The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team returns to MAC play this Saturday when they play host to in-state foe Kent State at Farmers National Bank Field. The opening draw is scheduled for noon.

Last Time Out

The Penguins fell to Pitt, 16-5, on Tuesday at Highmark Stadium.

• Claire Baenziger scored four of YSU's five goals, securing her fifth-straight multi-goal performance. Three of her girls were scored in the second half
• Mackenzie Flannigan led the 'Guins in draw controls (three), ground balls, (three), and caused turnovers (three)
• Alyssa Edwards played all 60 minutes in the cage, saving four shots.
• Pitt scored the game's first eight goals, and held a 12-2 advantage at halftime
• The Panthers dominated the draw, controlling 16 during the game, compared to just six draw controls for YSU

By The Numbers

• Claire Baenziger has a team-high 25 goals through 10 games, followed by Ava Kreutzer with eight, and Maya Griffin and Ally Garrett, who have each scored six. Baenziger also has a team-high 38 draw controls.
• Of the 61 goals scored by the Penguins this season, only 19 of the goals have come off assists. Claire Baenziger, Molly Brooks, Gwen Bogash, and Ava Kreutzer lead the team with three assists each.
• The Penguins have shot just 37% (14-for-38) on free-position attempts.
• Mackenzie Flannigan has corralled a team-high 33 ground balls, including a season-high seven ground balls vs. Robert Morris on Mar. 19. She also leads the team in caused turnovers with 20. She caused a season-high four turnovers vs. RMU on mar. 19.
• Alyssa Edwards leads the 'Guins with eight appearances in the cage, making six starts. She has accumulated 45 saves and has a 31% save percentage.

Where the 'Guins Rank Amongst the MAC

Mackenzie Flannigan

• Ranks 2nd in the MAC in GB/G (3.30)
• Ranks 2nd in CT/G (2.00)

Claire Baenziger

• Ranks 3rd in the MAC in DC/G (3.80)
• Ranks 5th in Goals-Per-Game (2.50)

Strong Start for CB

Claire Baenziger has started her sophomore season strongly through the first 10 games, netting a team-high 25 goals.

She has scored at least two goals in eight of YSU's 10 games, including a current five-game stretch of multi-goal performances.

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 a team-high 38 draw controls, which has widely eclipsed her 2025 total of eight. That number would currently put her in a tie for 10th in the program's record book for single-season draw controls, tying Emma Carter's total in 2021.

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 on Fire

Mackenzie Flannigan is quickly rising up the YSU single-season record book in multiple defensive categories:

Ground Balls

3. Kayla Stecker (2024) – 36

T-4. Savannah Clarke (2022) – 33

T-4. Paige Borkowski (2024) – 33

T-4. Mackenzie Flannigan (2026) - 33

8. Mikaela Staranko (2023) – 32

Caused Turnovers

4. Aryss Lindsey (2023) – 24

T-5. Mackenzie Flannigan (2025) – 22

T-5. Aryss Lindsey (2022) – 22

6. Mackenzie Flannigan (2026) - 20

Re-Writing The Record Book vs. RMU

Last 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.

This victory also was the first for YSU under Head Coach Liza Oakley.

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 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, with the other seven having to be played indoors at the Watson and Tressel Training Site on campus.

The 'Guins have luckily eclipsed that mark with their Mar. 14 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 Kent State

The Golden Flashes enter Saturday's contest with a 5-5 record overall and 0-2 record in MAC play.

Kent State completed an incredible comeback during its last matchup vs. San Diego State, scoring seven goals in the final 8:19 to win 11-10 after trailing 10-4. KSU netted the game-winning goals with just one second left on the clock.

The Golden Flashes have been led by standout goalkeeper Sydney Davis, who enters Saturday's matchup ranking sixth in the country in both saves (101) and saves-per-game (10.10), while also ranking seventh in save percentage (51%).

Kent State plays an aggressive defensive style, ranking 11th in the nation in CT/G (11.70) while also scooping 18.90 GB/G, good for ninth nationally.

KSU started the season with a 4-1 record through its first five games, marking the best start through five games in program history.

Series History

This will be the eighth meeting all-time between YSU and Kent State.

YSU won the last meeting, a 13-11 triumph of the Golden Flashes in the 2025 regular season finale at Dix Stadium on Apr. 26, 2025.

Mia Yuris netted two goals while also dishing out an assist during the game. Ava Kreutzer and Ally Garrett also netted one goal each.

Brooke Harper saved seven shots in the cage, playing the full 60 minutes for the Penguins.

YSU is 1-2 at home vs. Kent State, with its lone win at Farmers National Bank Field vs. the Golden Flashes coming on Apr. 23, 2022, an 18-11 victory.

A Win vs. Kent State Would…

• Be YSU's fifth win in program history vs. Kent State
• Move YSU's record to 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference
• Mark YSU's first two-game-winning streak in conference play since they won the final two games of the 2025 regular season (Apr. 19-26, 2025)
• 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

YSU will be back in action next Saturday when they make the trip to Detroit Mercy for a conference matchup with the Titans. The opening draw is scheduled for noon.

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