Feb. 27, 2016
PHILADELPHIA -
New Jersey native Alexa Comfort's career high six goals helped lead the San Diego State lacrosse team to a 15-13 victory over Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon at Sweeney Field.
San Diego State improves to 1-2 with its first win of the year, while Saint Joseph's falls to 1-2 on the season.
"I liked how our offensive unit attacked today," head coach Kylee White said. "In our first two games of the season, we didn't see people attacking hard, but they did a better job of that in this game."
The Hawks' offense got things going early in the game, with Sarah Smith scoring the contest's first goal just 1:21 into the game.
But Vickie Porter responded shortly thereafter, knotting the score 38 seconds later, and consecutive goals by Comfort and Katherine Smith allowed SDSU to take its first lead of the game with 24:46 to go.
Saint Joseph's leading scorer Nora McCallion was able to cut the lead to 3-2 with 24 minutes remaining, but the Aztecs proceeded to go on a 4-1 run midway through the half for a commanding 6-3 margin.
With 8:47 remaining in the period, the Hawks netted three unanswered markers to bring the game within one at 7-6.
However, with just 15 seconds to go in the first half, Comfort converted a free position attempt, her fourth of six goals in the game, to give SDSU an 8-6 lead heading into halftime.
"This is something we've seen in her the last few years," White said of Comfort, a Manahawkin, N.J. native. "We encouraged her to drive hard and she was unstoppable today. We expect her to contribute a couple goals each game."
The Hawks' offense repeated its first half by displaying its prowess early, scoring two goals within the half's first 2:05 to tie the game at 8-8.
However, after trading goals following the knotted score, the Aztecs made a run for it, scoring five unanswered goals, including two tallied while down a player. Saint Joseph's would out-score the Aztecs' 4-1 as the game clock wound down but was unable to overcome SDSU's final 15-13 score.
Alongside Comfort's 13th career multi-goal game, Porter and Katie Gill each scored a pair of goals. Felice Artuso dished out two assists alongside a goal.
Katie Merritt and Katrina Reeves combined to make nine saves for the Scarlet and Black, with Merritt, who guarded the cage in the first half, earning the win. Said White, "They've settled in to splitting games, which is good for us. Katie made some spectacular saves that allowed us to have momentum going in to the second half, and Katrina had crucial stops late in the game that gave us possession."
SDSU was out-shot by Saint Joseph's, 30-24, with Comfort's eight shots leading all players. The Hawks won 20 draw controls compared to the Aztecs' 10. San Diego State scooped up more ground balls, 16-10, and was 4-for-8 on free position attempts, thanks to Comfort's pair of conversions.
Upon its return from the east coast, San Diego State has a quick turnaround, hosting Michigan in the Aztecs' first home game of the season on Tues., March 1 at 7 p.m. on Aztec Lacrosse Field