SAN DIEGO – The SDSU lacrosse team hosts Pomona-Pitzer for an exhibition this Saturday at 9 a.m. on the Aztec Lacrosse Field. This will be the first time the Aztecs have hosted the Sagehens for an exhibition. Pomona-Pitzer reached the Elite 8 in the DIII NCAA Tournament in 2023.
Season Preview Tidbits
- The Aztecs will be competing in the PAC-12 conference in 2024. Also joining the PAC-12 this season are the Aggies of UC Davis. SDSU will play a challenging schedule in 2024, facing three teams ranked in the IWLCA preseason poll: No. 4 Denver, No. 10 Florida and No. 17 USC.
- Key returners for the Aztecs include Brooklyne Waddell, who had 12 goals and holds the school record for most assists in a game (eight, March 12, 2023), Emma Betts, 18 points on 14 goals and four assists and Mia Kohn, seven goals in 2023 on a .438 shot percentage.
- The Aztecs will have to fill the shoes of goalkeeper Sam Horan, SDSU's all-time leader in career save percentage as well as in a season. As well as Deanna Balsama, who became the all-time leader in goals (109) in just two years as an Aztec and was a part of the IWLCA All-Star team in 2023, and Cailin Young, who scored 16 points from 10 goals and six assists in 2023.
- Kohn along with Avery Dyer and Courtney Anderson will be the team captains this season.
- SDSU has 10 newcomers (seven freshmen and three transfers), and head coach Kylee White is excited about the experience and maturity transfer Jenna McDermott (UMBC) will bring to this younger team. In her four years playing for the Retrievers, McDermott scored 33 goals, three of which were game winners. Her senior year, she started in all 14 games and was named the team's unsung hero.
- As the only head coach in program history, Kylee White is now in her 13th season with the Aztecs alongside Associate Head Coach Brandi Padilla who is back for her 12th season. They are joined by new assistant coach Rob Bray who spent the last four years as the assistant coach for the women's lacrosse team at Vanderbilt University.
Coach White's Outlook on the 2024 season
"When facing opponents from all over the country, especially top programs like Dartmouth or Florida, we're able to measure where we're at and where we're going. We're excited to finally be in the PAC-12 conference. Although we've played these teams before, it has a different meaning when there's a potential championship at the end of the season. While our ultimate goal is the tournament, our sights are set on right now. Things will take care of themselves when we take care of the little things."