SAN DIEGO – San Diego State lacrosse is back in action, hosting No. 20 Ohio State for a noon contest at Aztec Field on Saturday.
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This will be the fifth meeting between the two programs, dating back to the inaugural San Diego State lacrosse season in 2012. The Aztecs will look to get their first series win against the Buckeyes on Saturday. Ohio State won the last matchup 10-4 on February 17, 2023.
Entering the game ranked 20th in the IWLCA Coaches Poll, the Buckeyes are a perfect 7-0 on the season and 3-0 on the road. Their most recent outing resulted in a 20-6 win over Oregon on Wednesday, marking their first Big 10 victory of the season. The Buckeyes have also captured wins over Cincinnati, Robert Morris, Akron, Vanderbilt, Louisville and Denver.
The Aztecs enter the matchup 5-3 in non-conference play, most recently taking down East Carolina 17-16 thanks to a goal by Frankie Garcia assisted by Jackie Heinerichs in the final minute.
Saturday’s game is primed to be a clash between two of the most efficient offenses and defenses in the country. Ranked the sixth highest scoring offense in the country, San Diego State will face junior goalkeeper Jocelyn Torres, who ranks first nationally in save percentage (.573) and third in goals-against average (6.05). The Buckeyes also rank third nationally in scoring defense.
Bella Tan and Frankie Garcia continue to fuel the high-scoring Aztec offense with Garcia leading the team in points (33; 22 goals, 11 assists) and Tan leading in goals (27). Four other Aztecs have ten or more goals through the first eight games, including Matty Spaeth (15), Sara Toner (14), Tatum Neach (12) and Kate Christos (10).
Through 428 minutes played, San Diego State goalkeeper Caitlin Boughton has recorded 67 saves with a save percentage of .387. The Aztec had a season high 14 saves off 36 shots faced at Oregon on Mar. 6.
The Scarlet and Black lead the Big 12 in goals per game (16.38), shots per game (36.71), shot percentage (.444), shots on goal per game (28.29), woman-down goals per game (.71) and ground balls per game (23.00). On the national stage, the Aztecs lead the NCAA in shots on goal per game, rank second in ground balls per game, sixth in goals and third in shots.
A graduate of Ohio State, Head Coach Kylee White was a four-year letterwinner in Columbus and co-captained the 2002 squad to an 11-5 record, a runner-up finish in the American Lacrosse Conference and Ohio State's first NCAA bid.
Following Saturday’s game, San Diego State will host its first Big 12 opponent, UC Davis, at 6 p.m. on March 22.