BOULDER, Colo. – San Diego State lacrosse kicked off its Big 12 schedule on Saturday morning, taking on 14th-ranked Colorado on the road. It was a back-and-forth battle in the first half, but the Aztecs were unable to overcome the Buffs defense in the final 25 minutes in an ultimate 16-5 defeat.
San Diego State falls to 2-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Colorado improves to 7-2 on the season and 1-0 in the league.
The Aztec offense was led by Keira Doyle-Odenbach with two goals on the day. Mia Maechtel, Tatum Neach and Molly Jacobson each also scored one goal apiece.
The Buffs were led by Lily Assini who had four goals and two assists. Maddie Shoup and Rachel Kennedy were the second leading scorers with three goals each.
The 50/50 balls were highly competitive through the entirety of the game, with San Diego State picking up 14 ground balls to Colorado’s 12, and both teams earning 11 draw controls. Freshman Aztec Lilah Turley matched her career high four ground balls while also grabbing one draw control. She has the second most ground balls on the team this season with 18 total, behind senior goalkeeper Caitlin Boughton, who recorded three on Saturday to bring her to 22 on the year. In addition to leading the team in scoring, Doyle-Odenbach also tallied four draw controls, which was matched by senior attacker Tate Stokesberry who also had four to tie her career high.
Boughton played all 60 minutes in the cage, facing a season high 40 shots and notching 10 saves. Colorado’s Elena Oh also played the whole game through, recording eight saves.
After the first two opening goals going to the Buffs, Jacobson was the one to put the Aztecs on the board, scoring in free position at the 5:45 mark. Doyle-Odenbach then added another just 16 seconds later to tie the game up at 2-2. Colorado scored two more and Neach found the back of the net at the end of the quarter to bring the score to 4-3. The second period did not go the Aztecs’ way and the Buffs found themselves ahead 8-3 headed into the break. Maechtel and Doyle-Odenbach each scored early in the third stanza, but the Colorado defense, which leads the Big 12 in caused turnovers, locked down, and the Aztecs were unable to find scoring opportunities for the remainder of the game and the Buffs ultimately won 16-5.
Next up, San Diego State returns to The Mesa for a non-conference contest, hosting Rutgers at Aztec Field at 4 p.m. on Monday.