'Dogs to host MPSF championship, face SDSU in semifinal

Friday, April 30

Fresno, CA

2:00 p.m. PT

Fresno State

No. 2 seed - San Diego State

Tickets

Photo by: Keith Kountz

'Dogs to host MPSF championship, face SDSU in semifinal

4/29/2021 1:05:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Game Notes (PDF)Championship Central MPSF

By: Savannah Stoeckle / Strategic Communications Assistant

No. 3-seed Fresno State (1-11, 0-2 MPSF) vs No. 2-seed San Diego State (5-8, 1-1 MPSF)
Friday, April 30 • 2:00 p.m. PT • Fresno, Calif.
LIVE: Stats • WATCH: Mountain West Network • Live updates on Twitter
Tickets
Series History: San Diego State leads, 10-1

ABOUT THE MPSF CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT - Fresno State is the host of the 2021 MPSF Championship tournament this season. Fresno State (No. 3 seed) and San Diego State (No. 2 seed) will face off in the semifinal game on Friday. The winner of Friday's match will play UC Davis (No. 1 seed) in the championship game on Saturday at 2 p.m.

'DOGS AT THE MPSF TOURNAMENT - Fresno State has played in the MPSF Championship Tournament every season since 2016, excluding the 2020 season as the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bulldogs have never advanced passed their first game of the tournament. In their last tournament appearance (2019), the Bulldogs fell in the semifinal game to the No. 2 seed San Diego State 18-15 in Davis, Calif.

QUICK LOOK AT THE MATCHUP - Fresno State and San Diego State met once this season (April 17). The Bulldogs fell to the Aztecs in San Diego, 18-11. Fresno State's only win against the Aztecs was a 17-12 win in Fresno in 2017.

LAST TIME OUT - Fresno State fell in a high-scoring matchup with UC Davis on April 24, 27-14. The Bulldogs honored their six seniors in Senior Day last weekend.

WELCOME BACK, RED WAVE - Fresno State announced its newest attendance policy on April 26, opening Fresno State's outdoor events to fans at 33 percent capacity. For lacrosse, fans will be allowed at the Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium for the MPSF Championship (April 30-May 1) while space remains. All spectators will be expected to follow health and safety protocols, including wearing a mask at all times, and keeping the required social distance between pods of patrons. Please note, no concession offerings will be available this spring season so fans will be allowed to bring their own food and beverages. No alcohol, glass bottles, ice chests or large coolers will be permitted.

ALL-MPSF SELECTIONS - Fresno State had five student-athletes selected to the All-MPSF team, including the Rookie of the Year selection in freshman attacker Logann Eldredge. Fresno State had additional selections in junior attacker Sydney Skalstad, senior midfielder Hannah Krats, sophomore midfielder Hennessey Evans and freshman defender Devon Ortman. Skalstad and Krats represent the 'Dogs as two-time All-MPSF selections.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Senior goalkeeper Courtney Walburger was named the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week after chalking 18 saves and two ground balls against UC Davis last Saturday. Her 18 saves were a career-high and the most by any goalkeeper in the MPSF this season. Walburger became the first MPSF Defensive Player of the Week since former keeper Laurel Maunder earned the honor in Feb. 2018. Including Walburger, the Bulldogs have had nine MPSF Player of the Week honors this season - two offensive, six rookie and one defensive.

BIG YEAR FOR THE ROOKIE - Fresno State has had first-year Bulldogs come in and make a name for themselves early in their careers. The rookie of this season is Logann Eldredge, who has scored 23 goals, dished nine assists, and has fired 59 shots this season. The freshman has scored at least one goal in all but one game in her collegiate career. Eldredge, a native of Herriman, Utah, has been named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Rookie of the Week five times this season. Eldredge's fifth MPSF Rookie of the Week honor tied the program record for most conference rookie of the week honors in a single season. She is tied with now-junior Bulldog Sydney Skalstad who earned the honor five times in her freshman season (2019). Eldredge is the first Bulldog to earn three-straight MPSF weekly honors, of any kind, in program history.

CENTURY CLUB - Fresno State junior Sydney Skalstad and senior Hannah Krats have both entered the 100-career draw control club this season. Skalstad is third in program history with 138 career draw controls in just three years. Krats broke the 100-career draw controls mark at San Diego State as she has 102 in her career. The duo is two of just five players to ever reach the 100-career draw control mark at Fresno State.

SHE CAN ASSIST - Senior attacker Lauren Kiszely has made her name known in the Bulldog program for sharing the ball and positioning her teammates up to score. Kiszely leads the team this season with 21 assists through the first 12 games of the year. She is second in program history with 55 career assists and she holds the program's top two single game bests.

SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE - The Aztecs finished the regular season with a 5-8, 1-1 MPSF record. SDSU is led in points by Emily Resnick who has 43 on the year behind 21 goals and 22 assists. Lexi Tan is the Aztec's leading scorer with 27 goals on the year. Bailey Brown paces the Aztec defense with 18 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. Goalkeeper Katy Sharrets is ranked No. 3 in the NCAA with 144 total saves on the year. All four of the mentioned Aztec lacrosse players were selected to the All-MPSF team this season.

"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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