March 30, 2016
Game Week Preview
San Diego State (4-6, 3-1 MPSF) at No. 7/8 USC (9-0, 3-0 MPSF)
Saturday, April 2 | 3 p.m. PT | McAlister Field | Los Angeles, Calif.
Coverage via live stats, live video on Pac-12.com/live with links on GoAztecs.com
Storylines
- The San Diego State lacrosse team will travel to Los Angeles for a battle against Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) foe No. 7/8 USC on Sat., April 2 at 3 p.m. The game will have live stats and a free live video stream on Pac-12.com/live with links available on GoAztecs.com.
- San Diego State visits Los Angeles riding high after sweeping its weekend against Oregon and Fresno State. Behind a six-point outing for senior Felice Artuso and a lights-out second half by Katrina Reeves in the cage on March 25, SDSU won a thrilling 10-9 game against Oregon. On March 27, the Aztecs advanced to overtime for the second time in three games and beat the Bulldogs, 8-7, on a converted free position attempt by Vickie Porter.
- Reeves was a game-changer in the cage for San Diego State last weekend after making 12 saves and allowing only five goals in just 62:57 of action. Against Oregon, she entered the second half by changing the tide of the game and turning away 10 shots in just 30 minutes. Prior to her arrival in the cage, the Aztecs had allowed seven goals and upon her guardianship, SDSU let in just two goals en route to the 10-9 win. Versus the Bulldogs, Reeves allowed three goals on seven shots, making two saves in 32:57 in the cage.
- The Aztecs have managed to create chances for themselves, ranking 24th nationally with 9.70 caused turnovers per game for fourth in the MPSF. Individually, Artuso leads SDSU and sits third in the conference, causing 1.60 turnovers per game (16 on the season), five of which came against Furman (3/10).
- Artuso has been one of San Diego State's most effective midfielders this season. She leads the team with 14 draw controls and ranks third with 14 ground balls. Meanwhile, she has scored eight goals and her eight helpers top the Aztecs for a career-best mark.
- Offensive output has been comfortable for senior midfielder Alexa Comfort in 2016. The Manahawkin, N.J. native tops the Aztecs with 19 points and 17 goals. She has five multi-goal games and earned MPSF Offensive Player of the Week honors on Feb. 29 and marking a career-high with six goals against Saint Joseph's.
- Junior Kristen Hickey has been experiencing a career year offensively this season. The midfielder is tied second on the team with 10 draw controls, has scored in all but two games this season for 11 goals, and has dished out a trio of assists. Against Michigan, she netted a career-high three goals and has multi-goal games in four of her 10 starts this year.
- The Aztecs produced a 1-1 MPSF opening weekend, routing Saint Mary's, 17-4, on March 18 before falling to California, 10-9, in overtime on March 20. Against the Gaels, SDSU opened up an 11-1 lead at halftime and never looked back, out-shooting Saint Mary's, 33-11. The Aztecs' contest against the Golden Bears saw San Diego State again out-shoot its opponent (34-27) but succumb to an overtime free position goal.
- At Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia, the Aztecs took their first lead of the game with 24:46 to go in the first half and did not trail after that en route to the Scarlet and Black's first win of the year. The team used a career performance by Comfort and an aggressive attack to leave the Eastern Seaboard with a 15-13 victory.
- Kylee White is in her fifth season at the helm of San Diego State's lacrosse program. The program's only coach after lacrosse became the 19th collegiate sport at SDSU in 2012, she has guided the program to a spot as a top contender in the MPSF, with back-to-back MPSF Tournament appearances highlighting her most recent seasons.
Opponent Notebook
USC
The Trojans (9-0, 3-0 MPSF) are one of the most impressive teams in the nation this season, leading the country in scoring defense (4.56), scoring margin (11.67), scoring offense (16.22) and turnovers per game (10.00). The play of reigning MPSF Offensive Player of the Week Michaela Michael can be labeled as one cause. She tops the NCAA with 4.33 goals and 5.56 points per game alongside a 0.75 free position percentage, scoring 1.33 free position goals per game. USC's nation-leading defense has been spearheaded by starting goalie Gussie Johns, whose 4.88 goals against average tops the country. The Women of Troy have a 3-0 mark all-time against the Aztecs, out-scoring SDSU 41-14. At the helm of the Trojans' program is Lindsey Munday, who is the only coach in USC's four-year history.