The No. 21-ranked USC lacrosse team (1-0) defeated Hofstra (0-1) by a 15-10 count at McAlister Field on Saturday, Feb. 9. It was the Trojans' fourth consecutive season-opening victory. KEY PLAYERS Freshman midfielder Katie Ramsay scored USC's first goal of the season and earned her first-career hat trick, with three goals, to go with one assist and four draw controls. She is the 23rd different Trojan to record a hat trick. Senior defender Jackie Gilbert led all players with five draw controls and tied for team-high honors with three ground balls. Junior midfielder Kerrigan Miller had three ground balls, two caused turnovers, one assist, and a draw control. Senior attacker Emily Concialdi scored a pair of goals and had USC's only free-position goal to go with one ground ball. Sophomore goalie Riley Hertford got her first-career start and went the distance to get nine saves on the day. For Hofstra, Alyssa Parrella and Katie Whelan each had four goals apiece. Whelan also had an assist and three draw controls. Jess Smith posted 11 saves in the cage and had four ground balls to lead the Pride. HOW IT HAPPENED Eight different Trojans scored goals including six with multiple-goal games. Hofstra came out as the aggressor and won the first-half draw battle by a 7-3 count. The Pride scored first but a 3-0 Trojan run put USC in the driver's seat. Hofstra used a 3-0 run of its own before Izzy McMahon and Sophia Donovan scored back-to-back goals to give USC a 5-4 lead. The Pride scored one more with under a minute to halftime to even the score at five-all. The Trojans out-drew the Pride, 12-4, in the second half and used an 8-1 scoring burst to lead, 13-6, with just over 12 minutes left in the game. The Pride had one more 3-0 run to give but Ramsay and freshman midfielder Erin Bakes scored two goals late to seal a 15-10 win for the Women of Troy. UP NEXT The Trojans won't play again until Friday, Feb. 22, when they head to San Diego to face San Diego State. First draw is set for 1 p.m. PT at the Aztec Lacrosse Field.