SAN DIEGO – The SDSU lacrosse team officially kicks off the 2022 season on Saturday when they play at USC at 1 p.m. on Soni McAlister Field. The game will be streamed on Pac-12+. The Aztecs beat USC in overtime 14-13 last year, the program's first ever win over the Trojans.
Opponent Notebook
This will also be the season opener for USC… The Trojans went 9-7 last year and finished second in the Pac-12 with a 6-3 conference record… Their season ended in the Pac-12 semifinals with a 9-8 loss to Colorado… They return 16 letterwinner and seven starters from last year's team… Their key returners include Kelsey Huff, the 2021 Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year, Lizzy Wagner, the 2022 Pac-12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Madison Waters, the 2021 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year… Head Coach Lindsey Munday is in her 10th year at USC and has a career record of 110-49 (.692). She has led the Women of Troy to four NCAA appearances… USC leads the all-time series 10-1, but SDSU won the last meeting.
Season Preview Tidbits
- The Aztecs knocked off Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 22-6 in an exhibition last Saturday.
- The Aztecs will be competing as an independent in 2022. The three-team MPSF folded after Fresno State cut its lacrosse program following the 2021 season.
- SDSU will play a challenging schedule in 2022, playing away from their home field 10 times and facing five teams ranked in the IWLCA preseason poll: No. 4 Northwestern, No. 14 Denver, No. 15 Princeton, No. 16 Drexel and No. 17 Rutgers.
- Key returners for the Aztecs include Bailey Brown, a 2021 All-MPSF selection who had 32 points and 26 goals, Cailin Young, 10 goals in 2021 on a .435 shot percentage and Camdyn O'Donnell, 11 points on six goals and five assists.
- The Aztecs will have to fill the shoes of goalkeeper Katy Sharretts, SDSU's all-time leader in saves. As well as Emily Resnick, who led the team in points (46) and assists (23) last year, and Lexi Tan, who scored a team-high 29 goals.
- Brown and Young along with Shelby Hook and Sam Horan will be the team captains this season.
- SDSU has 10 newcomers (seven freshmen and three transfers), and head coach Kylee White is expecting immediate contributors from transfers Julia Lytle (Rutgers) and Deanna Balsama (George Mason). As a team captain, Lytle made 16 starts for Scarlet Knights last year and collected 13 points and caused 12 turnovers. Balsama was the 2019 A-10 Rookie of the Year and totaled 98 goals and 40 assists in her three years at George Mason.
- Head coach Kylee White (11th season), the only head coach in program history received a five-year contract extension in the fall.
Coach White's Outlook on the 2022 season
"We had by far the best fall we've had as a program," White said. "The team was excited for a sense of normalcy and took advantage of every opportunity they had on the field. They bought in, learned from each other and bonded over making the Aztecs a nationally recognized program known for our commitment, closeness and grit. We've brought in a lot of talent from transfers to freshmen and we look forward to testing the program's growth this season with a tough schedule where we will play some of the best teams in the country. Being an independent this year, we envision our strength of schedule will give us a great opportunity to earn an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament."