Youngstown State University
Cincinnati
Penguins Set for Road Battle With Cincinnati Thursday
2/27/2024 1:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
The Youngstown State women's lacrosse program is set to battle with Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday. First draw against the Bearcats is set for 4 p.m.
Gameday Info
YSU at Cincinnati
Scouting Cincinnati
The Bearcats are on a three-game winning streak after opening the season with two losses for a 3-2 record so far in 2024. Cincinnati defeated MAC members Robert Morris, 15-0, and Central Michigan, 17-4. The Bearcats most recently earned a victory over Butler, 17-4, but were defeated by Marquette, 19-12, and #10 Michigan, 14-4, earlier in the season.
Leading the Bearcats' scoring effort in 2024 is Camryn Callaghan who has scored 23 goals in just five games. Callaghan has also delivered two assists to own 25 points on the season. Former Penguin Lauren Ottensmeyer ranks second in goals scored (16) and points (18) while Elizabeth Murphy leads the team in assists with eight.
Julie Rose leads the Bearcats at draw, recording 13 draw controls on the year. Alexis Rich has collected the most ground balls with 14 and also leads the team in caused turnovers with 10. Goalie Victoria Macres has recorded the majority of minutes in the Cage for Cincinnati, making 30 saves while giving up 36 goals for a .455 save percentage.
Cincinnati is under the direction of veteran head coach Gina Thomas (Oliver) who is in her 12th season with the Bearcats.
Penguins vs. Cincinnati Series History
The Penguins and Bearcats have met one time in program history as Cincinnati narrowly defeated Youngstown State, 14-11, on Feb. 22 2023.
By The Numbers
- Freshmen Katie Grottenthaler and Lena Cox lead the Penguins in goals scored with five apiece. Freshmen Grace Rund has scored four goals on the year while a trio of Penguins have delivered three: Genna Cooke, Ally Garrett, and Jade Shearer.
- Shearer and Cox are tied for the lead in points with six each. Shearer leads in assists with three, all against Duquesne.
- Also scoring multiple goals this season are Brooke Peck, Ava Kreutzer, and Molly Sheridan who have each found the back of the net twice while Emma Hoffman has scored once.
- Genna Cooke leads YSU with 11 draw controls while Kayla Stecker leads in ground balls (7) and Sheridan has caused the most turnovers (5)
- Paige Borkowski has recorded 31 saves in the Penguins' first three games, allowing 47 goals for a .397 save percentage.
- Freshmen scorers Grottenthaler, Cox, Rund, and Cooke have taken turns recording hat tricks. Grottenthaler and Cox recorded three goals each in the Penguins' season opener at Oregon while Rund delivered a hat trick vs. Ohio State. Cooke took her turn with a hatty at Duquesne.
- Nearly half of the Penguins' shot find the back of the net as the team has scored 30 goals on 61 total shots for a .492 percentage.
- YSU has consistently recorded better offensive statistics in second halves while holding their opponents to less. 22 of the Penguins' 30 goals this season have been scored in the second half while their opponents' have only scored 19 of 53 goals in the second half.
Last Time Out
The Penguins scored 11 goals in the second half but couldn't complete a comeback against Duquesne in a 17-13 loss at Rooney Field on Thursday. This loss brought the Penguins early 2024 record to 0-3, having been dealt losses by Power-5 members Oregon and Ohio State to open the season.
Against Duquesne, Genna Cooke scored a second-half hat trick as the Penguins outscored Duquesne 11-8. Cooke scored her first career goal early in the third quarter and helped spearhead a comeback attempt. Cooke's three goals on just three total shots led the Penguins while both Jade Shearer and Ally Garrett found the back of the net twice, all in the second half. Shearer led the Penguins in assists and points as she gave a helping hand on three goals to add to her own two for five points.
Lena Cox, Ava Kreutzer, Grace Rund, Molly Sheridan, and Emma Hoffman each scored a single goal for the Penguins while Cooke, Cox, and Kreutzer each assisted on a Penguin goal.
Sheridan led the Penguins in caused turnovers, forcing three, and also added two ground balls and two draw controls to her impressive statline.
Kayla Stecker grabbed four ground balls on the day while Cooke and Rund each tallied four draw controls apiece to lead YSU.
Goalie Paige Borkowski matched her career high with 11 saves in goal, allowing 17 Duquesne scores for a .393 save percentage.
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 conclude their three-game road stretch at Stetson on Monday at the Athletic Training Center in DeLand, Fla. First draw against the Hatters is set for noon.
For news and updates throughout the 2024 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on Twitter.
