Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Presbyterian
'Dogs finish strong, defeat Presbyterian 14-10
2/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
By Jason Kelm
jakelm@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
CLINTON, S.C. - The Fresno State women's lacrosse team's offense came alive in a win over Presbyterian College at Old Bailey Stadium on Friday afternoon in Clinton, S.C., defeating the Blue Hose 14-10 and giving the Bulldogs their best start in program history.
The Bulldogs (2-2, 0-2 MPSF) were down by as many as six points (8-2) with less than two minutes remaining in the first half before the offense ignited to outscore Presbyterian 12-2 from that point on. Fresno State capped the game with a 7-0 run to seal its second victory of the season.
"Our attack started clicking more and we dominated the draw," Fresno State head coach Jessica Giglio said. "That's the best I've ever seen Kyleigh Westgarth play. She was a true leader out there. Anjelica Fuccillo did a great job coming off the bench, which really energized the team. This was a great team win."
The Blue Hose (1-2, 0-0 Big South) started the game off by firing in two goals in the first minute of the game and adding a third before three minutes had passed. Fresno State junior Kyleigh Westgarth was able to find the back of the net for the Bulldogs before Presbyterian scored four more to lead the game 7-1 with nine minutes to go in the first half.
Bulldog freshman Sarah Bloise then scored for the second time this season, followed by the Bulldogs and Blue Hose trading goals in the final two minutes of the half, including Westgarth's second of the game.
The 'Dogs went into the half down 8-3 and were being outshot 14-9 while losing the ground ball battle 15-9. Fresno State was owning draw controls 9-3, but 12 turnovers and four Presbyterian saves kept them from keeping the game close.
After significant halftime adjustments, the Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders. Westgarth picked up where she left off and scored in the first minute of the second half, followed by junior captain Caroline Dineen-Carlson scoring five minutes later and pulling the 'Dogs to within three.
The Blue Hose finally answered before Fresno State sophomore Nicole Ortlieb and senior Anjelica Fuccillo added in goals of their own. Presbyterian's final goal came with just under 14 minutes remaining in the game to put the score at 10-7.
That's when the Bulldogs took over with a 7-0 run to seal the victory. Fuccillo scored her third goal of the season, Dineen-Carlson added her fourth and fifth goals on the year, Ortlieb notched her team-leading ninth goal, Westgarth added two more and junior Chelsea Hall scored twice within the final 30 seconds of the game.
Bulldog Bites
- Fresno State is 2-2 for the first time in program history.
- Fresno State is 7-0 when scoring in double digits since 2014.
- Fresno State has won two-straight games against Presbyterian, last defeating the Blue Hose 17-14 on Feb. 17, 2013, and is 2-2 in the all-time series.
- Fresno State has won four-straight nonconference road-openers.
- Fresno State is 4-6 all-time against Big South opponents.
- Fresno State's eight assists tied a program single-game record, last recording eight against UC Davis in 2012.
- Senior Sophia Aragon is now Fresno State's all-time leader in ground balls with 74, passing Holly Cisneros (2012-15).
What's Next?
Game 5: Fresno State (2-2, 0-2 MPSF) at Campbell (0-2, 0-0 Big South)
Feb. 28, 2016 - 8 a.m. PT - Buies Creek, N.C. (Barker-Lane Stadium)
TV: None
Live Stats: Click Here
Series History: Fresno State leads 1-0 (overall)
Last Meeting: Fresno State 13, Campbell 11 (3/4/15 - Fresno, Calif.)
About the Camels (0-2, 0-0 Big South)
Campbell struggled at No. 4 Duke in its season-opener, falling 20-4, and Old Dominion squeezed by the Camels with a 12-11 victory off a goal with eight seconds left in the game last Saturday. Campbell is coming off a 5-13 season last year and finished 2-5 in the Big South.
Senior Loren Day leads the Camels with five goals on 15 shots and senior Erica Hitch has added four goals and two assists.
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