Game Week Preview
No. 24 USC (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) at San Diego State (2-0, 0-0 MPSF)
Friday, Feb. 22 | 1 p.m. PT | Aztec Lacrosse Field
San Diego State (2-0, 0-0 MPSF) vs. Columbia (1-1, 0-0 Ivy League)
Sunday, Feb. 24 | 2 p.m. MT | Sun Devil Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium | Tempe, Ariz.
Aztec Storylines
* Fresh off a pair of victories on its season-opening road trip to Las Vegas, the San Diego State lacrosse team jumps back into action this weekend when it plays host to No. 24 USC on Friday, Feb. 22, before traveling to Tempe, Ariz., for a neutral-site clash against Columbia on Sunday, Feb. 24.
* The Aztecs will battle the Women of Troy on their home turf at 1 p.m. PT, while the opening draw for their battle with the Lions on the campus of Arizona State is slated to begin at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT. Both games will feature live stats, while streaming video will highlight Friday's encounter, which also includes a free schedule magnet giveaway to all fans in attendance.
* SDSU returns to The Mesa after collecting two wins over Pac-12 opponents Oregon (13-8) and California (13-9) by nearly identical scores on a neutral field at Canyon Springs High School in chilly Las Vegas last weekend. With the results, the Aztecs fashioned a 2-0 start to a season for the second consecutive year.
* Against the Ducks, Harlowe Steele and Morgan Taylor each recorded hat tricks, while Taylor Sullivan and Caitlin Jones contributed two tallies apiece, as SDSU unleashed a 9-2 second-half blitz to overcome a 6-4 deficit at halfime. As a team, the Aztecs capitalized on five of nine free position attempts, compared to Oregon's 0-for-2 effort, while maintaining the upper hand in shots on goal (28-16) and ground balls (20-15). In addition, San Diego State committed fewer turnovers (29-16), as the Ducks self-destructed with 16 miscues in the second half alone.
* The victory over Oregon also marked the first time the Scarlet and Black won a game after trailing at halftime since defeating Brown 13-12 on the road in March of 2015.
* Two days later vs. the Golden Bears, Kirstie Greenlaw sparked the SDSU attack with a career-high five goals, while Steele and Taylor each netted hat tricks for the second straight outing. The two sides were tied 5-5 at halftime before the Aztecs pulled away over the final 30 minutes with an 8-4 run.
* Not to be outdone, SDSU received a stellar performance from goalkeeper Katy Sharretts, who received Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Defensive Player of Week honors for the third time in her career on Monday. The redshirt junior recorded 21 saves, a .568 save percentage and an 8.01 goals-against-average in the two victories. Against Oregon, Sharretts finished with eight saves, limiting the Ducks to just two goals in the second half while keeping them off the scoreboard for the final 15 minutes of the contest. Against Cal, she logged her 10th career game with double-digit saves after making 13 stops, including 11 in the second half alone.
* With her offensive production, Steele has scored at least three goals in 10 different games during her career. In addition, the senior tri-captain has notched at least one tally in 12 of her last 13 starts dating back to last year, with the lone exception in that stretch occurring in the regular-season finale at Notre Dame. Last weekend, the British Columbia native also displayed her versatility, combining for seven draw controls and three ground balls while dishing out two assists.
* Greenlaw's five-goal effort vs. California marked the fifth time an Aztec player has recorded at least five tallies over the past two seasons. In the quarterfinals of the 2017 MPSF tournament, Ijeoma Ikpe tied a program record with seven goals vs. Oregon, while Alex Watson had five at Michigan earlier that year. Last season, Steele put up five scores vs. Arizona State, while Grace McGinty accomplished the feat at Furman. In each of those contests, the Scarlet and Black emerged as the winner.
* Since 2017, San Diego State is 13-6 at Aztec Lacrosse Field, including a 7-2 mark last season. The Scarlet and Black is also 4-3 in home openers all-time, including a thrilling 14-13 triumph over Arizona State a year ago.
* The Aztecs will be looking for their first victory in eight meetings vs. USC. San Diego State dropped a 17-7 decision on the road to the Women of Troy in the last encounter between the two squads in 2018. Steele led the SDSU attack with her fourth hat trick in a six-game stretch to go with four draw controls, while Natalie Peel and Shannon Gallagher caused two turnovers apiece.
* The Aztecs have faced Columbia on one previous occasion, falling 14-11 on The Mesa in 2017. In that game, SDSU forged a 6-2 lead in the first half before the Lions went ahead to stay at 9-8 with seven minutes elapsed in the second period. The Aztecs remained within striking distance, trailing 11-10 with 14 minutes to go, but Columbia pulled away with a 3-1 closing run.
* SDSU is 2-2 against Ivy League members all-time, including a 13-8 victory over Brown at home in 2017. The Aztecs also defeated the same Bears club on the road in 2015, but came out on the wrong side of the scoreboard vs. Columbia in 2017 and against Princeton (16-9) in 2014.
* Sunday's contest will mark San Diego State's first regular-season game in the Grand Canyon State. The Aztecs will return to the desert on Wednesday, April 17 for a matchup with Arizona State.
*The Aztecs once again signed a talented recruiting class for the 2019 season. Highlighting the group are four high school All-Americans, three all-CIF performers, seven all-conference selections, two all-county picks and five Player of the Year/Most Valuable Player award recipients. In addition, the class includes multiple players with a plethora of prep postseason and national tournament experience, while many have displayed their versatile talents in other sports as well.
* Among the new faces is midfielder Caitlin Jones, a heralded prep player from La Costa Canyon High in nearby Carlsbad, Calif., where she twice garnered All-America accolades from US Lacrosse in 2017 and 2018. A team captain during her senior season, Jones totaled 76 goals, 102 draw controls and 112 ground balls, meriting first-team all-Avocado West League honors for the third year in a row to go with her second straight Most Valuable Player award for the Mavericks. In addition, she was selected to the San Diego team that competed in the US Lacrosse National Championships in 2016 and 2017 and was a two-time participant for the Under Armour West Highlight Team. In addition, Jones was one of two SDSU recruits to play for the South squad in the 2018 Adrenaline All-American Game, joining Cailin Young.
* After a successful run at Aztec Lacrosse Field last season, the 2019 MPSF Championships will be contested on April 26 and 28 at Aggie Stadium in Davis, Calif. For the second year in a row, the MPSF tournament format will pit the second and third seeds in the semifinal game, with the winner advancing to the championship final against the No. 1 seed.
* The program's only coach after lacrosse became the 19th intercollegiate sport at San Diego State in 2012, Kylee White begins her seventh season at the helm of the Aztecs. She has transformed SDSU's fledgling program to a strong competitor on the West Coast, highlighted by a school-record 11 victories and the squad's first-ever MPSF championship last year. In November 2016, White was inducted into the London (Ontario) Sports Hall of Fame after becoming the only women's lacrosse player to represent Canada in each of the last three decades. In 1995, she played on the inaugural U-19 Canadian National Team and later served as an assistant for the squad in 2007. White also played for Team Canada at four IFWLA World Cups (2001, 2005, 2009, 2013), helping the 2013 team to a silver medal. A four-year letterwinner at Ohio State, White was a four-time Buckeye scholar-athlete pick and an Academic All-Big Ten performer on three occasions. She co-captained the 2002 squad to an 11-5 record and a runner-up finish in the American Lacrosse Conference, helping Ohio State claim its first NCAA berth.
Up Next
* Following this weekend's competition, San Diego State will open a five-game homestand, starting Tuesday, March 5, when it welcomes Central Michigan to "America's Finest City." Opening draw vs. the Chippewas is set for 3 p.m. PT, highlighting Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day.
Opponent Notebook
USC
The Women of Troy (1-0) have been idle since Feb. 9, when they defeated Hofstra 15-10 to win their fourth consecutive season opener. USC received goals from eight different players, including three by freshman Katie Ramsay, while fellow classmate Erin Bakes and senior Emily Concialdi scored two apiece. Senior Jackie Gilbert posted a game-best five draw controls and tied for team-high honors with three ground balls, joining junior Kerrigan Miller, while sophomore goalkeeper Riley Hertford made nine saves in her first collegiate start. The two sides were tied 5-5 at halftime before the Women of Troy took control with an 8-1 run over the first 18 minutes of the second period. A 2018 IWLCA All-American and Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year, Miller led USC in goals (36), points (49) and caused turnovers (40) last year with racking up 48 draw controls and 38 ground balls. Miller was named to the Inside Lacrosse Media Preseason All-America third team, while Gilbert received honorable mention. USC also returns junior Izzy McMahon (30g), sophomore Kelsey Huff (31g), junior Kaeli Huff (30g) and sophomore Sophia Donovan (20g). Head coach Lindsey Munday is in her seventh season at the helm of the USC program, sporting an 80-38 all-time record.
Columbia
The Lions (1-1) split their first two games of the year in narrow fashion at home, edging Siena by a 13-12 count on Feb. 16, before dropping at 14-12 decision to Fairfield on Wednesday. In the opener vs. the Saints, senior Orna Madigan converted a free position shot with 21 seconds left to cap a 3-0 run over the final 5:42, which gave Columbia the victory. Sophomore Alexandria Absey also scored four goals in that contest for the Lions, while fellow classmate Alison Schwasnick posted a game-high seven draw controls. Against the Stags, Columbia found and itself trailing 7-3 at intermission before knotting the score at 11-11 by the 11:28 mark of the second half on a strike by Fallon Quinn. However, Fairfield closed with a 3-1 blitz over the final 9:21. Freshman Ryan Schlageter (13.00 GAA, .435 save pct.) and junior Abby Roberts (13.00 GAA, .381 save pct.) have split time evenly in front of the cage this year for the Lions. Absey is the team's leading scorer from last season when she posted 32 tallies, followed by Lindsey Ewertsen, who notched 43 points on 28 goals and 15 assists to go with a team-high 78 draws and 46 ground balls, earning Ivy League Midfielder of the Year honors. Columbia is guided by fourth-year head coach Andrea Cofrin, who led the Lions to their first Ivy League tournament berth in 2018. Prior to Sunday's clash vs. SDSU, Columbia will square off against Arizona State on Friday, Feb. 22.
Lacrosse to Face No. 24 USC, Columbia This Weekend
