Youngstown State University
Duquesne
Lacrosse Begins Three-Game Road Stretch at Duquesne on Thursday
2/20/2024 11:53:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
The Youngstown State women's lacrosse program will face Duquesne at Rooney Field in Pittsburgh Pa. on Thursday in its first of three straight road games. First draw against the Dukes is set for 4 p.m.
Gameday Info
YSU at Duquesne
Scouting Duquesne
Duquesne split a pair of contests to open the season, losing to Pitt, 20-2, while defeating MAC member Eastern Michigan, 16-13, to head into game three with a 1-1 record.
Leading Duquesne in goals scored is Corinne Webb who has found the back of the net five times this season. Mackenzie Leszczynski (4), Lindsey Newton (3), and Emma Raines (3) have also found the back of the net multiple times while Emelie Curtis has been delivering a helping hand with six assists and one goal to lead the Dukes with seven points.
Leszczynski has recorded six draw controls while Hanna Pawela leads the Dukes defensively with an impressive stat line of 11 caused turnovers and 12 ground balls in just two games.
Goalie Rachel O'Toole has spent the majority of minutes in the cage for Duquesne making 10 saves while allowing 24 goals for a .294 save percentage. The Dukes are under the direction of veteran head coach Corinne Desrosiers who is entering her sixth season with the Dukes and 16th as a collegiate head coach.
Penguins vs. Duquesne Series History
The Penguins and Dukes have played twice in program history with Duquesne earning victories over the Penguins in their matchups the past two seasons. Most recently, the Penguins hosted the Dukes on Feb. 24, 2023 and were defeated by a narrow margin of 16-13. On Feb. 14, 2022, YSU was defeated by Duquesne 19-15 at Rooney Field.
By The Numbers
- Freshmen Katie Grottenthaler and Lena Cox lead the Penguins in goals scored with four apiece. Freshmen Grace Rund (3) and Brooke Peck (2) have also found the back of the net multiple times across the Penguins' first two games.
- Four Penguins have scored once this season: Molly Sheridan, Jade Shearer, Ava Kreutzer, and Ally Garrett. Kreutzer leads in assists with one against Oregon.
- Genna Cooke leads YSU with seven draw controls while Shearer has collected five.
- Kayla Stecker has caused the most turnovers so far, forcing three and is also tied for the lead in ground balls with three.
- Paige Borkowski has been a strong force in the cage in the Penguins' first two games, recording 20 saves overall and allowing 30 goals for a .400 average save percentage. Borkowski has recorded three ground balls to tie Stecker for most on the team.
Last Time Out
The Penguins outscored Ohio State 8-5 in the second half but couldn't overcome its first half deficit in a 17-9 loss to the Buckeyes in WATTS on Friday to fall to 0-2 on the season.
Grace Rund led the Penguins with a hat trick of goals, scoring the firsts of her career, while Katie Grottenthaler, Ava Kreutzer, Ally Garrett, Brooke Peck, and Jade Shearer each found the back of the net once.
Goalie Paige Borkowski made 11 saves, nine of which came in the first half. Borkowksi allowed 17 goals for a .393 save percentage and held the Buckeyes to just 1-of-5 on free-position shots
Kayla Stecker led the Penguins in both caused turnovers and ground balls. She collected three ground balls and forced two turnovers. Genna Cooke and Shearer each recorded three draw controls.
Harris at the Helm
Head coach Rob Harris took the reins of the Penguins in July of 2023 after nine impressive seasons as head coach of the Division II Davenport Panthers. In 2021, Harris delivered a historic season at Davenport, leading the team to its first NCAA top-25 ranking as well as a GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference) tournament finals appearance. During his tenure with the Panthers, he led the team to an impressive 70 percent win percentage (102-45), winning both an NWLL National and NAIA Invitational Championship in his career.
In August of 2023, Harris brought on experienced coach Taylor Woolard to his staff, who spent three seasons as the head women's lacrosse coach at Division II Converse University. Woolard serves as associate head coach of the Penguins. Further detailing the experience of the Penguins' coaching staff is Halle Bielke who served as interim head coach of the Penguins during the 2023 season and remains with the Penguins as assistant coach in 2024.
Up Next
The Penguins will face in-state competition Cincinnati on Thursday, Feb. 29 at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. First draw is slated for 4 p.m.
For news and updates throughout the 2024 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on Twitter.
