Youngstown State University
Akron
Penguins Open Conference Play at Home on Sunday Versus Akron
3/15/2025 1:17:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team is set to begin Mid-American Conference play on Sunday when they welcome the Akron Zips to Youngstown. The game will be played indoors at the Watson and Tressel Training Site due to heavy rainfall expected after initially being scheduled to be played outdoors at Farmers National Bank Field. The opening draw is set for Noon.
Fans in attendance will receive a YSU Women's Lacrosse t-shirt, courtesy of Mercy Health, Dunkin, HBK and Avalon Downtown.
The game will also be broadcast on the YSUSports YouTube channel.
Last Time Out
The Penguins are coming off their third-consecutive victory last Saturday as they defeated Radford 18-8, sweeping a three-game road trip with each matchup coming against opponents from the Big South Conference (Wofford, Gardner-Webb).
The win over the Highlanders marked YSU's fifth win over a non-conference opponent this season, which marks a new single-season program record.
Katie Grottenthaler had once again led the Penguins offensively with three goals scored, now extending her streak of securing at least a hat trick in four-consecutive games. She is the first Penguin to accomplish this feat since Ali Korin did so in 2023.
She was one of seven different Penguins scored multiple goals during the game, with the other six being Genna Cooke, Lena Cox, Ally Garrett, Ava Kreuzter, Brooke Peck, and Mia Yuris, who each scored two goals.
Cox also tied a season-high three-assists, giving her a game-high five points. This was the third time this season that she has dished out three assists, with each occurrence happening within the last four games.
Ava Kreutzer led the team with three ground balls, while Mia Stahl had a team-high two caused turnovers.
Brooke Harper had an exceptional game in the cage, garnering a season-high 10 saves through the first three quarters in the cage, while only allowing six goals. Kara Goertz played the final quarter in the cage, saving four shots while only allowing two goals.
Like most games during this winning streak, the Penguins' offense started the game vs. Radford red-hot, scoring the game's first three goals within the opening four minutes. Sami Drew opened the scoring with 13:15 remaining in the first quarter, followed by Brooke Peck just 20 seconds, and then a Katie Grottenthaler goal at the 11:44 mark of the first quarter gave YSU a quick 3-0 lead. Radford responded with the next two goals to cut the deficit to one with 4:31 remaining in the quarter, but YSU finished the quarter as strongly as they began it. Lena Cox scored with 2:02 remaining in the quarter, followed by Grottenthaler's second goal of the day with 1:18 on the clock, giving YSU a 5-2 lead at the end of the period.
For the second time this week, Ava Kreutzer scored the opening two goals of the second quarter. Like Monday vs. Wofford, Kreuzter gave the Penguins offense a powerful start to the second quarter of action, scoring at the 14:12 mark, then shortly after with 11:02 remaining in the quarter. Both of Kreutzer's goals were assisted by Lena Cox. The Penguins would add some extra cushion to their lead to begin the quarter with a goal from Genna Cooke at the 6:21 mark, followed by Brooke Peck's second goal of the game at the 5:08 mark of the quarter to give YSU a 6-0 run spanning from the first quarter. Radford would snap their scoreless drought of 15:57 with a Mady Cheney goal with 3:34 remaining in the quarter, making the score 9-3. YSU would add two more goals before the half, Claire Baenziger's first with 3:00 remaining, and Genna Cooke's second of the half with just 1 second remaining until the break, giving YSU an 11-3 lead.
The 11 first-half goals for the Penguins were their most in the first half of a game all season, and the second-highest number of goals that they have scored in any half this season, only trialing their 12 second-half goals vs. Butler on Feb. 28.
The second half started with two more goals for YSU, as Ally Garrett started the second half scoring just 40 seconds into the third quarter, making the score 12-3, and Grottenthaler took advantage of the Penguins being a player-up, netting her third goal of the game with 12:29 remaining to push the lead out to 13-3. Radford would end the Penguins' 4-0 run at the 10:58 mark of the third quarter, before the two teams would trade goals for the rest of the quarter. The Penguins would get goals from Garett at the 10:44 mark, Cox at the 7:24 mark, and their final goal of the quarter was from Grace Rund with just 1:05 remaining in the quarter, which helped give YSU a 16-6 lead through 45 minutes.
The Penguins scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter, both coming from Mia Yuris, to give YSU their largest lead of the day at 18-6 with just 5:23 remaining, before Radford would score the game's final two goals, giving the Penguins an 18-8 victory.
YSU dominated the draw control battle 20-7. This marks the third-consecutive game that the Penguins have been favored in draw controls, after winning the category battle just once through the first five games of the season.
About Akron
The Zips come into Sunday's matchup with a 4-4 record and on a two-game losing streak, having lost their last game to Rider, 16-12, on Wednesday.
While the Zips are 3-1 at home this season, they are still in search of their first road win, currently sitting at 0-3 away from Akron.
Looking back at their loss vs. Rider on Wednesday, it was a back-and-forth game that was not separated by more than four goals at any point. The game was tied on six different occasions. After the game was tied at 10 at the end of three quarters, Rider scored five of the first six goals of the fourth quarter to take a four-goal advantage with 5:31 remaining, and it was too much for Akron to overcome.
Five different Zips scored multiple goals, led by Katie Baumer, who netted three goals.
Kaelen Sieja had 11 saves and a team-high 9 ground balls in her first start of the season in the cage.
Rider outshot Akron 37-25, and also were favored in the draw control battle, 22-10, including an 8-1 edge in the first quarter.
Zips Stat Leaders Through Five Games
Points – Sienna Hinchcliffe (34)
Goals – Sienna Hinchcliffe (27)
Assists – Katie Baumer, Noelle Boyd (8)
Ground Balls – Hanna Sanders (21)
Caused Turnovers – Antonia Trickett (12)
Draw Controls – Noelle Boyd (36)
Saves – Hannah Sanders (48)
Series History
This will be the eighth meeting all-time between the Penguins and the Zips, with Akron leading the all-time series 4-3.
Akron won the lone meeting last season between the two teams, 17-7, at InfoCision Stadium. Akron used multiple scoring runs to pull away from the Penguins, including a 7-0 run spanning from the first to the second quarter to take a 9-2 lead after it was tied at two.
Ava Kreuzter led the Penguins with three goals.
Prior to Akron's win last season, YSU had won the previous four meetings dating back to 2022.
A Win Would
- Give YSU a 6-3 overall record, and a 3-3 record at home this season.
- Be the second time in program history that YSU has won five-straight games, which would tie a program record (Apr. 9-Apr. 30, 2022).
- Improve YSU's record to 2-3 in Mid-American Conference openers and be their first win to begin conference play since they defeated Akron 12-11 in overtime on Mar. 3, 2022.
- Be YSU's fifth win over Akron in program history.
- Give Head Coach Rob Harris his sixth win at YSU, and his 109th career win.
Battle Between Two of the Top Scorers in the MAC
Sunday's matchup will feature two of the top goal scorers in the MAC this season, Sienna Hinchcliffe of Akron, and Katie Grottenthaler of Youngstown State.
Hinchliffe currently leads the conference with 27 goals scored through eight games, while Grottenthaler is right behind her with 26 goals scored through eight games.
Hinchcliffe (3.38) and Grottenthaler (3.25) rank second and third in goals per game in the conference, only trailing Mackenzie Blackwell of Eastern Michigan, who has scored 25 goals in seven games (3.57).
Penguins on Fire from the Free Position
Youngstown State has heavily taken advantage of their free position opportunities this season, as they currently lead the nation in free position shot percentage at 62% (36-for-58), leading Quinnipiac, who is second at 61% (19-for-31).
Penguins Rank Highly Across the MAC in Many Categories
Youngstown State has shined across the MAC in many statistical categories through early this season.
Caused Turnovers – 82 (1st MAC)
Goals Scored – 118 (1st MAC)
- The Penguins rank 17th nationally in goals per game (14.75)
Draw Controls – 123 (1st MAC)
Scoring Margin – +4.1 (1st MAC)
Grottenthaler Leads the Offensive Attack
Sophomore Katie Grottenthaler has had an exceptional start to her sophomore season, leading the Penguins and ranking second in the MAC with 26 goals through eight games. She has already eclipsed her goal total from her freshman season, when she scored 17 goals in 16 games.
She has notched at least a hat trick in six of the team's eight games, and scored 13 goals in the three YSU games last week, which helped propel her to her second MAC Offensive Player of the Week honor this season.
If the season ended today, her 26 goals already rank ninth in program history in single-season goals.
Grottenthaler also ranks in a tie for second in the MAC in draw controls with 43.
Cox's Field Vision is Superb
Sophomore Lena Cox has done an exceptional job setting up goals this season for the Penguins, as she leads the MAC in assists (16) and ranks second in the conference in assists per game (2.00).
She has tied her career-high with three assists in three of the last four games.
A Duo of Guins Rank Towards the Top of the MAC in Caused Turnovers
A duo of Penguins sophomores, Tori Bustamante and Mackenzie Flannigan, each sit in the top five in the MAC in caused turnovers, as Bustamante is tied for the league-lead with 15, and Flannigan is tied for second with 12. Bustamante also ranks second in the MAC in caused turnovers per game (1.88), while Flannigan ranks in a tie for fourth in that category (1.50).
Penguins Statistical Leaders
Points:
1. Lena Cox - 32
2. Katie Grottenthaler – 28
T-3. Claire Baenziger – 16
T-3. Brooke Peck - 16
Goals:
1. Katie Grottenthaler – 26
2. Lena Cox – 16
T-3. Claire Baenziger – 15
T-3. Brooke Peck – 15
T-3. Ava Kreutzer - 15
Assists:
1. Lena Cox – 16
2. Mia Yuris – 3
T-3. Katie Grottenthaler – 2
T-3. Sami Drew – 2
T-3. Jacella Nephew - 2
Ground Balls:
1. Tori Bustamante – 17
2. Katie Grottenthaler – 16
3. Molly Sheridan – 13
Caused Turnovers:
1. Tori Bustamante – 15
2. Mackenzie Flannigan – 12
3. Molly Sheridan – 10
Draw Controls:
1. Katie Grottenthaler – 43
2. Genna Cooke – 20
3. Ava Kreutzer - 19
MAC Weekly Award Selections:
Katie Grottenthaler, Offensive Player of the Week (3-11)
Lena Cox – Co-Offensive Player of the Week (2-18)
Katie Grottenthaler - Co-Offensive Player of the Week (2-11)
Tara McHugh – Defensive Player of the Week (2-11)
Roster Outlook
Youngstown State boasts a 30-player roster with 17 newcomers and just 13 returnees from the 2024 squad. Five of the 17 newcomers are transfers, while the other 12 are true freshmen. Seven of the 13 returnees started in at least 10 games last season. The Penguins return five major statistical category leaders from last season, including the team's top attacker from last season, Lena Cox. Cox led the Penguins as a freshman last season in goals (25), assists (10), points (35), and shots on goal (44). YSU also returns Genna Cooke, who led the Penguins in draw controls as a freshman last season with 40.
Class Breakdown:
Freshmen (12): Claire Baenziger, Mary Gasper, Sami Drew, Lexy Koslakiewicz, Jacella Nephew, Meghan McGrath, Tara McHugh, Kaylie Moore, Stella Rohrbaugh, Bailey Doorhy, Liz Amos, Kara Goertz
Sophomores (10): Gwen Bogash, Lena Cox, Mackenzie Flannigan, Katie Grottenthaler, Tori Bustamante, Ava Kreutzer, Grace Rund, Brooke Peck, Mia Yuris, Genna Cooke
Juniors (5): Brooke Harper, Skylar Pigrom, Ally Garrett, Mia Stahl, Emma Hoffman
Seniors (3): Mia Kuzdzal, Molly Sheridan, Grace Manser
First-Year Transfers in Youngstown
Youngstown State was very busy during the offseason transfer portal window, bringing in five talented transfers to help complete this season's roster.
0 Brooke Harper (Jr.) – Previous School: Hood College
Harper started in all 31 games that she appeared in as a goalkeeper over her two seasons at Division III Hood College. She led the Blazers in saves in each season, totaling 117 saves as a freshman in 2023, and 112 saves as a sophomore in 2024. She had 10 performances over her time at Hood College where she corralled double-digit saves, including a career-high 14 saves twice.
She has appeared in seven games thus far, starting five of them. She currently leads the team with 29 saves.
3 Gwen Bogash (So.) – Previous School: Notre Dame College (Ohio)
Bogash burst onto the scene during her freshman season at Division II Notre Dame College in 2024, finishing in a tie for the team lead in goals on the season with 27, while also finishing second on the team in assists with 34. She had eight multi-goal performances on the season, including a season-high eight goals vs. Davis & Elkins on Mar. 27, which tied for the second-most goals scored in a game in program history.
She made her lone appearance of the season thus far vs. Gardner-Webb on Mar. 7.
7 Mackenzie Flannigan (So.) – Previous School: Kent State
Flannigan comes to Youngstown State after spending the 2024 season at fellow MAC school Kent State. She made one appearance last season vs. Cincinnati on Feb. 10. She was named to the Academic All-MAC Team.
She has started in all eight games this season and is currently ranks second on the team in caused turnovers with 12, and fourth on the team in ground balls with 11.
12 Tori Bustamante (So.) – Previous School: Molloy University
Bustamante had a sensational freshman season at Division II Molloy University in 2024, as she was named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the Year. She appeared in all 16 games on the season, starting the final nine contests. Bustamante was a very versatile player for the Lions as she contributed both offensively and defensively, totaling 27 points on the season on 18 goals and 9 assists, while also ranking second on the team in ground balls with 35, and fifth on the team in caused turnovers with 18. She scored a goal in 12 contests, including netting a season-high four goals vs. Dist. Columbia on Apr. 20. She collected at least three ground balls in six games.
She has made a big impact for the Penguins through the first seven games, as she currently is tied for the MAC-lead with 15 caused turnovers, and leads the team in ground balls with 16.
34 Mia Yuris (So.) – Previous School: Notre Dame College (Ohio)
Like fellow Penguin Gwen Bogash, Yuris joined the Youngstown State program after spending the 2024 season at Notre Dame College. She started in her sole appearance of the season vs. Thomas More on Feb. 18, which was the season-opener.
She has appeared in seven games thus far this season, accumulating eight points, having scored five goals while also dishing out three assists.
Penguins Tied for Sixth in Preseason MAC Poll
Youngstown State was picked to finish in a tie for sixth in the 2025 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference announced on Feb. 5.
2025 MAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Robert Morris (4) - 34 points
2. Central Michigan (2) - 31 points
3. Eastern Michigan (1) - 26 points
4. Kent State - 18 points
5. Detroit Mercy - 16 points
T6. Akron - 11 points
T6. Youngstown State – 11 points
Tournament Champion: Central Michigan - 3, Eastern Michigan - 2, Robert Morris - 2
Guins Return Two Members of 2024 MAC All-Freshman Team
During a 2024 season where multiple young players saw significant playing time, Youngstown State boasted three members of the Mid-American Conference's All-Freshman Team at the season's end, two of whom have made their return to Youngstown for their sophomore seasons. Lena Cox, the team's leader in goals, assists, and points, last season, scored nine goals and dished out five assists in MAC play. Joining Cox on the All-Freshman Team was Katie Grottenthaler, who scored nine of 17 goals on the season during conference play.
Up Next
The Penguins will have another week off before their next game, as they will travel to Ypsilanti, Mich. next Sunday, Mar. 23, to face Eastern Michigan. The opening draw is slated for 3 p.m.
For news and updates throughout the 2025 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on X .
