March 2, 2012
SAN DIEGO -
Saint Mary's-San Diego State Final Box
Meris Walsh scored a single-game program-record seven goals to help San Diego State rally past Saint Mary's, 11-10, Friday night at Aztec Lacrosse Field. The win levels the Aztecs' record at 2-2 overall. The Gaels, meanwhile, fall to 0-3.
San Diego State dug itself an early 3-0 hole, but Walsh started a furious rally for the home side with her first goal of the night with 15:48 to go in the first half. Madeline Ross followed suit over four minutes later with a free-position shot to cut the Aztecs' deficit in half.
Walsh knotted the score at 3-3 when she was on the receiving end of a Lauren Maack pass and found the back of the net. Her second of the game was the first of four unanswered goals for the sophomore, who helped propel SDSU to a 6-3 lead with 4:40 left in the stanza.
Saint Mary's closed the half with a pair of goals, one apiece from Krista Morgan and Amanda Cross, as the first half ended with the Aztecs holding a 6-5 lead.
The final 30 minutes began with each side trading goals. SMC's Anna Turpit struck first to tie the score, but Sophie Koubek notched an unassisted goal to help San Diego State retake the lead. The Gaels' Rachel Minarovich answered with her first of the game to level the score once again, but Walsh was back to her scoring ways and tallied her sixth of the game off a pass from Bailey Ewing.
Saint Mary's received two consecutive goals from Morgan and Jillian Chong to hand the visitors a 9-8 lead with 19:38 left in regulation. The Aztecs, however, scored three straight free-position-shot goals (Christina Ricciardulli, Walsh, Ewing) to take an 11-9 lead with just over seven minutes to play.
Minarovich added her second goal of the game to bring SMC to within one with 72 seconds to play, but SDSU would not be denied on this night as its defense made big play after big play, including one by goalkeeper Sammy Slattery, who stonewalled a Gael from close range that would have tied the score. Slattery finished the game with a game-high 13 saves.
The Aztecs return to action on Tuesday, March 6, when they play host to Detroit at Aztec Lacrosse Field. Game time is set for 7 p.m. PT. Admission is free.