The Youngstown State Women's Lacrosse continues MAC play as they will make the trip to Moon Township, Pa., for a meeting with the Robert Colonials on Thursday at Joe Walton Stadium. The opening draw is set for 5 PM. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Last Time Out

The Penguins fell to UMass, 21-3, last Saturday at Farmers National Bank Field.

• Claire Baenziger led the 'Guins with two goals on the day, marking her second-straight multi-goal performance. Ally Garrett netted the other YSU goal.
• Mackenzie Flannigan led the 'Guins defensively, controlling a team-high five draws while also tying for the team lead with three ground balls. Genna Cooke had a team-high two caused turnovers.
• Alyssa Edwards started in the cage for the 'Guins and notched a season-high nine saves. Saturday's game marked the second time this season that Edwards had played all 60 minutes in the cage.
• YSU had an advantage controlling draws in the first half, 10-6, before UMass would flip the script in the second half, controlling 10 of 12 draws. The Minutewomen outshot YSU, 42-12, including a 27-5 advantage in the first half.

By The Numbers

• Claire Baenziger has a team-high 16 goals through six games, followed by Ava Kreutzer with seven, and Maya Griffin and Ally Garrett, who have each scored six. Baenziger also has a team-high 27 draw controls.
• Of the 48 goals scored by the Penguins this season, only 14 of the goals have come off assists. Ava Kreutzer leads the 'Guins with three assists.
• The Penguins have shot just 39% (11-for-28) on free-position attempts.
• Mackenzie Flannigan has corralled a team-high 21 ground balls, including a season-high six ground balls vs. Marquette last Friday. She also leads the team in caused turnovers with 11. She has had a season-high three CT twice, including last time out vs. Marquette.
• Alyssa Edwards Brooke Harper and Brooke Harper have each appeared in five games this season in the cage. Edwards currently has a team-high 33 saves (34% save percentage).

Strong Start for CB

Claire Baenziger has started her sophomore season strongly through the first seven games, netting a team-high 16 goals. Her 2.29 goals-per-game average currently ranks sixth in the MAC.

She had a stellar performance during YSU's Mar. 6 contest vs. Marquette as she netted a career-high five goals.

She has also accounted for 27 of YSU's 79 draw controls, which has widely eclipsed her 2025 total of eight. Her eight draw controls against Bucknell in the season-opener on Feb. 6 marked a new career-high. She is one of just two players on the roster who have controlled at least 10 draws this season.

Flannigan Named MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Mar. 12

Junior Mackenzie Flannigan was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Thursday, Mar. 12, for her efforts during YSU's matchup vs. Marquette on Mar. 6.

She set a season-high and tied a career-high with six ground balls vs. the Golden Eagles, while also tying season-highs in caused turnovers (three) and draw controls (five).

This marked the first time that she has received this honor during her career, and she is the first 'Guin to win MAC Defensive Player of the Week since Tori Bustamante received the honor on Apr. 29, 2025.

Freshmen Producing in a Big Way

The freshmen class for the 'Guins has made an impact during the early stages of the 2026 season, combining for 10 goals.

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

Hoping For Better Farmers' Luck in 2026

Due to inclement weather at unfortunate times last season, the Penguins were only able to play one of eight home games outdoors at Farmers National Bank Field.

The 'Guins have luckily eclipsed that mark with last Saturday's contest vs. UMass, marking its second home game outdoors this season.

The last home win at Farmers for YSU was on Apr. 15, 2023, an 18-5 victory over Akron.

Breakout Game for Bogash

Junior Gwen Bogash broke out for a three-goal output vs. UMBC on Feb. 25 after scoring just one goal in 2025.

This marked her first multi-goal outing since Apr. 10, 2024, when she played for Notre Dame College, and her first hat trick since Mar. 30, 2024. 

Previewing RMU

The Colonials enter Thursday's matchup with a 3-5 record, starting 1-0 in MAC play.

RMU snapped a four-game losing skid last Saturday when they defeated Central Michigan, 8-7, in double overtime in their conference opener. The Colonials overcame a 4-0 first-quarter deficit, scored the game-tying goal, which sent the game to overtime with just 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, and then scored the game-winning goal at the 3:41 mark of the second overtime.

Series History

This will be the 11th all-time meeting between YSU and Robert Morris. The Penguins have battled RMU more than any other team in program history, with Akron being the next most common opponent with eight meetings.

RMU leads the series, 9-1, including a 16-12 victory over YSU in the last meeting on Mar. 29, 2025, under the lights at Farmers National Bank Field.

YSU's lone win in the series was a 19-17 triumph of the Colonials on Apr. 30, 2022, at Joe Walton Stadium. That victory was YSU's fifth-straight to cap off the 2022 regular season, and also gave the Penguins a share of the MAC regular season title with Robert Morris and Central Michigan, the only conference title, regular season or postseason, in program history.

A Win vs. RMU Would…

• Be YSU's second win in program history vs. Robert Morris
• Be YSU's first road victory of the season
• 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 for a matchup at Cincinnati on Sunday. The opening draw is scheduled for noon.

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