Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team dropped a hard-fought 8-4 contest to Kent State on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Farmers National Bank Field.
The Penguins fall to 1-10 on the season overall with the loss, while also falling to 1-2 in Mid-American Conference play. Kent State moves to 6-5 overall after its first conference win of the season.
Claire Baenziger led the Penguins with two goals, both coming in the second half. This marked her sixth-straight multi-goal performance. Sami Drew and Ava Kreutzer were responsible for the other two YSU goals.
Mackenzie Flannigan and Genna Cooke each had four ground balls during Saturday's contest. Cooke's total tied a season-high for her during the 2025 campaign. She also caused a team-high two turnovers.
Alyssa Edwards had a busy day in the cage, playing all 60 minutes and setting a career-high with 11 saves while allowing just eight goals.
After Kent State got on the scoreboard first at the 12:57 mark of the first quarter, YSU was able to control the rest of the first half. Sami Drew evened the score just 47 seconds later, her third goal of the season, before Ava Kreutzer took advantage of the Penguins being a player-up, scoring her ninth goal of the season to give YSU their first lead at the 5:09 mark of the opening quarter. The rest of the half was a defensive battle as neither team would score another goal.
Both offenses found their rhythm throughout the third quarter. The Golden Flashes netted the first two goals of the quarter to reclaim the lead just four minutes into the third quarter, before Claire Baenizger scored her team-leading 26th goal to draw even at three with 10:27 left in the quarter. Kent State would regain the lead just over one minute later before Baenizger scored her second goal at the 3:23 mark of the quarter to tie the game once again at four, a score which stood for the rest of the quarter.
YSU was held to just three shots in the fourth quarter and was unable to capitalize on any opportunities, while Kent State netted four goals on ten shots in the final 15 minutes, winning 8-4.
Overall, the Golden Flashes more than doubled YSU in total shots, 35-17.
YSU won the draw control battle, 19-17, including a 9-7 edge in the second half.
The Penguins will return to action next Saturday when they travel to Detroit Mercy for a Mid-American 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.
