Printer-friendly version
Aztecs clinch spot in MPSF Tournament
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo: Taylor Sullivan recorded her first career hat trick on Friday at UC Davis. Courtesy goaztecs.com
April 22, 2017 (Davis) - With its postseason fortunes on the line, the San Diego State lacrosse team picked up a huge road victory Friday night with a 13-11 triumph over UC Davis in a pivotal Mountain Pacific Sports Federation showdown at Aggie Stadium.
With the win, SDSU (9-6, 3-4 MPSF) snapped a three-game losing skid and clinched a spot in next week’s MPSF Tournament, while the Aggies (6-10, 2-5 MPSF) were eliminated from postseason consideration thanks to California’s 16-14 victory at Fresno State earlier in the evening. In addition, the Aztecs tied a program record with nine wins this season and will face either Stanford or Oregon in their first-round matchup at the conference championships on Thursday, April 27, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Against UC Davis, SDSU received balanced scoring from seven players, led by freshman Taylor Sullivan, who netted her first career hat trick and dished out an assist to go with two ground balls, while seniors Kristen Hickey, Kayla Deitz and Ijeoma Ikpe tallied two goals apiece to help fuel the offense. In addition, the Aztecs received single markers from sophomores Jill Haight, Harlowe Steele and Natalie Peel, while senior Erin Jeffery continued her solid play of late with a goal and two assists.
Deitz also contributed on the defensive side with a season-high three caused turnovers for the Scarlet and Black, while Ikpe tied for game-high honors with three ground balls, joining senior goalkeeper Katrina Reeves, who finished with five saves on the night for her eighth win of the year. Not to be outdone, freshman Ryli Quinn led all players with four draw controls to go with her first collegiate assist.
The Aztecs jumped out to a 2-0 advantage on goals by Hickey and Sullivan, only to see their lead evaporate after the Aggies’ Taylor Cuenin found the back of the net on a pair of quick strikes just 38 seconds apart in the 10th minute of play. However, SDSU fashioned a 3-0 run thanks to tallies by Ikpe, Sullivan and Deitz to vault in front for good 5-2 by the 10:26 mark of the first.
UC Davis cut the margin to one after Shannon Cross and Rylie Siegfried hit pay dirt, but the Scarlet and Black kept the host school at bay with a 4-0 blitz over the final 7:37 of the period to take a 9-4 lead into intermission.
The Aggies broke out of their scoring drought with a pair of markers from Cross and Maddie Myers in the first four minutes of the second half, which narrowed the gap to 9-6. However, the Aztecs responded with two strikes by Sullivan and Hickey to reclaim an 11-6 advantage with 23:30 remaining in the contest.
Moments later, the two sides traded goals, with Peel converting a free position shot at the 20:56 mark, which provided the visitors a seemingly safe 12-7 lead.
Yet UC Davis managed to make a game of it, crafting a 4-0 spurt over a span of 10:33 to narrow the gap to 12-11 with 8:54 left on the clock. Melissa Kellan bookended the run with two goals, while Cross and Amanda Outcalt added markers in between.
However, the Aztec defense shut down the Aggies for the remainder of the contest, while Jeffery added a huge insurance goal at the 3:44 mark. UC Davis goalkeeper Lauren Ali made the stop on Jeffery’s initial free position attempt, before the SDSU attacker collected her own rebound and flicked the ball into the cage to snuff out the Aggies’ momentum.
As a team, the Aztecs outshot UC Davis 25-22, including a 20-16 advantage on net, while maintaining a 20-17 edge in ground balls. In addition, each side came up 13 draw controls and converted one free position shot. San Diego State was also 14-for-17 on clears (.823), compared to the Aggies’ 12-for-15 clip (.750).
The Aztecs will remain in northern California to face Stanford in their regular-season finale on Sunday, April 23. Game time at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium is set for 1 p.m. PT.
Recent comments