The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team will travel to Akron for its final road contest of the regular season this Saturday when they battle the Zips at InfoCision Stadium. The opening draw is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Zips Digital Network.

Last Time Out

The Penguins dropped a nail-biter, 7-6, vs. Central Michigan last Saturday at Farmers National Bank Field.

• CMU scored the go-ahead goal with 1:30 remaining to defeat YSU
• YSU went on a three-goal spurt to tie the game at five in the third quarter and tied the game at six halfway through the fourth quarter. The Penguins never held a lead
• Mia Yuris scored a season-high three goals for the 'Guins
• Although Claire Baenziger's eight-game multi-goal streak came to an end vs. the Chippewas as she was held scoreless, she still contributed two assists for YSU
• Mackenzie Flannigan had team-highs in caused turnovers (six) and draw controls (five) while also tying for the team-lead in ground balls (four)
• Alyssa Edwards had seven saves in the cage and tied Flannigan with a team-high four ground balls

By The Numbers

• Claire Baenziger has a team-high 34 goals, followed by Ava Kreutzer and Ally Garrett, who each have 14 goals. Baenziger also has a team-high 52 draw controls.
• Of the 99 goals scored by the Penguins this season, only 32 of the goals have come off assists. Claire Baenziger, Gwen Bogash, and Ava Kreutzer are tied for the team lead with six assists each.
• The Penguins have shot just 41% (24-for-59) on free-position attempts. YSU was 0-for-5 vs. CMU last Saturday.
• Mackenzie Flannigan has corralled a team-high 49 ground balls, which is already a new single-season program record. She has had a season-high seven ground balls twice. She also leads the team in caused turnovers with 35. She caused a season-high six turnovers vs. CMU last Saturday.
• Alyssa Edwards leads the 'Guins with 12 appearances in the cage, making 10 starts. She has accumulated 77 saves and has a 36% save percentage.

Where the 'Guins Rank Amongst the MAC and Nationally

Mackenzie Flannigan

• Leads the MAC and ranks 14th nationally in CT/G (2.50)
• Ranks 2nd in the MAC and 6th nationally in GB/G (3.50)

Claire Baenziger

• Leads the MAC and ranks 14th nationally FPG/G (0.79)
• Ranks 3rd in the MAC in DC/G (3.71)
• Ranks 6th in the MAC in Goals-Per-Game (2.43)

Flannigan Etching Her Name in YSU Lore

Mackenzie Flannigan has had an incredible junior season for the Penguins, having already broken the single-season school record in last Saturday's contest vs. Detroit Mercy.

She has had at least five ground balls on four occasions this season, including a season-high seven ground balls twice (vs. RMU on Mar. 19, vs. UDM on Apr. 4).

Here is how the current Penguins single-season GB records stand:

Ground Balls

1. Mackenzie Flannigan (2026) – 49 (and counting)

2. Tori Bustamante (2025) – 42

3. Natalie Calandra-Ryan (2022) – 39

Flannigan is right on the doorstep of the single-season CT leaderboard as well:

Caused Turnovers

1. Natalie Calandra-Ryan (2022) - 37

2. Tori Bustamante (2025) – 36

3. Mackenzie Flannigan (2026) - 35

She has caused at least three turnovers in six games this season, including a season-high six CT performance last Saturday vs. Central Michigan.

Strong Sophomore Campaign for CB

Claire Baenziger has had a stellar sophomore season, netting a team-high 34 goals, which currently ties her for seventh-most in a season in program history, with Erin Clark, who had the same total in 2023.

She scored at least two goals in 11 of YSU's 13 games, including an eight-game stretch of multi-goal performances from Mar. 6-Apr. 8.

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 52 draw controls, which far eclipses her 2025 total of eight. That number would currently put her in sixth place in the program's record book for single-season draw controls.

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.

Mackenzie is a Two-Time MAC Defensive Player of the Week

Junior Mackenzie Flannigan is a two-time recipient of the Mid-American Conference's Defensive Player of the Week honor this season, on Mar. 12 and Apr. 7.

She has become the first player in program history to receive multiple MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors in the same season.

Re-Writing The Record Book vs. RMU

YSU's Mar. 19 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 was also the first for YSU under Head Coach Liza Oakley.

Freshmen Producing in a Big Way

The freshmen class for the 'Guins has made an impact during the 2026 season, combining for 20 goals.

Molly Brooks and Maya Griffin lead the way for the class with eight goals each, while Lilly Mattucci has three, and Kendyll Jerry has one.

During YSU's Apr. 4 matchup vs. Detroit Mercy, the freshmen class combined for six goals. Brooks notched a hat trick with three, while Griffin had two, and Jerry scored her first-career goal.

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 Akron

The Zips enter Saturday's matchup with a 9-4 record overall and a 4-1 mark in MAC play.

Akron is coming off a 16-6 victory over Robert Morris last Saturday. Their lone conference loss was an 18-10 setback to UMass on Apr. 4, the lone unbeaten team in league play.

The Zips rank second nationally in free-position percentage (59.5%). Sienna Hinchcliffe leads the MAC in goals per game (4.38), goals (57), and points per game (5.92), while also ranking in the top-10 nationally in each category.

Akron is the reigning MAC Tournament champion, as they defeated Robert Morris, 11-10, in overtime, to win the title last May. They fell to Michigan, 17-6, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Series History

This will be the ninth meeting all-time between YSU and Akron. The series is tied 4-4 through the first eight meetings.

Akron has won the last two meetings, including a 14-13 triumph of the Penguins last season on Mar. 16, 2025.

YSU's last victory over the Zips was on Apr. 15, 2023, an 18-5 win. That capped off a four-game winning streak for YSU in the series.

A Win vs. Akron Would…

• Be YSU's fifth win in program history vs. Akron, and first since 2023
• Mark YSU's fourth road win of the season
• Be Head Coach Liza Oakley's fourth 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 wrap up its regular season next Saturday, Apr. 25, vs. Eastern Michigan at Farmers National Bank Field. Senior Day festivities are scheduled to begin at 11:35 a.m., while the opening draw vs. the Eagles is scheduled for noon.

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