Second Half Preview

Hey everyone,

So 6-11 wasn't what USC expected for the first half of its 2009-10 campaign, but championships aren't won in November. The Trojans have a challenging schedule ahead, but one that just might prepare them to hoist the Pac-8 trophy in late February.

The Basics

Here's the remaining schedule, plain and simple:

Jan. 15-17 - @BYU, @Weber St., @UNLV

Jan. 21-23 - LMU, @UCLA, UCLA

Jan 29-30 - @Washington

Feb. 5-6 - San Jose State

Feb. 11 - UCLA

Feb. 15 - @Long Beach State

Feb. 18-21 - Pac-8 Tournament (Anaheim Ice)

That's 2 big road trips, 12 games total, 5 at home, another 5 against the Pac-8, and one tournament to regain the title.

Out-of-Conference

BYU (8-14)

Common Opponents: ASU (0-2)

USC's easiest game of a grueling 3-game road swing in Utah and Nevada

Weber State (10-8)

Common Opponents: SJSU (1-0)

ACHA West Ranking: 8

If the Trojans played the schedule Weber State plays, they'd be a lot worse than 6-11...

UNLV (19-2)

Common Opponents: SJSU, LBSU, ASU (5-1)

ACHA West Ranking: 5

Gulp! USC is 2-5 against the common opponents it shares with UNLV.

LMU (9-11)

Common Opponents: Cal, Stanford, ASU, CSUF, SJSU (6-4)

The Trojans prevailed in a comeback 5-4 shootout win on the road last semester.

SJSU (11-8)

Common Opponents: LMU, LBSU (2-1)

ACHA West Ranking: 7

10 & 8. That's the number of goals SJSU beat USC by in two games earlier in the season.

LBSU (6-15)

Common Opponents: CSUF, SJSU, Stanford, LMU (2-4)

49ers have the 2-1 season series edge. The game is on a Monday.

Pac-8 Play

Washington (5-9)

Pac-8 Wins: WSU (3), Oregon, UCLA

Pac-8 Losses: ASU (2), Oregon, UCLA

This series is especially meaningful for USC. In their last meeting they were knocked out by the Huskies in the Pac-8 semifinal.

UCLA (7-7)

Pac-8 Wins: Stanford (3), USC (2), Washington, Cal

Pac-8 Losses: ASU (2), Oregon (2), Washington, Cal

Two of the Trojans' most painful losses came in tight single-goal losses to their arch-rival.

Semester Prediction

Disclaimer: This prediction is my best guess and represents how I personally expect the team will do based on last semester. It is not what they're capable of doing. Injuries, attendance, and roster changes will have a major impact on the trajectory of this second half.

The Trojans face an absolutely brutal road trip to start off the semester. They'll squeeze out a hard-fought win against BYU before dropping the next two to Weber State and UNLV.

But the long drive won't shake up USC's semester. After returning home, they will beat LMU and sweep UCLA, with all wins by at least 2 goals.

That momentum will stop short in Seattle, where the Trojans will fight hard, but split two close contests with the Huskies.

San Jose State will sweep USC at home, but not run them out of the building like they did earlier in the season. A 3-goal beating and a tight 1-goal loss for the Trojans.

Game 5 of the Crosstown Cup will be dramatic, intense, and in all likelihood, chippy. With a tie game entering the third, the Trojans will finish like a champion and put away a scrappy Bruin team in the third.

In their final tuneup against the 49ers, USC will win in a close one and set up a run for the title.

Can they break Oregon's title run on home ice? I'll leave that prediction for, well... never.

Burning Questions

3) How will the USC blueliners handle the loss of Matt Lewis and only 4 rostered defensemen?

Many possibilities have been kicked around, but a concrete answer hasn't been found yet. The best option may be recruiting more defensive players from campus.

2) Can the Trojans find a winning combination on the Cardinal and Gold lines?

Absences and scoring balance dictated a shuffling of the Adler-Helmer-Zacuto and the Comisar-Mach-Frazier combinations. Expect some tinkering in search of the pairing with the best chemistry.

1) Who will be the starting goaltender for the Pac-8 Tournament?

If the tournament started today, it would likely be Phil Adams, but his lead is not huge. Zack Keith closed the semester strong, and it could easily go either way.

That's all for now. Tune in for the start of the semester January 15th against BYU!