Youngstown State University
Kent State
Penguins Set to Host Kent State in MAC Opener on Sunday
3/15/2024 5:07:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
The Youngstown State lacrosse program is set to host Kent State in its Mid-American Conference Opener at Farmers National Bank Field on Sunday. First draw against the Golden Flashes is set for noon.
Gameday Info
YSU vs. Kent State
Scouting Kent State
The Golden Flashes are 3-6 on the season, earning wins over Saint Francis, Longwood and Delaware State. Kent State was defeated by Ohio State, George Mason, Delaware, Lindenwood, Cincinnati and Bucknell. The Penguins and Golden Flashes have clashed with three of the same teams this season. YSU was defeated by Longwood, 16-10, on March 9, while Kent State earned a 13-12 victory over the Lancers on March 7. Both teams were defeated by Cincinnati and Ohio State earlier in the season. Kent State was picked to win the Mid-American Conference in the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll while YSU was chosen tied for fifth in standings.
Jackie Wolford has led Kent State's offensive effort this season, scoring 30 goals and making eight assists for 38 points. Wolford ranks second in the MAC in average goals per game (3.3) and points per game (4.3). Zayda Crumpton is the second leading scorer for the Golden Flashes with 19 goals and 10 assists on the year.
Lily Miller leads Kent State defensively with 14 ground balls and eight caused turnovers. Crumpton has collected the most draw controls with 37. Goalie Ella Gravitt has recorded the majority of the minutes (254) in the cage and has made 45 saves while giving up 69 goals for a .395 save percentage. Taylor Monturo has also recorded a large portion of play at goal (197 minutes) and has made 35 saves while allowing 48 goals for a .422 save percentage.
Kent State is under the direction of head coach Brianne Tierney who has been with the program since its inaugural season in 2019. In 2023, Tierney led the team to a 10-8 overall and 7-1 record in MAC play to secure a share of the MAC regular season title for the first time in program history.
Penguins vs. Golden Flashes Series History
The Penguins own a 3-2 advantage over Kent State in the all-time competition between the teams while Kent State won the most recent matchup on Apr. 29, 2023 by a score of 18-16. Prior to YSU's loss to Kent State last season, they had been on a three-game winning streak over the Golden Flashes, winning both contests during the 2022 season and splitting the 2021 series 1-1.
By The Numbers
- Freshman Lena Cox leads the Penguins in goals (14) and points (17) and eclipsed the 10-goal mark with a career-high four goals against Stetson before recording two goals in each of the Penguins past two contests. Cox ranks sixth in the MAC in goals per game (2.00) and ninth in points per game (2.43).
- Freshman Ava Kreutzer skyrocketed to second in the team in goals (9) and points (12) after scoring seven goals on just seven shoots across the Penguins' in just two games. She delivered her first career hat trick against Stetson before scoring a career-high 4 goals against Longwood.
- Freshman Grace Rund is tied with Kreutzer with nine goals on the season. A trio of Penguins have scored seven goals on the year: Ally Garrett, Genna Cooke, and Katie Grottenthaler.
- Freshman Brooke Peck has scored five goals and made two assists on the season while Emma Hoffman has scored four times. Jade Shearer leads YSU in assists with four while also recording three goals for seven points. Other Penguins to find the back of the net are Molly Sheridan (2) and Callie Vaudry (1).
- Kayla Stecker has led the Penguins defensively this season. Kayla has grabbed 21 ground balls and caused 13 turnovers to tie for first in the Mid-American Conference in caused turnovers per game (1.86) and second in ground balls per game (3.00). Her six ground balls and five caused turnovers at Stetson were the second-best single-game marks in YSU history in both statistical categories.
- Genna Cooke leads a well-balanced draw control effort for YSU with 18 draw controls while Katie Grottenthaler has collected 14 and Mia Stahl 12.
- Paige Borkowski has recorded 677 saves in the Penguins' first eight games, allowing 123 goals for a .385 save percentage. Borkowski set the program's single-game saves record with 20 against Stetson.
Last Time Out
The Penguins moved to 0-7 after falling in a close game to George Washington, 14-11, at Farmers National Bank Field on Wednesday afternoon.
YSU owned a 5-2 advantage after the first quarter in a contest that saw numerous lead changes. The game was tied 11-11 with four minutes remaining but GW scored the final three goals to take the victory.
Freshman Lena Cox led YSU with four points on two goals and two assists while three other Penguins found the back of the net twice: Katie Grottenthaler, Emma Hoffman, and Genna Cooke.
Seven different Penguins scored on the day with Ally Garrett, Grace Rund, and Brooke Peck each delivering a goal. The Penguins took 34 shots, the most by YSU in a game this season, while GW shot 33 times. YSU was narrowly edged by the Revolutionaries in the draw control margin, 15-14.
In goal, freshman Paige Borkowski recorded 12 saves while giving up 14 goals for a .462 save percentage. Grottenthaler led all players with five draw controls while Jocelyn Fike grabbed two ground balls. Kayla Stecker caused a turnover and grabbed a ground ball.
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.
Penguins Tied for Fifth
In the 2024 MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Penguins were slated to finish tied for fifth with Akron with 13 points.
Kent State was slated to win the conference while Central Michigan was just behind in second. The Golden Flashes and Chippewas each garnered three first-place nods and tournament champion votes apiece. Robert Morris was slated to finish third in the 2024 poll and garnered a first-place vote and tournament champion nod. In fourth was Eastern Michigan just head of Youngstown State and Akron in fifth. Detroit Mercy was slated to finish seventh.
Up Next
The Penguins will return to the road for three straight contests beginning with a non-conference matchup with Lindenwood on Wednesday in St. Charles, Mo. First draw is set for 1 p.m. ET at Hunter Stadium.
For news and updates throughout the 2024 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on Twitter.
