San Diego State lacrosse demonstrated resilience and growth in an 8-15 loss over Arizona State, coming from an early deficit with a strong second-quarter effort and improved teamwork. 

Arizona State came out very fast, scoring three goals in the first two minutes to take a 3-0 lead, and finishing the first quarter with a lead of 8-1. The Aztecs remained calm and kept working on their game on both offense and defense.

“I think our turnovers were costly, but I think when we were running our plan, it was working. It’s just those silly little mental errors,” said head coach Kylee White. 

Things started to change in the second quarter as SDSU raised its defensive intensity and gained better control on offense. Goalkeeper, Caitlin Boughton, made some crucial saves, and the combination of hard work, plays and better positioning gave the Aztecs the ability to have longer possessions. 

That spirit carried on in a 4-0 run, with Tatum Neach, Mia Maechtel and Keira Doyle-Odenbach scoring the three goals, reducing the gap to 5-8 for halftime. This period displayed a more patient, well-thought-out style, which enabled SDSU to create more effective chances.

Coach White dives into their game play, “We spoke at the quarter break and talked about why we’re playing and who we’re playing for, and to just play our game. They knew they could be tougher, run faster, […] and they bought into it, and they just chipped away, which was incredible.”

SDSU kept that energy going into the second half, playing better defense and moving the ball more quickly. A late shot-clock goal kept the pressure on, and the Aztecs’ defense made important stops and turnovers to keep the game close.

Arizona State kept up its aggressive pace, but SDSU kept fighting for every possession, staying calm and disciplined against a team that played quickly. With help from each other on and off the field, the Aztecs scored strategically to 8 points around the start of the fourth quarter.

As the Aztecs were cheered on by a lively crowd, including other SDSU athletes, they kept up their effort until the final whistle, fighting for possession and creating chances late in the game, even as Arizona went on a last stretch of consecutive goals from 11 to 15 points. 

The team’s final home match ended in an 8-15 loss, concluding their home slate with two more games left on the road. With the Big 12 Championship scheduled for April 29-May 2, the focus is now on getting that win with a dedicated mindset.