USC Women’s Lacrosse Shakes San Diego State in Regular Season Finale

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – No. 21-ranked USC lacrosse (12-4, 6-1 Pac-12) finished out the regular season in style, as it earned a statement win against San Diego State (2-14, 1-6 Pac-12) 21-9, on Saturday, Apr. 27 at the Aztec Lacrosse Field. 
 
KEY PLAYERS:

• Redshirt junior Isabelle Vitale highlighted the offense, as she set a new career-high for goals with six, and added one assist. Two Trojans posted hat tricks: Vitale and graduate student Ella Heaney. This is Vitales's 16th hat trick, which ties her for 7th all-time. For Heaney this is her eighth hat trick this season and 23rd in her career – 4th all-time. 
• Senior Kait Devir earned the win in the game, as she allowed just seven goals and put up five saves in nearly 53 minutes of work.
• On the defensive side, graduate student Sloane Murphy and junior Alexis Niblock both had three caused turnovers and three ground balls. Redshirt sophomore Kailey Pelkey also had three ground balls and forced two turnovers. Graduate student Danielle Carson caused two turnovers of her own and had two ground balls. 
• In the circle it was a pretty even split as junior Catherine Lord had four draw controls, sophomore Maggie Ramsay also had four and freshman Lily Bunting had three draw controls. 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• At the start of the game, it felt very back-and-forth, as the Aztecs started the first winning eight draw controls to USC's five. That led to an onslaught of goals from both teams as they combined for 11 in the first quarter. SDSU put six shots on goal, while the Women of Troy put up ten, which led to USC converting on more chances. The Trojans outscored the Aztecs 7-4 in the quarter, as senior Shelby Tilton and Vitale both had two goals in the session. Tilton opened up the scoring at 13:35 as senior Claudia Shevitz finalized the quarter with a goal at 1:13. 
• Once again Vitale decided to turn up the heat as she started the second with two straight goals (10:13 & 7:13). The first gave her a hat trick – her second of the year – and her second of the quarter gave her a new season-high. However, the high-powered fireworks soon settle, as both teams buckled up defensively for the rest of the quarter. The Aztecs would score one at 3:17, but that would be the last of the scoring in the half. USC would put up ten shots and eight of them would be on goal in the quarter, but SDSU's goalkeeper stood strong accumulating six saves. After all was said and down the Trojans would enter the break with the lead at 9-5.
• USC opened the second half with two goals in succession, as Heaney struck first at 12:40, and Pelkey followed suit with a goal 20 seconds later. That would only be the beginning as USC started to find their groove once again. Heaney picked up her eighth hat trick of the season a few minutes later at 9:00. That goal would start a chain of events, as the Women of Troy would soon go up by eight with three goals in less then two minutes. Another crucial element of the quarter was Vitale, as she picked up her fifth and sixth goal of the afternoon – her new career high. USC did all this while limiting SDSU to just two goals, as they held a 16-7 advantage at the end of three.
• Even as the lineups changed for the backups to come in, the offense did not stop. Three culprits found the net in the later half as the two twins: freshmen Emma Bunting (12:25) and Lily Bunting (9:25) both scored to extend the lead. In the same portion redshirt freshman Hollis Mulry scored twice at 10:27 and 7:32. USC would secure one more at :29 seconds, as Hannah Barron picked up her second of the season as the Women of Troy won 21-9. 

UP NEXT:
The Women of Troy officially clinched the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament and will have a bye in the first round. The tournament is set for May 1-4, so USC will have its first game at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 against the winner of the No. 3 seed and the No. 6 seed at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. 
 
GAME NOTES:

• USC finishes out the regular season 12-4 overall and 6-1 in Pac-12 play. 
• The Trojans are now 13-1 all-time versus San Diego State and are 7-0 when they face the Aztecs on the road.
• 11 Trojans posted one or more points in the affair.
• USC tied its season high for points, as it had 21 in the game. 

 
For more information on the USC women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and X @USCTrojansLax.