The lone game on the docket this week for the Youngstown State women's lacrosse program will send the team to the Motor City as they will battle fellow Mid-American Conference member Detroit Mercy in a Saturday matchup. The opening draw is scheduled for noon. The game will not be broadcast, but live stats can be followed at YSUSports.com.

Last Time Out

The Penguins dropped their third-straight contest last Saturday, an 8-4 decision to Kent State at Farmers National Bank Field.

• The lone lead that YSU held was a 2-1 advantage at the 5:09 mark of the first quarter after Ava Kreutzer netted a goal with the Penguins being a player-up.
• The game was tied on two other occasions, as the teams were knotted up at both three and four during the third quarter.
• Kent State scored four goals in the fourth quarter after the game was tied 4-4 entering the final period. The Golden Flashes scored the go-ahead goal with 8:22 remaining before scoring the final three goals over the last 1:10 of regulation.
• Alyssa Edwards had a career-high 11 saves in the cage
• Claire Baenziger led YSU with two goals, both of which came in the third quarter.
• Genna Cooke tied a season-high with four ground balls, also tying a team-high for the game with Mackenzie Flannigan.

By The Numbers

• Claire Baenziger has a team-high 27 goals through 11 games, followed by Ava Kreutzer with nine, and Maya Griffin and Ally Garrett, who have each scored six. Baenziger also has a team-high 42 draw controls.
• Of the 63 goals scored by the Penguins this season, only 19 of the goals have come off assists. Claire Baenziger, Molly Brooks, Gwen Bogash, and Ava Kreutzer lead the team with three assists each.
• The Penguins have shot just 36% (15-for-42) on free-position attempts.
• Mackenzie Flannigan has corralled a team-high 37 ground balls, including a season-high seven ground balls vs. Robert Morris on Mar. 19. She also leads the team in caused turnovers with 21. She caused a season-high four turnovers vs. RMU on mar. 19.
• Alyssa Edwards leads the 'Guins with nine appearances in the cage, making seven starts. She has accumulated 56 saves and has a 34% save percentage.

Where the 'Guins Rank Amongst the MAC

Mackenzie Flannigan

• Ranks 2nd in the MAC in GB/G (3.36)
• Ranks 3rd in CT/G (1.91)

Claire Baenziger

• Ranks 3rd in the MAC in DC/G (3.82)
• Ranks 5th in Goals-Per-Game (2.45)

Strong Start for CB

Claire Baenziger has started her sophomore season strongly through the first 11 games, netting a team-high 25 goals.

She has scored at least two goals in nine of YSU's 11 games, including a current six-game stretch of multi-goal performances.

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 42 draw controls, which has widely eclipsed her 2025 total of eight. That number would currently put her in a tie for 10th in the program's record book for single-season draw controls, tying Emma Carter's total in 2021.

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.

Flannigan on Fire

Mackenzie Flannigan is quickly rising up the YSU record book in multiple defensive categories:

Ground Balls

1. Tori Bustamante (2025) – 42

2. Natalie Calandra-Ryan (2022) – 39

3. Mackenzie Flannigan (2026) - 37

Caused Turnovers

4. Aryss Lindsey (2023) – 24

T-5. Mackenzie Flannigan (2025) – 22

T-5. Aryss Lindsey (2022) – 22

6. Mackenzie Flannigan (2026) - 21

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.

Flannigan Named MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Mar. 12

Junior Mackenzie Flannigan was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Thursday, Mar. 12, for her efforts during YSU's matchup vs. Marquette on Mar. 6.

She set a season-high and tied a career-high with six ground balls vs. the Golden Eagles, while also tying season-highs in caused turnovers (three) and draw controls (five).

This marked the first time that she has received this honor during her career, and she is the first 'Guin to win MAC Defensive Player of the Week since Tori Bustamante received the honor on Apr. 29, 2025.

Freshmen Producing in a Big Way

The freshmen class for the 'Guins has made an impact during the 2026 season, combining for 12 goals.

Maya Griffin leads the way for the class with six goals, while Molly Brooks and Lilly Mattucci have each scored three goals.

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 Detroit Mercy

The Titans enter Saturday's matchup still in search of their first win of the season. UDM is currently 0-8 overall and 0-3 in MAC play.

Saturday's matchup will begin a three-game homestand for UDM as they look to avenge a 14-7 setback against Central Michigan last Saturday. The difference in the game was a strong second half from Central Michigan, outscoring Detroit Mercy 9-2 after the game was tied at five at the half. The Chippewas scored the first five goals of the second half within the opening nine minutes of the third quarter.

The Titans are led by senior standout Alyssa Jarvis, who leads the team in points (24), goals (14), assists (10), and draw controls (27).

Series History

This will be the eighth meeting all-time between YSU and Detroit Mercy, with YSU leading the series 5-2.

YSU has won four of the last five matchups between the programs, including a 20-9 victory on Senior Day last season inside the WATTS.

YSU's offense came out red hot, jumping out to a 9-1 lead through 18 minutes of action. Ava Kreutzer and Mia Yuris each scored three goals, while Mary Gasper also found the back of the cage.

A Win vs. Detroit Mercy Would…

• Be YSU's fifth win in program history vs. Detroit Mercy
• Move YSU's record to 2-2 in the Mid-American Conference
• Mark YSU's second road win of the season
• Be Head Coach Liza Oakley's second 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 head to Western Pa. for a matchup with Duquesne on Wednesday. The opening draw is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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