Bulldogs back on the road to face No. 20 USC

Fresno State (1-5, 0-0 MPSF) at No. 20 USC (3-2, 1-0 Pac-12)
Sunday, Mar. 21 • 12:00 p.m. PT • Los Angeles, Calif.
LIVE: Stats • WATCH: Pac-12 Network • Live updates on Twitter
Series History: USC leads, 5-0.

QUICK LOOK - Fresno State is 1-5 on the season, and looks to snap a four-game losing streak on Sunday.

LAST TIME OUT - The Bulldogs fell 20-9 to UC Davis at Bulldog Stadium on Mar. 13. Fresno State's nine goals scored against the Aggies were the second-least in a game for the Bulldogs this season. The 'Dogs were led by Megan Walaitis with three goals while Courtney Walburger spent the whole game in the cage with a career-high 14 saves.

ROOKIES STANDING OUT - The Bulldogs have won three of the five MPSF Rookie of the Week honors so far this season as freshman attacker Logann Eldredge has picked up two honors and freshman defender Devon Ortman earned the other. Eldredge earned last week's honor after three goals on seven shots, one assist, one draw control and one ground ball against Cal.

WINNING THE DRAW - Fresno State has made itself comfortable in the draw, winning 92 this season. The Bulldogs rank No. 17 in the NCAA in draw controls per game (15.33). Sydney Skalstad leads the team with 32 draw controls on the year as she brings her career total to 114, and officially sits third in program history in career draw controls. Skalstad ranks No. 38 in the NCAA in draw controls per game (5.33). Ortman is second on the team with 16, and Hannah Krats has 14.

ALWAYS ATTACKING - Fresno State's offense has taken a shot at every opportunity it can. The Bulldogs have fired 199 shots on the year, 141 on goal. As a team, the Bulldog offense ranks No. 15 in the NCAA in shots per game (33.00) and No. 26 in shots on goal per game (23.50). Skalstad leads the Bulldog offense with 45 shots and 32 shots on goal. She ranks No. 24 in total shots per game, averaging 7.4 per contest. She is No. 43 in the NCAA in shots on goal per game (7.50). Eldredge has a team-best .481 shooting percentage off of 13 goals on 27 shots.

FIRST YEAR, BIG YEAR - The Bulldogs have seen productive work out of their freshmen. Eldredge leads the team with 19 points on the year, on 13 goals and six assists. Eldredge also adds six ground balls and five draw controls to her stat line this season. Ortman contributes more on the defensive with 15 ground balls, 16 draw controls and six caused turnovers on the year. Ortman has also added two goals and two assists for the 'Dogs.

SHE CAN ASSIST - Senior attacker Lauren Kiszely leads the team with 10 of its 32 assists on the year. Kiszely also leads the conference and is No. 30 in the NCAA in total assists. The senior has gotten comfortable dishing the assists in her career as she has 44 and sits third all-time in career assists.

COURTNEY IN THE CAGE - Senior goalkeeper Courtney Walburger had some big shoes to fill with the program's loss of four-year starter Laurel Maunder. Walburger wasted no time getting comfortable between the pipes as she is fresh off of a career-best 14 saves versus UC Davis. Walburger has played all the minutes this season for the 'Dogs and has 62 saves. She is currently No. 7 in the NCAA in total saves and No. 15 in saves per game, averaging 10.33 a game.

ENDURANCE FOR DAYS - Fresno State is sporting a minimal roster this season due to a number of reasons. The Bulldog lacrosse team is made up of just 18 student-athletes. Outside of the starting 12, there are not many available for substitutions in a game, but that has not stopped the 'Dogs from competing for a full 60 minutes.

SCOUTING NO. 20 USC
USC is 3-2 this season with a game versus Arizona State still to be played before the meeting with the Bulldogs. USC is tied for No. 20 with Stanford in this week's IWLCA team rankings. It is the 63rd consecutive week that USC has been in the rankings. USC is the defending Pac-12 Champions (2019).

USC's two losses this season were to No. 13 Boston College and No. 5 Stony Brook in back-to-back games on a February east coast trip. The Women of Troy have scored 20 goals twice this season. USC is led in scoring by sophomore Ella Heaney with 12 goals. Senior Maddie McDaniel leads the team with 50 draw controls on the year, and she ranks No. 4 in the NCAA in draw controls per game.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley '' – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.

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Bulldogs back on the road to face No. 20 USC

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Players Mentioned

Logann Eldredge

Lauren Kiszely

Hannah Krats

Laurel Maunder

Devon Ortman

Sydney Skalstad

Megan Walaitis

Courtney Walburger

Fresno State Athletics