SAN DIEGO – The Aztec lacrosse team fell to No. 10 Denver 8-18 Sunday afternoon. Frankie Garcia and Jenna McDermott both added another hat-trick to their resumes.
The Pioneers (3-1) got an early lead scoring four goals within the first seven minutes and led 9-1 after the first quarter, but the Aztecs (1-3) came back fighting, scoring the first two goals of the second quarter. In the last three quarters the Aztecs were only outscored by two. SDSU was outshot by Denver 44-16 and 29-11 in shots on goal. They were 5-6 in extra-man opportunities, while the Aggies were 6-8.
The Aztecs had four players score, along with Garcia and McDermott, Sara Toner and Kate Christos each scored once. Garcia now leads the team with 12 points on the season. Christos also had her first assist this season. Mia Kohn led the team with five draw controls and Liv Tramontana led the team with four ground balls. Goalkeeper Caitlin Boughton had 11 saves and nine goals allowed on 26 shots faced.
Julia Gilbert led the Pioneers with six points from four goals and two assists. Lauren Black and Sloane Kipp also had hat-tricks for the Pioneers. Abby Jenkins led the team with eight draw controls and Trinity McPherson led with three caused turnovers. Goalkeeper Emelia Bohi had two saves and six goals allowed.
"It unfortunately took us about 15 minutes to feel out our opponent instead of just stepping out on the field and owning our abilities. I think once we started the second quarter, we were playing with that Aztec pride and it really turned the game around leading to three quarters of a really tight game. A top ten team, one of the best defenses in the nation, you have to step on the field with confidence and play our game from the beginning, not give them that lead," Head Coach Kylee White explained. "Turnovers and fouls cost us again, which are both easy things to clean up, but overall I am just extremely proud of how we battled. We took that first quarter, we flushed it, and we moved forward. We wanted to leave this field with our heads held high and I think we did that. Caitlin (Boughton) stepped in in the second quarter and played an exceptional game between the pipes. It was a full team effort for those last three quarters. We're learning and that's exciting. We have so much more lacrosse to play."
STAT OF THE GAME
Caitlin Boughton tied her career high with 11 saves.
THE NOTE
Jenna McDermott had her third hat-trick in a row and Frankie Garcia had her second hat-trick in a row.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs travel to North Carolina to play Campbell (March 1) and High Point (March 3).
Aztecs Fall to No. 10 Denver 18-8
