The Youngstown State Women's Lacrosse program begins their 2026 campaign with two games at home this weekend inside the Watson and Tressel Training Site, welcoming Bucknell and Old Dominion to the Mahoning Valley.

Previewing Bucknell

The Penguins will take on the Bison Friday evening, with the first draw scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will also be broadcast on the Youngstown State Penguins YouTube channel, with Will Anderson and Zach Zajackowski on the call.

Bucknell, led by head coach Jackie Dando, who is entering her seventh season at the helm. The Bison are coming off a 6-10 record in 2025 but return 26 players from last season's squad. Among the returners are the team's leader in points, Megan Krestinski, who totaled 41 last season, as well as Jess Leon, who ranked 13th in all of Division I in CT/G (2.27) and 20th in the nation in ground balls (45).

This will be the first meeting between Youngstown State and Bucknell.

A Win vs. Bucknell Would…

• Be YSU's first win in program history vs. Bucknell
• Be Head Coach Liza Oakley's first win at YSU
• Improve YSU's record in season-openers to 3-3

Previewing Old Dominion

The Monarchs visit Youngstown for a Sunday matinee matchup, with the first draw scheduled for Noon. The game will also be broadcast on the Youngstown State Penguins YouTube channel.

Old Dominion, led by fourth-year head coach Theresa Walton, went 8-9 last season, including losses in their final six regular-season contests.

ODU was slated seventh out of seven teams in the Preseason American Athletic Conference Poll. Goalkeeper Brynn Bowen earned Preseason All-American Conference Team honors.

This will not only be the first meeting between Youngstown State and Old Dominion, but also YSU's first meeting vs. a current member of the American Athletic Conference.

Storylines Galore

Each matchup on opening weekend will have deep connections within the Youngstown State program.

Friday's matchup vs. Bucknell will not only be the first for Penguins Head Coach Liza Oakley as a collegiate HC, but she will also be facing the school that she spent the past three seasons at. Oakley was the top assistant for the Bison from 2023-25 under head Coach Jackie Dando.

Sunday's matchup vs. Old Dominion will feature a reunion with the first head coach in the Penguins' history, Theresa Walton.

Walton, now the leader of the Monarchs, led YSU for the program's first two seasons (2021-22) and remains the program's winningest head coach with 12 wins. She helped lead the Penguins to a share of the Mid-American Conference regular season championship in the 2022 campaign.

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 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. She scored at least three goals three times as well, including a season-high four goals vs. Saint Francis on Feb. 16, 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. She caused a season-high three turnovers vs. Duquesne on Feb. 19, 2025 and had a season-high three ground balls on two occasions.

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.

She caused a season-high four turnovers twice in 2025, while corralling a season-high six ground balls vs. Central Michigan on Apr. 11, 2025.

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.

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.

'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

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