Feb. 14, 2013
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State Lacrosse team begins its second season in program history on Saturday, Feb. 16, on the road against Jacksonville (Fla.). The game is scheduled to begin at noon ET.
The Aztecs were predicted to finish fifth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) this season in the preseason poll released on Jan. 28. SDSU finished its inaugural 2012 season with a 5-10 record and tied for fifth place in the MPSF standings.
SDSU lost nine players from last season's team, but has 11 newcomers. The 2013 roster consists of one senior (goalkeeper Sammy Slattery) four juniors, 14 sophomores and 10 freshmen. The Aztecs have 17 players with Division-I experience, but none has more than one season.
The Aztecs have a very balanced roster, according to head coach Kylee White, and will rely heavily on their 14 sophomores. Junior Meris Walsh, Loyola (Md.) transfer Madison Formwalt and sophomore Bailey Ewing lead a group of talented attackers. Defensively, sophomore Madison Wallace was a second-team all-MPSF selection a year ago, while sophomores Nicole Pullano and Lauren Paul are other top returning defenders. Sophomore Sophie Koubek is among the team's top returning midfielders, along with juniors Christina Ricciardulli, Isabelle Pickett, sophomore Grace Korandovich and freshman Felice Artuso.
"We're a completely different team than last year," White said. "We're more mature and have more depth. (The players) understand what it takes to be a Division-I athlete now. We're a fast, athletic, scrappy, determined group that is eager to start the season."
Jacksonville is 1-1 this season with a loss to Syracuse, 21-8, and a home victory over Vanderbilt, 15-7. The Dolphins are coming off a 15-4 season a year ago, where they won the National Lacrosse Conference (NLC) championship.
Following SDSU's game at Jacksonville, the Aztecs face Stetson in DeLand, Fla., on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 11 a.m. ET. Their home opener is on Feb. 22 against Saint Mary's at Aztec Lacrosse Field, beginning at 7 p.m. PT.