San Diego— SDSU Lacrosse’s Thursday match felt less like a February tune‑up and more like a team stepping confidently into who it intends to be this season. From the moment the Aztecs jogged onto Aztec Field, there was an ease to their movement and a sense that they knew exactly how they wanted to play, and were ready to impose it on Fairleigh Dickinson. By the time the scoreboard read 15–5, SDSU had showcased depth, tempo, and a defensive edge that never really let the Knights settle in.
The opening minutes set the tone. SDSU worked the ball with patience, waiting for the right seam, and when it opened, Keira Doyle‑Odenbach slipped through it, burying the first goal of the afternoon off a feed from Mia Maechtel. It was crisp, clean, and exactly the kind of possession the Aztecs wanted to build on. Barrett Doan followed with another at 3:28, finishing a pass from Millie Prager, and suddenly SDSU had a 2–0 cushion that felt larger because of how suffocating the defense looked behind it. FDU managed four shots in the quarter, but none carried much threat; SDSU’s back line and midfield pressure kept the Knights at arm’s length.
The second quarter is when the game broke open. SDSU came out of the huddle with a different gear, and Tatum Neach wasted no time tapping into it, slicing through the middle for an unassisted strike. Maechtel added another moments later, and even when FDU finally got on the board at 9:14, the Aztecs barely blinked. What followed was a four‑goal avalanche — Doyle‑Odenbach on a solo effort, Macie Buell finishing a Maechtel feed, Lilah Turley weaving through traffic, and Maechtel again, this time from Tate Stokesberry. Every possession felt purposeful. Every touch seemed to build toward something. By halftime, SDSU led 8–1 and had outshot the Knights 11–4 in the quarter, a reflection of how thoroughly they controlled the pace of the game.
The third quarter carried that same rhythm. Turley opened the half with her second goal of the day off a setup from Doan, and even when FDU answered, SDSU responded with another three‑goal burst. Sophia Miller stepped into space and finished cleanly. Megan McDevitt scored twice — first unassisted, then off a feed from Buell — showcasing the kind of off‑ball movement that kept FDU scrambling. The Knights managed one more late in the frame, but the Aztecs still held a commanding 12–3 lead heading into the fourth.
FDU made its best push early in the final quarter, stringing together two quick goals to cut the deficit to 12–5. But SDSU never lost its composure. Doan, who had been steady all afternoon, delivered back‑to‑back goals to complete her hat trick — one unassisted, one from Matty Meier — and Turley added the finishing touch with her third of the day at 2:06. Even in the closing minutes, the Aztecs’ defense stayed sharp, allowing just four shots in the quarter.
By the final whistle, SDSU had outshot FDU 35–15, won the ground‑ball battle 21–10, and showcased a roster that looks deeper and more connected than it did a week ago. Turley and Doan led the scoring with three goals each, Maechtel and Doyle‑Odenbach added two apiece, and the supporting cast filled in every gap — from Buell’s two assists to Prager’s work on the draw to the steady presence of goalkeeper Caitlin Boughton.
“It was an absolute team win,” Head Coach Kylee White stated after the game. “Everyone on the field was a part of this win tonight. It’s really exciting to be able to hold a team to five goals. We played connected and we came out knowing we had to play tough because FDU is a really fast, athletic team. The team was able to translate everything we’ve gone over in practice into the game offensively. To have so many different people on the board assisting, it just means we’re moving the ball well, we’re seeing each other and we’re building chemistry.”
This game was everything the Aztecs could have asked for: decisive, disciplined, and full of the kind of momentum that can carry a team through the season.
The Aztecs next game will be against the University of Oregon here at Aztec Field on Feb. 16 at noon.
Photo Credit: San Diego State University
