Rivalry games always matter.

Regardless of relative team skill or ability, regardless of team records, games against your rival mean something. That’s why it is a rivalry.

So it is this weekend, as the No. 2 UCLA women’s soccer team (14-1-3, 7-1-2 Pac-12) hosts USC (7-12, 4-6) tonight in Drake Stadium.

With USC in a down year and out of the running for postseason play, on paper this game doesn’t mean much for a UCLA squad sitting second in the Pac-12.

Soccer isn’t played on paper, though, and USC isn’t just another team.

“They beat us last year, and we were not too happy about that. … We’re coming for vengeance, a little bit of revenge, and we’re going to put everything we have into this game,” senior forward Sydney Leroux said.

“It’s going to be dirty, and it’s going to be physical.”

As has been stressed all season long, this Bruin team has a tremendous number of freshmen filling its ranks, none of whom will have played USC before.

Accordingly, the young women are taking their cues from the experienced senior leadership of the team.

“I know the rivalry. Everyone knows about it – even at home, people know about it,” said midfielder Samantha Mewis, who hails from far-off Massachusetts.

As a freshman, this will be her first time facing UCLA’s traditional rival.

“I don’t know much about their team, but I do know a lot of people are coming and that it’s going to be a really intense game,” she said.

All that said, a game, even against the hated Trojans, is still just one game. Bragging rights aside, it will add only one result to each team’s record.

“The rivalry makes it bigger,” Mewis said. “But for us, we just still have to get the same things done and show what we can do.

“The game is still really important for post-season rankings, so we’re just going to treat it like every other game: prepare well and come ready to play.”

Tonight’s match will be the final game of the regular season for the Bruins, after which comes the NCAA Tournament.

Still, as has been true all season, the Bruins aren’t looking past their next game.

“We haven’t been talking about the NCAA Tournament,” coach B.J. Snow said. “Certainly, after (today), we can get some rest … and start preparing for the NCAA Tournament. But until then, (USC) is the only thing we’re focusing on.”

This will also possibly be the final home game for five UCLA seniors: Leroux, defenders Summer Williams and Amelia Mathis, midfielder Charney Burk and goalie Chante’ Sandiford.

The freshmen of the team have been effusive in their praise of the seniors, and the seniors have clearly lent a strong guiding hand in leading what is an astoundingly young team.

“It’s senior day, so it’s even more exciting for me and the rest of the seniors,” Leroux said. “Just a chance for us to play USC on senior day, in the last game of the season. We’re just very excited.”