April 24, 2013
SAN DIEGO - The postseason begins early for the San Diego State Women's Lacrosse team. The Aztecs have a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament berth at stake on Saturday night, when they play host to USC, beginning at 7 p.m. PT, at Aztec Lacrosse Field.
The winner of Saturday night's game under the lights will take on No. 1-seed Denver in the first round of the MPSF Championship on May 2 in Eugene, Ore. With a win, the Aztecs (8-7, 3-4 MPSF) would be even with USC (7-9, 4-3) for fourth place in the conference standings, but would own the tiebreaker by winning the head-to-head matchup.
Prior to the game, the Aztecs will hold a Senior Night tribute to goalkeeper Sammy Slattery, who will be playing her final game at Aztec Lacrosse Field. Slattery has started all 30 games in program history and is the all-time leader in saves, with 249 for her career, and has a career save percentage of .408. This season, Slattery is third in the MPSF in save percentage (.423) and fourth in saves per game (7.73).
SDSU is coming off a loss at No. 15 Stanford, 23-16, on April 21, and has lost its last three games overall. Sophomore Bailey Ewing scored a total of seven goals in two games last week, including a career-high five scores against Stanford. Sophomore Lauren Maack recorded four goals and dished out three assists in the two games over the weekend, while sophomore Sophie Koubek tallied four goals.
Sophomore Michaela Jarvis began the week ranked 16th in the nation in assists (35) and assists per game (2.33), while Ewing is 25th in goals per game (2.93). Jarvis ranks fourth in the MPSF in assists per game, and Ewing is fourth in the conference in goals per game.
As a team, the Aztecs rank 10th in the nation in points (314), ninth in scoring offense per game (14.47), sixth in draw controls per game (14.80) and are 22nd in scoring margin (3.47). SDSU is first in the MPSF in shot percentage (.511), second in shots on goal per game (23.07), second in assists per game (6.47), third in scoring offense per game, second in points per game (20.93), second in draw controls per game, and the Aztecs commit the fewest turnovers per game (12.80).
USC has won two of its last three games, and is coming off a lopsided home victory over Fresno State, 19-1, on Saturday. The Trojans began the week 19th in the nation in points (282), and tied for 20th in draw controls per game (13.38). They're also second in MPSF behind SDSU in shot percentage (.493) and fewest turnovers per game (12.81).
Freshman Caroline de Lyra is fourth in the country in total points (88), fifth in points per game (5.5), tied for 14th in goals (48), tied for 21st in goals per game (3), and tied for 11th in assists per game (2.5). In addition, freshman Amanda Johansen is seventh in draw controls per game (5.81), freshman goalkeeper Liz Shaeffer is tied for 19th in saves (123), and freshman Courtney Tarleton is 15th in caused turnovers per game (1.81).