LOS ANGELES – The 24th-ranked USC lacrosse team (3-0) used a big second-half burst to complete a 15-10 win over Jacksonville (1-2) at McAlister Field on Sunday, Feb. 24. The victory is USC's third to open the season and marks only the second time that the Trojans have gone 3-0 to start a season (2016). KEY PLAYERS Senior attacker Emily Concialdi recorded her second consecutive hat trick and finished the day with four points (3g, 1a). Two of her goals came from free position. Junior midfielder Kerrigan Miller tied her career high with five goals for her 13th-career hat trick game and was a key defender for the Women of Troy. Miller picked up two ground balls and tallied three draw controls. Senior defender Jackie Gilbert led with eight of USC's 17 draw controls and had one caused turnover. In goal, sophomore Riley Hertford earned her third straight win and set new career marks with 11 saves and five ground balls. Six other Trojans scored including sophomore attacker Sophia Donovan, who had two goals. Junior attackers Hope Anhut and Izzy McMahon; junior midfielder Kaeli Huff, sophomore midfielder Kelsey Huff, and freshman midfielder Erin Bakes each added on one goal apiece. Both Huffs and Donovan each racked up three ground balls apiece. For Jacksonville, McKenna Rushford and Lauren Phillips each scored hat tricks on three goals each. Rushford led the Dolphins with five draw controls and also had an assist. Erin McGuire led all players with four assists. In goal, Dayne Martinetto took the loss, but came up with 10 saves on the day. HOW IT HAPPENED The Trojans out-shot the Dolphins, 33-31; won the ground ball battle, 24-17; and claimed the center circle by a 17-10 count in draw controls, but Jacksonville put up a fight before bowing out in the end. USC scored the first two goals of the game; one each from Donovan and Anhut, but a 4-1 burst by the Dolphins had the Women of Troy behind by a goal, 4-3, before Miller's goal pulled USC even and two by Concialdi completed a 3-0 USC run. Jacksonville scored the final goal of the first half and the first goal of the second half to equalize at six-all, but the Trojans let loose for their 8-1 run starting with three straight goals from Kaeli Huff, Anhut, and Kelsey Huff. Jacksonville scored one to stem the tide, but the Trojans held the Dolphins scoreless for 14:26 during a 5-0 run that put USC in front, 14-7. With under 10 minutes to play, Jacksonville got two goals from Rushford and one more from Phillips at the 6:44 mark to trim USC's lead to just four at 14-10, but Miller slammed the door shut with her goal at 3:30 for the 15-10 final. UP NEXT The Trojans head to the East Coast for major road tests in Boston. First, USC takes on No. 1 Boston College (4-0) on Friday (March 1) on the Newton Campus Field at 3 p.m. ET (noon PT). Then, it faces Boston University (2-1) on Nickerson Field at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) on Sunday (March 3). The Women of Troy are 12-12 in 24 all-time games on the East Coast (EST). GAME NOTES USC improved to 2-0 all-time against Jacksonville. The teams last met in the 2017 NCAA first round in Gainesville, Fla. The Trojans went to 3-0 on the season for only the second time in program history. USC started 2016 with 20 straight wins. The Women of Troy improved to 41-12 all-time in home games and to 37-10 at McAlister Field.