Denver and No. 24 Brown.
It’s not just about early-season momentum - it’s a chance to make a statement on their home turf, under the lights, in front of their fans.
Thursday Night Lights: USC vs. No. 22 Denver
The Trojans will take the field Thursday night at 6 p.m. PT for their first-ever night game at Rawlinson Stadium, a brand-new venue built on the site of the old McAlister Field.
The opponent? A familiar and formidable one.
Denver comes in ranked No. 22 in the country and holds a 5-4 edge in the all-time series against USC. The last time these two clashed, the Pioneers walked away with a 10-7 win in Denver in May 2023.
USC has dropped the last two in the series, so there’s no shortage of motivation here.
This will be the Pioneers’ season opener, while USC already has a game under its belt - and a strong one at that. In Sunday’s win over Cal, the Trojans showed off their offensive firepower and depth, with two players - Vivian Leuthold and Reese Robinson - notching their first career hat tricks.
Leuthold led the way with four goals, while Robinson added three. Kaylee Fravert, no stranger to the spotlight, picked up her fifth career hat trick.
And don’t overlook Emma Bunting, who dished out five assists and tallied six total points - tying the third-most assists in a single game in program history.
Sunday Matinee: USC vs. No. 24 Brown
After Thursday’s showdown, USC will be back at it on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT, hosting Brown for just the second time in program history.
The only previous meeting came way back in 2013, and it was a heartbreaker for the Trojans - a 9-8 overtime loss in Providence. This time, the Bears come to LA, and they’ll be facing a USC team that’s grown tremendously in the years since that first meeting.
Brown enters the weekend ranked No. 24 and, like Denver, will be opening its season. For USC, this game is about more than just revenge - it’s a chance to prove they can hang with ranked opponents back-to-back and defend their home turf with authority.
The Munday Era Continues
Leading the charge for USC is head coach Lindsey Munday, now in her 14th season at the helm. Munday has been the face of the program since day one, and her track record speaks for itself: 162 wins, four Coach of the Year honors, and a legacy of building USC into a respected name in women’s lacrosse. She’s guided the Trojans through conference realignment, postseason pushes, and now, into a new era with a state-of-the-art home stadium.
Rawlinson Stadium, which opened in 2025 and also hosts the USC women’s soccer team, gives the program a true home-field advantage - and this week’s games will be the first real test of that atmosphere.
Looking Ahead
USC was picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten preseason coaches poll - the same spot they landed in the 2025 final standings. But with a strong returning core, a promising freshman class, and a new home to defend, there’s reason to believe this team could outperform expectations.
The next step? Taking care of business against two top-25 opponents. If the Trojans can build on their season-opening win and come out of the weekend with a pair of victories, they won’t be flying under the radar for long.
Both games will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus. Thursday’s broadcast will feature Andrew Giesler and Makena Arteaga on the call, while Sunday’s matchup will be covered by Avi Singh and Lily Coleman.
Two ranked opponents. One new stadium.
A team ready to rise. It’s a big week for USC lacrosse - and it starts under the lights.