Akron, Ohio – The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team dropped a 16-7 contest to the Akron Zips on Saturday afternoon inside a soggy InfoCision Stadium.
The Penguins fall to 3-12 on the season, and 2-4 in MAC play with the loss, while Akron moves to 10-4 overall, and 5-1 in Mid-American Conference action with the win.
Ally Garrett continued her hot stretch as she led the 'Guins with three goals. This marked her third hat trick of the season, all of which have come within the last four games. Also scoring for YSU was Claire Baenziger, who scored twice, as well as Ava Kreutzer and Mia Yuris, who each scored once.
Baenziger, Genna Cooke, Sami Drew, and Maya Griffin each dished out an assist.
It was a record-setting game for Mackenzie Flannigan, as her three caused turnovers brought her season total to 38, breaking the previous single-season CT record of 37, set by Natalie Calandra-Ryan in 2022. She also had four ground balls.
Alyssa Edwards collected 10 saves in the cage for YSU, marking the fourth time this season that she has recorded double-digit saves. She also scooped a team-high five ground balls.
Sami Drew had a busy day on the draw, controlling seven, which set a new career high.
Ally Garrett got the Penguins on the board first, opening the scoring at the 13:31 mark of the first quarter. Akron would go on to score the next five goals of the quarter while holding YSU scoreless for the remainder of the frame.
Garrett snapped a 14-minute scoreless drought as she brought the 'Guins back within three early in the second quarter. After Akron pushed the lead up to 6-2, Claire Baenziger netted her first goal of the day with just over six minutes remaining to bring the lead back down to three, before the Zips capped off the first half with a last-second goal, pushing their lead to 7-3 heading into the locker room.
The Penguins started the scoring for the third-straight quarter as Mia Yuris snuck a shot past the Zips goalkeeper just 70 seconds into the second half, before Akron would answer once again at the 10:26 mark. Ava Kreutzer would take a deflected pass from Claire Baenizger and capitalize with her lone goal of the day to bring the score back down to a three-goal deficit at 8-5 with 7:38 left in the third quarter.
Akron's offense would then explode, scoring six goals across the next six minutes of action, building the largest lead of the game at 14-5 with just over 10 minutes remaining. YSU would add back-to-back goals, the first from Garrett, her third of the game, and the next from Baenziger, her second, to cut the lead to 14-7 with eight minutes left. Akron would tack on two more goals in the final 2:30 to defeat the Penguins, 16-7.
Akron fired 35 total shots, with 25 coming on-goal, compared to just 14 total shots for YSU, with nine on-goal.
The Penguins will return home for the regular season finale next Saturday vs. Eastern Michigan at Farmers National Bank Field. The Penguins will honor six seniors before the contest, starting at 11:35. The opening draw is scheduled for noon.
For news and updates throughout the 2026 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on X.
