The Youngstown State women's lacrosse program will wrap up its February slate of games this Wednesday when it travels to the state of Maryland for a matchup with UMBC. The opening draw is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Last Time Out

The Penguins dropped their first road contest of the season on Sunday morning, 17-7, to Monmouth. The game was moved up to 11 AM to get ahead of the incoming blizzard on the East Coast.

The first quarter proved to be the main difference, as the Hawks jumped out to a 6-0 lead within the game's opening 11 minutes and led 8-1 at the end of the first quarter. They led for over 59 minutes of the contest.

The Penguins started to find a rhythm after the game's first 15 minutes, as they were only outscored 9-6 over the remaining 45 minutes.

Ally Garrett and Maya Griffin led YSU with two goals each, while also getting goals from Claire Baenziger, Lilly Mattucci, and Molly Brooks, each added one goal for the 'Guins.

Defensively, Skylar Pigrom led YSU with team-highs in both ground balls with four and caused turnovers with two. Baenziger and Mackenzie Flannigan each corralled three ground balls on the day.

Brooke Harper subbed in at the beginning of the second quarter and finished the game with a team-high seven saves over her 45 minutes of action in the cage.

By The Numbers

• Claire Baenziger has a team-high nine goals through three games, followed by Maya Griffin, who has six. Baenziger also has a team-high 18 draw controls.
• Out of the 31 goals scored by the Penguins this season, only eight of the goals have come off assists. Gwen Bogash and Ava Kreutzer are the lone Penguins with more than one assist thus far, as they each have two.
• The Penguins have shot just 43% (9-for-21) on free-position attempts.
• Mackenzie Flannigan has played a crucial role defensively during the early stages of her junior campaign, leading YSU in ground balls (11) and caused turnovers (seven). Her three CT in the season-opening game vs. Bucknell on Feb. 6 tied her second-highest total as a Penguin in a single game. Her five ground balls on Feb. 15 vs. George Mason were the second-most she has had in a single game.
• Brooke Harper has led the team with 20 saves through three appearances. She also has a team-high 32% save percentage. Alyssa Edwards started the last two games for the Penguins, saving 11 shots during her 75 minutes in the cage.

Freshmen Producing in a Big Way

The freshmen class for the 'Guins has contributed in a big way during the early stages of the 2026 campaign, having contributed 10 of YSU's 31 goals through the first four games.

Maya Griffin leads the way for the class with six goals, while Molly Brooks and Lilly Mattucci have each scored twice.

During Sunday's game vs. Monmouth, the trio accounted for four of YSU's seven goals.

Strong Start for CB

Claire Baenziger has started her sophomore season strongly through the first four games, netting a team-high nine goals. Her performance vs. Old Dominion on Feb. 8 was especially impressive, as she tied a career-high with four goals.

She has also accounted for 18 of YSU's 46 draw controls, which has already eclipsed her 2025 total of eight. Her eight draw controls against Bucknell in the season-opener on Feb. 6 marked a new career-high.

Homecoming Game on Wednesday for Three 'Guins

Wednesday's contest will be special for three Penguins, Brooke Harper, Skylar Pigrom, and Alyssa Edwarrds, as they are each from the state of Maryland.

Brooke is from Sykesville, MD., and began her career at Hood College, which is in Frederick, MD. Skylar is from Laurel, MD., while Alyssa is from Forest Hill, MD., and began her playing career at Towson, which is approximately 20 miles away from UMBC's campus.

Previewing UMBC

The Retrievers enter Wednesday's matchup with a 2-1 record, having defeated La Salle 21-3 during their last game on Feb. 18.

UMBC jumped on La Salle early, scoring the game's opening goal just 11 seconds into the contest. After La Salle cut the lead to 2-1 with 11:43 remaining in the first quarter, the Retrievers went on an 11-0 run over the next 36 minutes to effectively put the game away.

UMBC has scored at least 20 goals in each of its two wins and has won by 18 goals in each of those contests.

The lone loss for the Retrievers came against Bucknell, 18-10. The Bison defeated YSU in the season-opener for the Penguins, 20-6, on Feb. 6.

Emily Knapp has been the top goal scorer this season for UMBC, leading the way with 14 goals. She is the only player on the team with at least seven goals thus far. Libby Staples and Lizzie Bateman have been the team's top facilitators, each accounting for five assists through the team's first three games.

UMBC has controlled 50 draws through the first three games, with three players accounting for at least 11 DC.

Series History

This will not only be the first meeting between YSU and UMBC, but also the first game that YSU has played in the state of Maryland in program history.

YSU is 0-1 all-time against members of the America East Conference, having dropped a 23-4 contest at Binghamton on Apr. 6, 2024.

A Win vs. UMBC Would…

• Be YSU's first win in program history vs. UMBC
• Be YSU's first win in the state of Maryland
• Be YSU's first win vs. a member of the America East
• Be Head Coach Liza Oakley's first win at YSU

Preseason Notes

Oakley Takes Over as Fifth Head Coach in Program History

Liza Oakley was officially named the fifth Youngstown State Women's Lacrosse Head Coach in program history on July 9, 2025.

A native of West Hartford, Conn., Oakley spent the past three seasons as the top assistant at Bucknell. Oakley, formerly a standout defender at Mount St. Mary's, had previous coaching stops at Butler, Fresno State, and Lynchburg (Va.).

At Bucknell, Oakley served as the team's recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator, among other duties, during her three seasons under Head Coach Jackie Dando.

Oakley was a four-year letterwinner as a defender and a three-time Northeast Conference All-Academic selection at Mount St. Mary's. As a senior in 2018, she helped her team rank third in Division I in scoring defense with the Mountaineers.

Baenziger and McGrath Return After Stellar Freshman Campaigns

Youngstown State is pleased to return a duo of 2025 MAC All-Freshman Team selections, Claire Baenziger and Meghan McGrath, for their sophomore seasons.

Baenziger ranked fifth on the Penguins in ground balls last season with 20, and she was also sixth on the team in goals with 17. She corralled at least three ground balls three times, including a season-high four ground balls vs. Robert Morris on Mar. 29, 2025.

McGrath started in all 15 games for YSU during her freshman season on defense, ranking in a tie for fifth on the team with 12 caused turnovers, while also scooping 14 ground balls.

Kreutzer Looks to Spearhead Offense in 2026

Attacker Ava Kreutzer returns for her third season with the Penguins in 2026.

She ranked second on the team in 2025 with 27 goals, while also ranking fourth on the team in total points with 28. Kreutzer had nine multi-goal outings, including a stretch of seven consecutive games from Feb. 22-Mar. 23, 2025. She netted a season-high three goals on four separate occasions.

Flannigan Building off Strong Sophomore Season

Mackenzie Flannigan opened eyes defensively last season in her first year with the Penguins after transferring from fellow MAC foe Kent State.

She ranked second on the team in both ground balls with 27 and caused turnovers with 22. Her 1.47 CT/G ranked fifth in the MAC, while her 22 total CT placed her in a tie for seventh in the conference.

Four Captains to Lead Both on the Field and in the Locker Room

Youngstown State Head Coach Liza Oakley dubbed Brooke Harper, Ava Kreutzer, Skylar Pigrom, and Mia Stahl as team captains ahead of the 2026 season.

Harper started 10 games in the cage last season, going 4-6 in her starts with a team-high 69 saves.

Kreutzer appeared in all 15 games in 2025, starting in 11. She totaled 28 points during the season with 27 goals and one assist. She also controlled 23 draws for the Penguins.

Pigrom appeared in 10 games defensively, corralling five ground balls and causing two turnovers.

Stahl was one of four players to start in all 15 games, controlling 12 draws and scooping nine ground balls.

Good Balance of Returners and Fresh Faces

The 2026 YSU roster will consist of 13 newcomers to combine with 19 returners from last season's bunch.

The coaching staff brought in 12 true freshmen, while also snagging Alyssa Edwards, a redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper who transferred from Towson.

New York State of Mind

This season's roster features a vast number of players from the state of New York. 39% of the Penguins' squad comes from The Empire State, or 13 out of 33 players.

'Guins Slated Seventh in the MAC Preseason Poll

Youngstown State was picked seventh in the 2026 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced on Feb. 4.

2026 MAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes)

1. UMass (6)- 48 points

T2. Akron- 37 points

T2. Eastern Michigan (1)- 37 points

4. Robert Morris (1)- 34 points

5. Central Michigan- 28 points

6. Kent State- 19 points

7. Youngstown State- 12 points

8. Detroit Mercy- 9 points

Tournament Champion: UMass – 6; Eastern Michigan – 1; Robert Morris – 1

Up Next

The Penguins will remain on the road, traveling to UMBC for a Wednesday afternoon matchup. The opening draw is scheduled for 4 p.m.

For news and updates throughout the 2026 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on X.