The score was tied with less than a minute on the clock when USC sophomore Shelby Tilton crashed Jacksonville’s party.

Tilton sprinted toward the eight-meter arc and sidestepped her defender, shooting and scoring to give the Trojans a 13-12 lead with 48 seconds to go.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking,” Tilton said. “It was one of those moments where you realize, ‘OK, it’s a pretty close game,’ but that’s when you have to tell yourself that you do this in practice over and over, and you have to trust all the preparation you’ve done.”

Tilton’s goal propelled the Women of Troy over the No. 19 Dolphins, giving the team its first victory over a ranked opponent in 2022. The win also kicked off a successful weekend for USC, which also beat Mercer on Sunday.

A stellar offense was the story. Eight players scored across the two wins, and USC notched 28 total goals on the weekend. Tilton and sophomore attacker Claudia Shevitz led the way with six goals each. Shevitz had five against Mercer alone.

“What’s great, especially offensively, is any game can be anyone’s game on our team,” coach Lindsey Munday said. “You’ve seen that with the first three games [we’ve played] that we have a lot of depth on the offense. Each game, there’s going to be a different kind of breakout star.”

This depth was clear when USC came roaring back from a four-goal deficit at the beginning of the third quarter in Jacksonville. The Women of Troy quickly took control in the third quarter, launching a 6-0 run that spanned nearly seven minutes. Tilton said the team’s deficit mainly stemmed from offensive issues, so the unit came together at halftime and focused on maintaining momentum.

“Instead of being angry or getting down on ourselves, we just brought the energy back up and we used every little thing to bring up the energy, whether it was [gaining] possession or a ground ball,” Tilton said.

Beyond USC’s offensive eruption, the defense held strong, too. Goalkeeper Kait Devir, a sophomore transfer from Boston College, has quickly emerged as a defensive cornerstone for the team. She’s joined by a veteran unit featuring senior Kaleigh Brennan, who recorded five ground balls and four caused turnovers last weekend, and junior Danielle Carson, who notched three ground balls and two caused turnovers against Mercer.

Tilton said she’s been especially impressed by how the her team has responded to adversity this season. Things were difficult “emotionally and physically” because of the pandemic’s heavy influence on last season, she said. This year, however, the team has not only become closer, but also has done a better job of responding to challenges like a deficit against Jacksonville.

“I think this group is really special,” Munday said. “The leadership has been phenomenal. It’s been one of the closest teams I’ve ever coached, and everyone is just really excited to be out there and work together. The belief we have is amazing, and we’re just excited for the opportunity to go out there and compete every day.”

Munday said she’s happy with the team’s 3-0 start, but the team’s continued success will be a “matter of continuing to grind and improve and get better every day.”

Tilton agreed, saying that building momentum and working harder each practice are the keys.

“I think we have a really exciting season ahead of us,” Tilton said. “I’m really excited to prove that USC lacrosse is back.”