SAN DIEGO – San Diego State lacrosse welcomed the Ohio State Buckeyes to The Mesa on Saturday for the Aztecs’ fourth home game of the season. Despite three goals each from Frankie Garcia and Bella Tan, as well as 13 saves by Caitlin Boughton, the Scarlet and Black could not find their rhythm in a 22-8 defeat.
The Aztecs fall to 5-4 overall, 0-0 in the Big 12 while the Buckeyes improve to a perfect 8-0 on the season, 1-0 in the Big 10.
Bella Tan and Frankie Garcia led the Aztec offense, as they have through the first half of the season, both earning three points off three goals on six shots apiece. Tan continues to be San Diego State’s leading goal scorer with 30 on the season while Garcia leads in points and assists, recording 36 points off 25 goals and 11 assists.
The Aztecs, who boast the sixth highest scoring offense in the nation, had trouble getting the ball past Ohio State’s Jocelyn Torres, who ranks first nationally in save percentage (.573) and third in goals-against average (6.05). Sara Toner and Nikki Seven were the only other Aztecs to score, each finding the back of the net once.
San Diego State goalkeeper Caitlin Boughton faced a season high 44 shots from the tough Buckeye offense, recording 13 saves, which is just one shy of her season high.
Ohio State’s Zoe Coleman led all scorers with seven points off five goals and two assists. Kampbell Stone and Leah Sax were the second leading scorers, each with four goals.
The Buckeyes got on the board early with Sax finding the goal first, but the Aztecs responded quickly with a goal from Garcia less than one minute later. The Scarlet and Black then found themselves behind 6-1 at the end of the first period. After six unanswered goals, Tan added another for the Aztecs at the 10:49 mark in the second period. After a pair of exchanged goals, San Diego State cut its deficit to four halfway through the second, but gave up four straight goals before halftime and went into the break down 11-4.
After a quick strike by Brynn Ammerman to start the second half, the Aztecs scored three in a row from Toner, Tan and Garcia to cut Ohio State’s lead to five and keep within striking distance. The Buckeyes then went on a 9-0 scoring run to close out the game and secure the 22-8 win.
San Diego State lacrosse returns to action on March 22, opening conference play against UC Davis at Aztec Field at 6 p.m.