The Youngstown State Women's Lacrosse program returns home this Friday for a non-conference matchup against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Farmers National Bank Field. The opening draw is set for noon. The game will be broadcast on the Youngstown State Penguins YouTube channel.
Last Time Out
The Penguins fell to UMBC, 14-5, during their last contest on Feb. 25.
Gwen Bogash broke out for her first three goals of the season, marking her first hat trick since she was a student-athlete at Notre Dame College. Ava Kreutzer netted the other two goals for the 'Guins.
Skylar Pigrom led the team with four ground balls, marking the third-straight game that she has collected that total. Five different Penguins caused one turnover during the contest.
Brooke Harper and Alyssa Edwards split time in the cage, as Harper got the start and played 29:42, saving three shots, while Edwards played 30:18 and saved six shots.
Ava Kreutzer gave YSU its first lead of the season as she scored with 11:55 remaining in the first quarter to give YSU the 1-0 lead. UMBC answered by scoring the next three goals over a span of 48 seconds to gain control, as they would lead for the remainder of the contest.
The Retrievers scored the first four goals of the second quarter to extend their lead to 7-2, before Gwen Bogash capitalized on the Penguins being a player-up by scoring her first goal of the season with 1:35 left in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to four heading into the locker room.
Bogash followed up her effort to end the first half by scoring off a feed from Claire Baenziger just 62 seconds into the third quarter to make the score 7-4. UMBC answered with a goal of its own before Bogash cut the lead back down to three with 7:34 remaining in the third quarter, marking the closest that YSU would be for the rest of the game. UMBC would score three more goals in the third quarter and add on three more in the fourth to win 14-5.
UMBC outshot YSU, 27-19, while also winning the draw control battle, 12-9.
By The Numbers
- Claire Baenziger has a team-high nine goals through five games, followed by Maya Griffin and Ava Kreutzer, who had six each. Baenziger also has a team-high 18 draw controls.
- Out of the 36 goals scored by the Penguins this season, only 10 of the goals have come off assists. Ava Kreutzer leads the 'Guins with three assists, while Claire Baenziger and Gwen Bogash each have two assists.
- The Penguins have shot just 43% (9-for-24) on free-position attempts.
- Skylar Pigrom has corralled a team-high 14 ground balls, including four ground balls in each of the last three games.
- Mackenzie Flannigan currently leads the team in caused turnovers with seven. Her three CT in the season-opening game vs. Bucknell on Feb. 6 tied her second-highest total as a Penguin in a single game.
- Brooke Harper has led the team with 23 saves through four appearances. She also has a team-high 30% save percentage. Alyssa Edwards has appeared in three games, starting vs. George Mason and Monmouth, and has saved 17 shots.
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 lone home outdoor matchup in 2025 was played on Mar. 29, a 16-12 loss to Robert Morris.
The last home win at Farmers for the 'Guins was on Apr. 15, 2023, an 18-5 victory over Akron.
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.
Strong Start for CB
Claire Baenziger has started her sophomore season strongly through the first four games, netting a team-high nine goals. Her performance vs. Old Dominion on Feb. 8 was especially impressive, as she tied a career-high with four goals.
She has also accounted for 18 of YSU's 55 draw controls, which has already eclipsed her 2025 total of eight. Her eight draw controls against Bucknell in the season-opener on Feb. 6 marked a new career-high.
Previewing Marquette
The Golden Eagles enter Friday's matchup with a 3-3 record, currently on a three-game losing streak.
Marquette dropped a close 15-13 contest to Jacksonville last Sunday. Dani Serrano posted a career-high four assists while also adding two goals. Sarah Beth Burns added a team-high four goals, tying a career-high.
The Golden Eagles started its season strongly with three consecutive victories, including two wins vs. MAC foes (Eastern Michigan, 20-9 W, Central Michigan, 19-6 W). Marquette also defeated Cincinnati, 17-10, a team that YSU will face on Mar. 22.
MU ranks second nationally in free-position percentage (74%, 17-for-23) and 12th in the nation in goals per game (15.33).
Series History
This will be the second meeting between YSU and Marquette, with the Golden Eagles claiming an 18-11 victory inside WATTS on Feb. 17, 2023.
YSU is 2-2 all-time against members of the Big East Conference, with both victories coming vs. Butler. The last victory over the Bulldogs was a 15-10 decision on Feb. 28, 2025, inside WATTS.
A Win vs. Marquette Would…
- Be YSU's first win in program history vs. Marquette
- Be YSU's third win vs. a member of the Big East Conference
- 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 2026Â 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 be back in action for their Mid-American Conference opener next Saturday, Mar. 14, when they face the UMass Minutewomen at Farmers National Bank Field. The opening draw is scheduled for noon.
For news and updates throughout the 2026 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on X.
