March 10, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State lacrosse team out-shot Furman 29-20, including a 16-6 advantage in the second half, but was unable to overcome a late deficit and fell to the Paladins, 13-12, on Aztec Lacrosse Field Thursday afternoon.
The Aztecs' two leading scorers heading into the contest, Kristen Hickey and Alexa Comfort lived up to their early season statistic lines, each putting one in the back of the cage in the game's opening 1:21. Sarah Dorl netted San Diego State's third of the game with 21:18 to go for the early 3-0 advantage.
But Furman proceeded to go on a 9-2 run to take a 9-5 lead with 46 seconds to go in the first half.
The Scarlet and Black were determined to take the momentum into halftime, however. A Paladin turned the ball over near her own cage, which Vickie Porter scooped up and threw into the net for the 9-6 score.
The Aztecs displayed a renewed spirit in the second period. Ashley Trice opened the frame with the Paladins' 10th goal of the game just 58 seconds in, but Katie Gill responded less than a minute later with a tally of her own for the 10-7 score. The two teams traded goals, with a marker by Jill Haight and free position goals by Grace McGinty and Alexa Comfort being answered by Furman.
With the score 13-10 in the Paladins' favor with 2:29 remaining in regulation, goalie Katie Merritt was pulled for an extra player. The Aztecs' attack took their responsibility to heart and scored a pair of goals in 32 seconds to bring the game within one with 1:25 to go. But SDSU was unable to put away the equalizer for the final 13-12 loss.
In the contest, San Diego State out-shot Furman, 29-20, including a 16-6 advantage in the first half. SDSU scooped up more ground balls, 13-11, while the Paladins recorded 15 draw controls to the Aztecs' 12.
Dorl's first career hat trick led the team, appearing alongside four shots, a draw control and a caused turnover. Porter and Comfort each posted two goal games, while Felice Artuso and Natalie Peel dished out one assist each. Artuso also caused a career-best five turnovers.
Kristen Hickey led the team at the draw, earning three draw controls, while Artuso added two of her own. Gill and Katrina Reeves, who started the game in goal, each collected a pair of ground balls.
In the cage for SDSU, Reeves played the game's opening 26:34, allowing eight goals and making three saves, before she was substituted for Katie Merritt. Merritt allowed five goals in nearly 31 minutes of action, suffering the loss for a 1-4 record this season.
San Diego State closes out its three-game homestand with a 1 p.m. game on Wed., March 16 against Stony Brook.