'Dogs fall in high-scoring Senior Day matchup

Saturday, April 24

Fresno, CA

2:00 PM PT

Fresno State

UC Davis

Photo by: Keith Kountz

'Dogs fall in high-scoring Senior Day matchup

4/24/2021 6:45:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Savannah Stoeckle / Strategic Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State lacrosse team fell in a high-scoring contest with UC Davis on Senior Day at the Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium, 27-14. The Bulldogs were led in scoring by junior attacker Sydney Skalstad who scored four goals for her 10th multi-goal game of the season.

Senior goalkeeper Courtney Walburger set a career-high with 18 saves on Saturday. Her 18 saves mark the third-most in a game in program history.

The Bulldogs honored their six seniors before Saturday's opening draw. Fresno State celebrated the careers of Hannah Krats (MF), Megan Walaitis (A), Lauren Kiszely (A), Abbigayle Roberts (D), Lauren Gonzales (D) and Walburger (GK).

Behind Skalstad, freshman attacker Logann Eldredge scored her fifth career hat trick while Hennessey Evans scored three goals of her own. Kiszely, Walaitis, Krats and Devon Ortman each scored one goal apiece to round out scoring for the Bulldogs. Kiszely (1 goal, 3 assists) and Skalstad (4 goals) led the team in points. Skalstad and Evans led the team with five draw controls each.

The Bulldog defenders matched up against an Aggie offense that fired off 54 shots (29 on goal) in the game.

How it Happened
Fresno State struck first with a goal from Krats in the opening two minutes. UC Davis responded with two goals in the next two minutes, but Skalstad ended the run with her first at the 25:19 mark. The Aggies scored four-straight over the next four minutes to take a 6-2 lead with 21:56 remaining. Evans snapped the run with a free-position goal, and Skalstad scored another just 40 seconds later to cut the Aggie lead to two, 6-4.

The teams traded the next two goals as UCD scored, then Eldredge scored her first of the game at the 18:38 mark of the first half.

UC Davis' Sorana Larson scored the next three goals of the game to put the Aggies up 10-5 with 13:43 on the clock. Larson was a sore point for the Bulldog defenders as the senior went on to score nine goals in the game.

Skalstad snapped the Larson run with a free-position goal, but the Aggies answered right back with three more goals to extend the lead to 13-6. Fresno State then got two goals off from Evans and Walaitis to make it 13-8 in favor of UC Davis with 5:38 left in the period. UC Davis closed out the period with four-straight goals to take a 17-8 lead into the break.

The Bulldogs came out firing in the second half, opening the period with a 4-1 run in the first seven minutes of play. Fresno State saw goals from Eldredge, Evans, Ortman and Skalstad in that span. The Bulldogs got within six, 18-12, but the Aggies used a five-goal scoring run to extend their lead beyond what Fresno State could respond to.

Kiszely scored her third goal of the season to snap the Aggie scoring run with 12:08 left, but the Aggie offense fired off another four-straight as time wound down. Eldredge scored on the assist from Kristen Zenor to mark the final goal for either team with 22 seconds left in the game.

Up Next - Fresno State will be the No. 3 seed of the MPSF Championship Tournament, hosted by the Bulldogs at the Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium next weekend (April 30 - May 1). The Bulldogs will face No. 2-seeded San Diego State on Friday, April 30 at 2 p.m.

UC Davis earned the No. 1 seed, and will face the winner of Friday's game for the championship title on Saturday, May 1.

"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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