The road stretch continues for the Youngstown State women's lacrosse team thus Sunday as they are set to travel to Southwest Ohio for a meeting with the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. The opening draw is set for noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Last Time Out

The Penguins picked up their first win of the season and first victory under head coach Liza Oakley in thrilling fashion on Thursday, taking down Robert Morris, 5-4.

• Claire Baenziger led the 'Guins with two goals on the day, marking her third-straight multi-goal performance. Three other 'Guins added one goal each.
• Molly Brooks, Gwen Bogash, and Alexis Kreutzer each dished out one assist.
• Mackenzie Flannigan had a monster game defensively, setting a career-high with seven ground balls while also tying her career-high in caused turnovers with four. Each of those marks are tied for the third-most by a player in a single-game in program history in the respective stat categories.
  • Overall, four different Penguins scooped at least four ground balls, while nine 'Guins caused at least one turnover.
• Alyssa Edwards was superb in the cage, allowing just four goals in 60 minutes of action while saving five shot attempts.

Time to Re-Write The Record Book

Thursday's game vs. RMU was one to remember for many reasons, including the multiple single-game program records that were broken during the contest:

• The four goals allowed were the fewest in a single game, breaking the previous record of five, allowed vs. Akron on Apr. 15, 2023
• The Penguins recovered 41 ground balls, breaking the previous record of 30, set vs. Akron on Apr. 9, 2022
• YSU dominated the draw control battle, 10-1, not allowing a single RMU draw control after the first quarter. The one DC for an opponent breaks the previous low of seven, accomplished against Wofford on Mar. 3, 2025.

By The Numbers

• Claire Baenziger has a team-high 18 goals through six games, followed by Ava Kreutzer with eight, and Maya Griffin and Ally Garrett, who have each scored six. Baenziger also has a team-high 32 draw controls.
• Of the 53 goals scored by the Penguins this season, only 17 of the goals have come off assists. Ava Kreutzer, Molly Brooks, and Gwen Bogash lead the team with three assists each.
• The Penguins have shot just 40% (12-for-30) on free-position attempts.
• Mackenzie Flannigan has corralled a team-high 28 ground balls, including a season-high seven ground balls vs. Robert Morris on Thursday. She also leads the team in caused turnovers with 15. She caused a season-high four turnovers vs. RMU on Thursday.
• Alyssa Edwards leads the 'Guins with six appearances in the cage, making four starts. She has accumulated 38 saves and has a 36% save percentage.

Where the 'Guins Rank Amongst the MAC

Mackenzie Flannigan

• Ranks 1st in the MAC in GB/G (3.50)
• Ranks 2nd in CT/G (1.88)

Claire Baenziger

• Ranks 2nd in the MAC in DC/G (4.00)
• Ranks 5th in Goals-Per-Game (2.25)

Strong Start for CB

Claire Baenziger has started her sophomore season strongly through the first eight games, netting a team-high 18 goals.

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 32 of YSU's 89 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 three 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 12 goals.

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

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 Cincinnati

The Bearcats enter Sunday's matchup with a 7-4 record.

Cincinnati dropped a hard-fought 11-10 overtime contest to Louisville on Thursday. The Bearcats never trailed in regulation and led 10-8 with under four minutes remaining before Louisville scored twice late to force overtime. The Cardinals secured the win with 2:52 left in the extra period.

The Bearcats shine nationally in draw controls, where they rank fifth averaging a 65% DC%, as well as shooting from the free position, where their percentage ranks sixth (64%).

Cincy also has multiple players who are shining at a national level individually. Paige Selhorn leads the Big 12 and ranks fifth nationally in points-per-game (6.09), while also leading her conference and ranking seventh nationally goals (36), assists (31) and FPG/G (1.00). Morgan Handzel can be given a lot of credit for the Bearcats/ draw control success as she ranks fifth in the NCAA in DC/G (11.00).

Series History

This will be the third meeting all-time between YSU and Cincinnati, with the Bearcats owning a 2-0 record.

Cincinnati won the last meeting, 25-4, at Nippert Stadium on Feb. 29, 2025.

A Win vs. RMU Would…

• Be YSU's first win in program history vs. Cincinnati
• Be YSU's first victory over a member of the Big 12 Conference
• Be Head Coach Liza Oakley's second 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 wrap up their three-game road trip on Tuesday when they take on the University of Pittsburgh. The opening draw is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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