SAN DIEGO – The SDSU lacrosse team officially kicks off the 2024 season this weekend when they play Lindenwood at 10 a.m. on Friday in Hunter Stadium. The Aztecs beat Lindenwood 15-9 last year in the two programs first meeting. Then on Sunday the Aztecs will head to Tempe, Arizona to face Xavier at 11:30 a.m. at the Sun Devil Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium. This neutral match-up will be the first time the two teams will face-off.
Opponent Notebook (Lindenwood)
This will also be the season opener for Lindenwood… The Lions went 8-10 last year with a 3-4 ASUN conference record… Their season ended in the first round of the ASUN Conference Tournament with a 17-11 loss to Coastal Carolina University… They return their top two scorers from 2023 and two all-conference players including Goalkeeper Elizabeth Goth who was named to the 2023 ASUN All-Freshman team... Head Coach Jack Cribbin is in his 19th season at Lindenwood and has an NCAA career record of 186-37 (.834) as he led the program from a club team, to a Division II program in 2012, to a Division I program in 2023... SDSU leads the series 1-0.
Opponent Notebook (Xavier)
The 2024 season will be only the second year of the program... Xavier will face Arizona State on friday prior to facing the Aztecs... The Musketeers went 4-10 last year with a 0-6 Big East conference record... They return 21 letterwinners and add two senior transfers along with 14 freshman... Head Coach Meg Decker returns for her second season alongside new assistant coaches Lexy Biller and Matt Zink... The Aztecs and Musketeers
Season Preview Tidbits
- The Aztecs knocked off Pomona-Pitzer in an exhibition last Saturday with four goals by Emma Betts.
- The Aztecs will be competing in the PAC-12 conference in 2024. Also joining the PAC-12 this season are the Aggies of UC Davis.
- SDSU will play a challenging schedule in 2024, facing three teams ranked in the IWLCA preseason poll: No. 4 Denver, No. 10 Florida and No. 17 USC.
- Key returners for the Aztecs include Brooklyne Waddell, who had 12 goals and holds the school record for most assists in a game (eight, March 12, 2023), Emma Betts, 18 points on 14 goals and four assists and Mia Kohn, seven goals in 2023 on a .438 shot percentage.
- The Aztecs will have to fill the shoes of goalkeeper Sam Horan, SDSU's all-time leader in career save percentage as well as in a season. As well as Deanna Balsama, who became the all-time leader in goals (109) in just two years as an Aztec and was a part of the IWLCA All-Star team in 2023, and Cailin Young, who scored 16 points from 10 goals and six assists in 2023.
- Kohn along with Avery Dyer and Courtney Anderson will be the team captains this season.
- SDSU has 10 newcomers (seven freshmen and three transfers), and head coach Kylee White is excited about the experience and maturity transfer Jenna McDermott (UMBC) will bring to this younger team. In her four years playing for the Retrievers, McDermott scored 33 goals, three of which were game winners. Her senior year, she started in all 14 games and was named the team's unsung hero.
- As the only head coach in program history, Kylee White is now in her 13th season with the Aztecs alongside Associate Head Coach Brandi Padilla who is back for her 12th season. They are joined by new assistant coach Rob Bray who spent the last four years as the assistant coach for the women's lacrosse team at Vanderbilt University.
Coach White's Outlook on the 2024 season
"When facing opponents from all over the country, especially top programs like Dartmouth or Florida, we're able to measure where we're at and where we're going. We're excited to finally be in the PAC-12 conference. Although we've played these teams before, it has a different meaning when there's a potential championship at the end of the season. While our ultimate goal is the tournament, our sights are set on right now. Things will take care of themselves when we take care of the little things."