March 17, 2017
SAN DIEGO -- Winners of five straight, San Diego State looks to continue its hot streak this weekend when it faces Columbia in a Saturday afternoon showdown at Aztec Lacrosse Field. Game time is set for 3 p.m. PT, and the first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free Aztec Lacrosse t-shirt. In addition to live stats, a link to streaming video will also be available on GoAztecs.com.
SDSU (5-2) is coming off a dramatic 12-11 overtime victory over New Hampshire on Wednesday as sophomore Harlowe Steele supplied the game-winning goal with 1:09 elapsed in the extra session. The contest witnessed seven ties and five lead changes, with the Aztecs scoring twice in the final 12:03 of regulation to force overtime.
Senior Kayla Deitz led the Scarlet and Black with three goals on the afternoon, while Steele and freshman Taylor Sullivan added two strikes apiece. In addition, senior goalkeeper Katie Merritt came off the bench to record eight saves, while sophomore Jill Haight posted a career-high seven draw controls. SDSU also received a solid effort from junior Mackenzie Lech, who finished with three ground balls and three turnovers.
After seven games, senior Vickie Porter leads the Aztecs with 16 goals, including a career-high four markers in a 13-12 victory over Saint Joseph's on March 10. In addition, senior Kristen Hickey has compiled 16 points of her own on 13 goals and three assists, while fellow classmates Deitz (12 goals, 1 assist) and Alex Watson (11 goals, three assists) have racked up double-digit point totals as well.
In front of the net, senior Katrina Reeves owns a 10.46 goals against average and a .440 save percentage in seven starts, while Merritt has made two appearances in relief, recording a 6.09 goals against average and a .739 save percentage.
As a team, SDSU is averaging 30.28 shots, 21.29 ground balls and 13.29 caused turnovers per game. The Aztecs are also 30-for-61 (.492) on the year in free position shots and are 81-94 in clears (.862).
During its five-game winning streak, the Scarlet and Black is outscoring its opposition by an average of 13.60-9.00, while maintaining a 129-94 advantage in shots on goal. Over that stretch, the Aztecs have also collected more ground balls (111-73) and have caused more turnovers (69-43). San Diego State's current victory streak is its longest since winning seven in a row in 2015.
Like the Aztecs, Columbia (4-2) is coming off a nail-biter of its own, posting a narrow 14-13 victory at UC Davis on Thursday. Sophomore Laine Parsons, who scored four goals on the afternoon, converted a free-position shot with just six seconds left for the game-winning tally.
For the season, senior Taylor Quinn leads the Lions with 17 goals, while Parsons and fellow sophomore Lindsey Ewertsen have scored 14 each. In addition, Quinn tops the squad with 21 ground balls and 21 draw controls, while Ewertsen has 12 caused turnovers. In front of the cage, junior Kelsey Gedin has notched a 12.17 goals against average and a .451 save percentage in six starts.
Saturday's game represents the first-ever meeting between SDSU and Columbia. The Aztecs are 1-1 all-time against Ivy League members, defeating Brown on the road in 2015, after falling at home to Princeton in 2014.
Following the Aztecs-Lions matchup, San Diego State continues its homestand next week, jumping back into conference play to battle Saint Mary's on Friday, March 24, starting at 7 p.m.