The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team is set to host Eastern Michigan this Saturday on Senior Day at Farmers National Bank Field. Senior Day recognition will begin at approximately 11:35, with the opening draw scheduled for noon.
Last Time Out
The Penguins fell to Akron, 16-7, last Saturday at InfoCision Stadium.
- After YSU scored the opening goal just 90 seconds into the contest, Akron answered with five-straight goals to end the first quarter.
- After the Penguins cut the deficit to 8-5 halfway through the third quarter, Akron scored six unanswered goals to extend the lead to nine, effectively pulling away.
- Ally Garrett led the 'Guins with a hat trick, scoring three goals, while Claire Baenziger netted two goals of her own.
- Mackenzie Flannigan set a new single-season CT record (38) as she caused a team-high three turnovers and also scooped four ground balls. She is currently tied for the career CT record at YSU with 55.
- Alyssa Edwards had 10 saves in the cage, marking her fourth double-digit save performance of the season.
By The Numbers
- Claire Baenziger has a team-high 36 goals, followed by Ally Garrett with 17 goals, and Ava Kreutzer, who has scored 15 goals. Baenziger also has a team-high 54 draw controls.
- Of the 106 goals scored by the Penguins this season, only 36 of the goals have come off assists. Claire Baenziger has a team-high seven assists, while Gwen Bogash and Ava Kreutzer each have six assists.
- The Penguins have shot just 40% (24-for-60) on free-position attempts. YSU is 0-for-6 over the last two games.
- Mackenzie Flannigan has corralled a team-high 53 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 38, also a single-season program record.
- Alyssa Edwards leads the 'Guins with 13 appearances in the cage, making 11 starts. She has accumulated 87 saves and has a 37% save percentage.
Senior Day Recognition
Youngstown State will have the pleasure of honoring six seniors before Saturday's contest at approximately 11:35 a.m. Those seniors are:
Where the 'Guins Rank Amongst the MAC and Nationally
Mackenzie Flannigan
- Leads the MAC and ranks 12th nationally in CT/G (2.53)
- Ranks 2nd in the MAC and 7th nationally in GB/G (3.53)
Claire Baenziger
- Ranks 2nd in the MAC and 24th nationally in FPG/G (0.73)
- Ranks 3rd in the MAC in DC/G (3.60)
- Ranks 6th in the MAC in Goals-Per-Game (2.40)
Flannigan Etching Her Name in YSU Lore
Mackenzie Flannigan has had an incredible junior season for the Penguins, having broken two single-season program records, while also climbing up the career leaderboards as well.
Here is how the current Penguins single-season GB records stand:
Single-Season Ground Balls
1. Mackenzie Flannigan (2026) – 49 (and counting)
2. Tori Bustamante (2025) – 42
3. Natalie Calandra-Ryan (2022) – 39
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).
Flannigan is also atop the single-season CT leaderboard:
Single-Season Caused Turnovers
1. Mackenzie Flannigan (2026) - 38
2. Natalie Calandra-Ryan (2022) - 37
3. Tori Bustamante (2025) – 36
She has caused at least three turnovers in seven games this season, including a season-high six CT performance last Saturday vs. Central Michigan.
Career Caused Turnovers
T-1. Aryss Lindsey (2021-23) – 55
T-1. Mackenzie Flannigan (2024-Current) – 55
3. Kayla Stecker (2022-24) - 52
Strong Sophomore Campaign for CB
Claire Baenziger has had a stellar sophomore season, netting a team-high 36 goals, which currently ties her for fifth-most in a season in program history, with Erin Clark, who had the same total in 2022.
She scored at least two goals in 12 of YSU's 15 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 54 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, and have played four outdoor home games 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.Â
Previewing Eastern Michigan
The Eagles enter Saturday's matchup with a 9-6 record overall and a 4-2 mark in MAC play.
EMU is coming off a 13-3 victory over Robert Morris last Saturday. Their lone conference losses have come against Akron on Mar. 28 (10-9) and UMass on Apr. 11 (14-4).
The Eagles lead the MAC and rank sixth nationally in GB/G (18.93) while ranking second in the conference and 11th nationally in CT/G (11.40).
Series History
This will be the fourth meeting all-time between YSU and Eastern Michigan. EMU leads the series, 2-1, through the first three meetings.
Eastern Michigan won last year's contest, 19-6, on Mar. 23, 2025, in Ypsilanti.
YSU's lone victory over the Eagles was a thrilling 17-15 decision on Apr. 8, 2023, at Farmers National Bank Field. Jordan Miller scored seven goals for the Penguins during that game, a mark that is tied for the second-most goals scored in a game in program history. Aly Garrett, just a freshman at the time, netted one goal for YSU.
A Win vs. Eastern Michigan Would…
- Be YSU's second win in program history vs. Eastern Michigan, and first since 2023
- Mark YSU's first home win of the season, and first outdoors home win at Farmers since 2023
- 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 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
For news and updates throughout the 2026 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on X.
