Bulldogs prepare to face Pac-12 opponents on first road trip

Friday, February 15

Las Vegas, Nev. (Canyon Springs High School)

4 p.m. PT

Fresno State

California

Bulldogs prepare to face Pac-12 opponents on first road trip

2/14/2019 12:24:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

By: T.J. Stricklin / Communications Intern

FRESNO, Calif. – With a season-opening win under its belt, the Fresno State women's lacrosse team will hit the road over the weekend for the first time this season to take on Cal and Oregon for a pair of neutral-site games at Canyon Springs High School in Las Vegas. The Bulldogs will face the Bears at 4 p.m. PT on Friday, then square off against the Ducks at 11 a.m. PT on Sunday.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can follow along using live stats for both games. Check out the stats when Fresno State faces Cal here. Keep up with the action while the 'Dogs take on Oregon here. Both links are also located on the Bulldogs' schedule page.

QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State is 1-0 this season.

Reviewing last week: The Bulldogs defeated UMass Lowell last Sunday, 14-12, for their fourth consecutive season-opening win.

As a team, Fresno State's biggest advantage came from penalty opportunities. The 'Dogs took 11 free-position shots, converting six of them, while the River Hawks took five, converting two.

Freshman midfielder Sydney Skalstad led the 'Dogs in scoring with four consecutive goals in the first half, the most by a freshman since Tiffany Wallace in 2017. On defense, junior attacker Jordyn Pandolfo scooped two ground balls and notched eight draw controls, marking her tied for second in Fresno State history in draw controls for a single game. Junior midfielder Marina Mayo pitched in across the board, scoring two goals and adding three assists while also snagging four ground balls and causing two turnovers.

MPSF Rookie of the Week: Skalstad was named MPSF Rookie of the Week for her performance in her collegiate debut. The Baltimore, Md., native made the most of her opportunities, finding the back of the net in four of her six shots. The freshman also displayed her composure, driving home her first free position shot of her career.

SCOUTING CAL
The Bears are 0-2 this season. This will be Cal's first match away from home this season.

The Bears were picked to finish fifth in the 2019 Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll. Cal finished the 2018 season with a 6-12 record (2-8 Pac-12) and returns seven of its top eight point scorers from last season along with four-year starter and captain Jenny Wilkens guarding the net. Among the returners is also last season's leading scorer, senior attacker Kirsten Swanson, who compiled 56 points with 43 goals and 13 assists.

Last week: Cal went 0-2 at home last week, dropping to Michigan, 15-10, and Denver, 13-4. Through both matches, despite trailing in most major categories, Cal maintains a 23-22 draw control advantage over opponents. Senior attacker Caroline Corzel leads the Bears in scoring with four goals. Senior midfielder Eliza Christman is another major contributor, adding three goals, one assist, two ground balls and a team-leading 11 draw controls this season.

SCOUTING OREGON
The Ducks are 1-0 this season. This will be Oregon's first match away from home this season.

The Ducks were picked to finish fourth in the 2019 Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll. Oregon finished the 2018 season with a 9-9 record (4-6 Pac-12), returning 18 letterwinners and six starters to go with 10 newcomers. Leading the returners is senior attacker Shannon Williams, who broke her own program record for points in a singles season in 2018 with 74 total. Williams is currently in the top six in Oregon history in career goals, points, assists and shot attempts.

Last week: Oregon defeated Mercer at home last week, 13-6. The Ducks led the Bears in all major categories outside of draw controls, as the Bears took 11 to Oregon's 10. Williams leads the Ducks in points so far with seven after adding two goals and five assists last week. Midfielders Julia Taylor and Claire Domshick lead Oregon in scoring with three goals apiece.

2018 IN REVIEW
Fresno State finished the 2018 season at a mark of 9-9 (0-2 MPSF), the second best record in program history. The team went 7-3 on the road, notching four more wins away from home than any previous season.

Fresno State returns 16 letterwinners this season. The 'Dogs added five newcomers in the offseason to bolster their roster as well.

On the offensive side, Fresno State returns a crucial duo in junior Tiffiny Wallace and senior Sarah Bloise. The pair has led the squad in goals, points and assists over the past two seasons.

Bloise led the team with 40 goals and 20 assists for 60 points last season. Wallace was just behind in each category, picking up 36 goals and 18 assists for 54 points. Three other returning 'Dogs each surpassed 20 goals on the season in junior Marina Mayo (29), junior Kayla Galet (28) and senior Ryleigh Bone (22).

On defense, Fresno State also returns junior Olivia Mannon, who led the team in caused turnovers with 24 and draw controls with 64. Sophomore Hannah Krats will look to build on her freshman season success after scooping a team leading 31 ground balls to go with 20 caused turnovers.

In the box, Fresno State returns third-year starting goalkeeper, Laurel Maunder. The El Dorado Hills, Calif., native made 133 saves and caused 11 turnovers last season.

Fresno State has five players that were selected to the All-MPSF team last season in Bloise, Wallace, Mayo, Mannon and Krats.

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