The Youngstown State women's lacrosse program has announced their full schedule for the 2023 season, head coach Kendyl Clarkson announced.

The Penguins will play 17 games including nine home games. YSU will face nine non-conference opponents to start the season then face Mid-American Conference foes Robert Morris and Akron twice and square-off against Central Michigan, Kent State, Detroit Mercy, and Eastern Michigan once.

"We are beyond excited to hit the ground running in 2023." Clarkson said. "With this being our second full season of competition, we were able to add strong non-conference opponents that will challenge us to play high-level, fast-paced lacrosse right out of the gates."

The Penguins will open the season with four non-conference home games hosted inside the Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS), beginning with a matchup against Butler on Feb. 12. The remaining three matchups in the WATTS will take place in a week time span, hosting Marquette on Feb. 17, Cincinnati on Feb. 22, and Duquesne on Feb. 24.

"To have the opportunity to play our first four games in front of a home crowd, inside WATTS will bring a contagious energy and competitive spirit that we will carry through the season," Clarkson said. "Our strength of schedule will prepare us for physical MAC play and ultimately guide us to a strong postseason run."

YSU will begin March on the road, first heading to Niagara Falls, N.Y., for a matchup against Niagara on March 2 as well as traveling to Evanston, Ill. to take on Northwestern on March 5.

The Guins will return home, this time at Farmers National Bank Field, on March 14 as they host Gardner Webb.

The Penguins will finish non-conference play and round out the month of March with a two-game road stretch as they head to Buffalo, N.Y., to square off against Canisius on March 19 and to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on Pitt on March 28.

YSU will open conference play at home, facing-off against Robert Morris at Farmers on April 1. Then, the Guins will travel to Akron for a midweek contest against the Zips on April 5.

Returning home to Farmers, YSU will host new-MAC member, Eastern Michigan on April 8 before squaring-off against Robert Morris on April 12 in Moon Township, Pa., for the teams' second clash.

The Penguins will again face off against Akron, this time at home, on April 15 followed by a road matchup in Mount Pleasant, Mich., against Central Michigan on April 19.

YSU's final home contest is set for April 22 against Detroit Mercy. The Penguins will close out the regular season on the road as they face Kent on April 29.

During the 2022 season, the Guins earned a share of the MAC regular season title in just the program's second season. They finished with a 10-8 overall record and were 8-2 in conference play. Clarkson, a former assistant coach in the program's first two campaigns, was named the head coach in September 2022.

All dates and opponents are subject to change, and the Mid-American Conference will announce more details on the conference championship in the coming months.