SAN DIEGO – The SDSU lacrosse team hosts Claremont-Mudd-Scripps for an exhibition this Saturday at noon on the Aztec Lacrosse Field. This will be the third time in the last four years the Aztecs have hosted CMS for an exhibition.
Season Preview Tidbits
- The Aztecs will be competing as an independent in 2022. The three-team MPSF folded after Fresno State cut its lacrosse program.
- 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 leaders 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 Deanne 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 A10 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."