Youngstown State University
Eastern Michigan
Penguins Host MAC Newcomer Eastern Michigan on Saturday
4/6/2023 3:17:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
| Game Information | |
|---|---|
| Saturday | April 8 @ 1 PM | |
| Farmers National Bank Field | Youngstown, Ohio | |
| Visitor's Guide | |
| Live Coverage | |
|---|---|
| Youtube | @YSUsports | |
| Live Stats | YSUsports.com | |
| Live Tweets | @YSUwlax | |
The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team will return home to face Mid-American Conference newcomer Eastern Michigan on Saturday at Farmers National Bank Field.
First draw against the Eagles is set for 1 p.m., and the contest will be streamed on the YSUsports YouTube channel.
Scouting Eastern Michigan
The Eagles are in their inaugural season as a program and are currently 1-9 overall and 0-2 in MAC play. They are coming off conference losses to Detroit Mercy, 17-7, and Central Michigan, 17-11. Eastern Michigan earned its first win in series history against Delaware State on March 7, 12-7.
Leading the Eagles' scoring effort is Mackenzie Blackwell with a team-leading 24 goals on the season. She also leads the team in points (26), shots (53), and draw controls (46). Also scoring in double-digits for Eastern Michigan are Sydney Lawrence (16) and Tracy Grollman (13).
Giuliana Ditsky has spent the majority of time in the net for the Eagles. Ditsky has made 76 saves while giving up 110 goals for a .409 save percentage.
Eastern Michigan is under the direction of Sara Tisdale who was chosen to head the new program competing in its first season. Tisdale is the former head coach of Central Michigan, leading the Chippewas to a MAC Championship and NCAA tournament berth in 2022.
By the Numbers
- Natalie Calandra-Ryan leads the Penguins in goals scored (35), points (48), and draw controls (66). She is tied for first in assists with Erin Clark who both have made 13 this season. Calandra-Ryan is also second in caused turnovers, forcing 14 on the season.
- Ali Korin is second on the team in goals with 21 while Clark is third with 18. Clark ranks second in points with 31 and has also tallied the second-most draw controls with 29. Korin ranks third on the team in both points (30) and assists (9).
- Freshman Ally Garrett rounds out the Penguins' top-five scores with 12 while Jordan Miller has also scored in double-digits with 11 goals on the season.
- Abby Yesko (5), Taylor Bumstead (4), Tristen Chang (3), Shannyn Cullen (2), Dany Emler (2), Jade Shearer (2), and Molly Sheridan (2) have also found the back of the net multiple times in 2023.
- Defender Aryss Lindsey leads the team in caused turnovers with 15. She is also second in ground balls with 17.
- Goalkeeper Mikaela Staranko has started all 11 games for the Penguins in 2023. She's made 92 saves on the season on 288 shots-faced while giving up 136 goals for a .404 save percentage. Redshirt-freshman Jacqueline Cornell has also spent some time in the net, making 30 saves while giving up 37 goals for a .448 save percentage.
Conference Comparisons
- Youngstown State impressively leads the MAC in goals per game (11.73), points per game (16.64), and shots-on-goal per game (20.00). The Penguins also rank second in assists per game, averaging 4.91.
- Sophomore Natalie Calandra-Ryan ranks first in goals per game (3.18), points per game (4.36), and draw controls per game (6.00). Her six draw controls per game are more than all other MAC players by a large margin.
- Erin Clark also ranks in the top 10 in several statistical categories as she sits third in assists per game (1.18), seventh in points per game (2.82), and tenth in draw controls per game (2.64).
- Ali Korin is tied for eighth in points per game with 2.73 and rounds out the top 10 in goals per game with 1.91.
- Defender Aryss Lindsey is ranked third in caused turnovers per game with 1.50.
Last Time Out
The Penguins impressed in a double-digit victory over Akron, 18-7, at Stile Athletics Field House.
Eight Penguins scored in the matchup while four Guins delivered hat tricks. Taylor Bumstead and Ali Korin led the Penguins with four goals a-piece while Jordan Miller and Natalie Calandra-Ryan each scored three.
Bumstead had a career day, scoring her first career goal all the way to being tied with Korin as the Penguins' top scorer. Miller's hat trick was her first of the season and second of her career.
Korin's six points led all scorers as she added two assists to her four-goal performance. Erin Clark also made two assists on the day while scoring a goal and leading the team with three ground balls.
Tristen Chang, Ally Garrett, and Jade Shearer each scored a goal to round out the Penguins' scoring effort. Chang led the Guins in draw controls with seven.
Mikaela Staranko impressed in the net with 15 saves on 27 Akron shots, only giving up seven goals for a career-high .682 save percentage.
Offensive Awards
Two Penguins have been named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week in 2023: Erin Clark and Natalie Calandra-Ryan.
Calandra-Ryan earned the award on March 7 after impressive performances against Niagara and No. 3 Northwestern, scoring four goals, netting nine draw controls, and grabbing two ground balls across both games.
Clark earned this season's first Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week for her all-around impressive offensive performance against Butler in the Guins' season-opener, delivering a seven-point performance and scoring the game-winning goal.
Penguins Picked Fourth
YSU was selected fourth in the 2023 Mid-American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 31 points.
1. Robert Morris (4) – 46 points
2. Central Michigan (3) – 43 points
3. Kent State – 32 points
4. Youngstown State – 31 points
5. Akron – 18 points
T6. Eastern Michigan – 13 points
T6. Detroit Mercy – 13 points
Up Next
Youngstown State will go on the road to face Robert Morris on April 12 for their second matchup with the Colonials this season. First draw is set for noon at Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, Pa.
For news and updates throughout the 2023 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on Twitter.
