SAN DIEGO – San Diego State lacrosse is back on The Mesa this weekend, welcoming No. 17 Penn State to Aztec Field for a noon game on Sunday. The Aztecs return to their home turf for the first time in three weeks after two road contests at East Carolina and USC.
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The Aztecs hold a 1-4 record following a 13-3 loss at USC on Wednesday. The 17th-ranked Nittany Lions enter the game with an undefeated 7-0 record, most recently taking down Colgate 20-8. This will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Sophomores Keira Doyle-Odenbach (11 goals, 14 points) and Mia Maechtel (10 goals, 15 points) continue to lead the San Diego State offense with 21 combined goals and 29 points. Doyle-Odenbach also leads the team in draw controls with 15 on the season. Freshman Barrett Doan is the third leading scorer with seven total goals.
San Diego State’s defense has been successful in putting pressure on its opponents through the first five games. The team leads the Big 12 in caused turnovers per game with an average of 10.80 per outing. Sophomore Maya Tillman leads the Aztecs with nine forced turnovers, including a career high three against FDU and USC. She ranks fourth in the league in caused turnovers per game, followed by Sophia Miller in fifth with seven on the season.
The Aztecs are second in the conference in ground balls per game (17.60). Senior goalkeeper Caitlin Boughton has picked up 11, which is third in the league.
Of Penn State’s 107 goals scored, senior attacker Payton Wainman and freshman attacker Rocquette Allen lead the team with 20 apiece. The Nittany Lion offense has been one of the best in the country, ranking seventh in points per game (24.43) in the NCAA.
Senior attacker Emma Kelly has been a key factor for Penn State in the draw circle, picking up 48 draw controls.
Junior goalkeeper Sydney Manning has started all seven games in the cage for Penn State, recording 45 saves off 122 shots faced and 44 goals allowed.
Following Sunday’s contest, the Aztecs will host Columbia at noon on March 15.