'Dogs down Bears 15-11 in home opener

Friday, February 16

Fresno, CA

4 p.m. PT

Fresno State

2-1

Mercer

0-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Mercer	5	6	11
Fresno State	6	9	15

'Dogs down Bears 15-11 in home opener

2/16/2018 10:24:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

By: Taylor Martinez / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State women's lacrosse team defeated Mercer 15-11 in its 2018 home opener in the Fresno State Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium. The Bulldogs were led by Tiffiny Wallace's four goals on Friday night.

"This is our favorite place to play, we have an amazing stadium and amazing fans," said head coach Jessica Giglio. "This team has a lot of pride in playing for Fresno State and we want to make sure that comes across on our home field. I'm so confident in our team and we played the way we were capable of playing tonight. Looking forward to Vanderbilt, If we play the way we did tonight we are going to be really hard to stop."

Sarah Bloise added three goals on the night. Mackenzie Wallevand and Ryleigh Bone notched two goals apiece. Kennedy Mulvaney, Kayla Galet, Megan Walaitis and Hannah Krats added a goal each to round out scoring.

"Tonight was a great team win for us," said Wallace. "Bloise and I work really well together and the longer we play together, the better we connect on offense and the more looks we get on attack."

FIRST HALF
Wallace, Bloise, Wallevand, Bone, Mulvaney, Galet, Krats, Marina Mayo, Olivia Mannon, Alex Romanowski and Abigail Bergevin chalked the start for the 'Dogs, with Laurel Maunder in the goal.

Fresno State started the game with back-to-back goals from Wallace and Bone, to go up 2-0 with 24:58 left in the half.

The Bears went on a 3-0 lead to go up 3-2 with 20:59 in the half.

The 'Dogs responded with a 3-0 run of their own sparked by a goal from Galet. Fresno State led 6-4 with 2:33 left in the half.

Mercer scored to make it a one-goal game going into half time, 6-5.

SECOND HALF
The Bears scored back-to-back goals to retake the lead 7-6 with 26:34 left in the half.

The teams exchanged goals with both offenses firing until Fresno State went on a 3-0 run to take a 10-8 lead, after a free position shot from Bloise. Mercer attempted a comeback with back-to-back goals with 10:52 left in the game, but Fresno State scored four goals in a row to secure the win. The clock would expire with the 'Dogs up 15-11, their highest scoring game of the season.

Adding to the memorable 2018 home opener, Krats, Walaitis and Mulvaney scored their first collegiate goals as 'Dogs.

NOTABLE STATS
Fresno State owned the advantage in shots (32-27), ground balls (24-21) and saves (11-9). The 'Dogs had less turnovers than the Bears (23-13).

On offense, the duo of Tiffiny Wallace and Sarah Bloise led the 'Dogs. Wallace tallied four goals, six shots, two ground balls and one caused turnover. Bloise recorded three goals, one assist, four shots and one caused turnover.

On defense, Olivia Mannon had a team-high five caused turnovers and chalked three ground balls. Goalkeeper Laurel Maunder recorded a season-high 11 saves.

WHAT'S NEXT
Fresno State will host Vanderbilt on Monday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. PT. Admission and parking to all Fresno State lacrosse games are free of charge.

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" - The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.