The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team dropped a tough 13-8 contest to Central Michigan in Mid-American Conference play on Sunday afternoon at the CMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Katie Grottenthaler led the Penguins offensively with three goals during the game. This marked her seventh game this season with at least a hat-trick, becoming the first Penguins player to achieve that since 2023. Grace Rund also added two goals on the day. This marked her third-straight multi-goal game, and sixth of the season. Claire Baenziger, Ava Kreutzer, and Brooke Peck each netted one goal for YSU.
Grottnethler, Rund, and Lena Cox each dished out one assist during the game.
Defensively, Mackenzie Flannigan had an outstanding effort. She totaled six ground balls, which marked a new season-high. She also caused four turnovers, which tied a season-high.
All three goalkeepers on the roster saw action during the game. Freshman Liz Amos had all five saves during the game, which tied a season-high for her.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with numerous momentum shifts. YSU drew first blood as Claire Baenziger netted her 17th goal of the season off a pass from Lena Cox just 53 seconds into the game. The Chippewas then scored the next two goals of the contest to take their first lead of the game with 11:07 remaining on the first-quarter clock, scoring both of their goals in a span of 57 seconds. Katie Grottenthaler got in on the scoring at the 8:28 mark, which would be the last goal that YSU would score in the game's opening quarter. CMU would add two more goals to control a 4-2 lead through 15 minutes of play.
The second quarter was a game of runs for each side. The Penguins had their run first, which began with two goals from Grace Rund, the first at the 14:23 mark, and the second coming with 13:06 remaining, which tied the game at four. Brooke Peck added on to the Penguins' run, scoring her first goal of the contest to give YSU a 5-4 lead with 12:24 remaining in the quarter. All three of YSU's goals at the start of the quarter came over a stretch of less than two full minutes. The rest of the quarter was all Chippewas, as CMU scored the next four goals, coming in two separate offensive bursts. The first two goals came just 61 seconds apart, with the game-tying goal at the 9:12 mark, and the go-ahead goal coming with 8:11 on the clock, and the next two goals coming with 3:47 and 3:14 remaining in the second quarter. YSU would have four shot attempts within the final 54 seconds of the quarter, all of which were unsuccessful, but the Penguins still held possession as the clock hit zero, with Central Michigan would take an 8-5 lead into the locker room.
YSU wasted no time capitalizing on the offensive possession that they held deep in CMU territory heading into the break, as Ava Kreutzer would net her first goal of the game just five seconds into the third quarter. The goal was assisted by Grace Rund. The Chippewas then went on another multi-goal scoring run, answering Kreutzer's goal quickly with one of their own at the 13:34 mark, and then adding two more goals with 10:22 and 6:33 left on the third-quarter clock, bolstering their lead to 11-6. Katie Grottenthaler ended YSU's scoreless drought of over 12 minutes as she scored her second goal of the game with 2:19 left in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 11-7. That is where the score stood, heading into the fourth quarter.
Katie Grottenthaler netted her third goal of the game to kick off the scoring in the fourth quarter with 11:18 remaining, marking the seventh game this season that she has had at least a hat-trick. The Penguins had two more good shot opportunities shortly after that, both of which were saved, and after a clearance by CMU, the Chippewas added to their lead to make it 12-8 with 6:45 remaining in the game. CMU would add the game's final goal with 4:48 remaining in regulation, winning 13-8.
YSU would outshoot CMU during the game 30-26. 21 of the Penguins' shots were on-goal, compared to 18 for the Chippewas.
Both teams caused nine turnovers throughout the game, while CMU edged out YSU in the draw control battle, 13-10.
The Penguins will return home for a matchup with Detroit Mercy on Senior Day, Saturday, April 19, at Farmers National Bank Field in Youngstown. The opening draw is scheduled for Noon, with the Senior Day festivities taking place prior to the game.
For news and updates throughout the 2025 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on X .
