March 18, 2016
MORAGA, Calif. -
The San Diego State lacrosse team opened up an 11-1 lead at halftime and never looked back en route to a 17-4 win over Saint Mary's Friday in Moraga, Calif. It was the MPSF opener for the Aztecs, who improved to 2-5 on the season.
Twelve different players scored for SDSU, which outshot the Gaels (0-6, 0-3 MPSF), 33-11, and won the ground ball battle by a 26-16 margin. San Diego State also had a 13-10 edge in draw controls and caused 29 SMC turnovers.
Vickie Porter scored the Aztecs' first two goals just 10 seconds apart and Alexa Comfort added a score 10:20 into the game. Megan Zummo got Saint Mary's on the scoreboard less than a minute later, before SDSU responded with the next 10 goals - from nine different players - in the contest to take a commanding 13-1 lead.
Saint Mary's stopped the bleeding with a Claire Healy goal with 20:02 left in the game, but Grace McGinty scored her second goal of the game less than two minutes later to put San Diego State up by 12 at 14-2.
Emily Mack scored on a free position shot with 15:47 left, and the Aztecs answered with a free position goal of their own by Erin Jeffery and additional goals by Alex Watson and Felice Artuso for their largest lead of the game at 17-3. Healy scored a late goal for the Gaels for the final score of the game.
Comfort led a balanced SDSU offense with three goals and an assist, while Watson, Porter and McGinty tallied two scores apiece. Kirstie Greenlaw and Natalie Peel each added a goal and an assist.
Comfort attempted a game-high shots - just three shy than the entire Saint Mary's team - with seven on goal.
Kristen Hickey recorded game highs of four ground balls and four caused turnovers. Artuso and Porter led San Diego State with three draw controls apiece.
The duo of Katie Merritt and Katrina Reeves was solid in net for the Aztecs. Merritt started and played the first half, saving two shots and allowing just the one goal. Reeves gave up three goals and two saves over the final 30.
SDSU continues its stay in the Bay Area with a MPSF game at California at noon PT Sunday.