The Youngstown State women's lacrosse team will begin a busy week on Wednesday when they travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., for a matchup with the Duquesne Dukes at Rooney Field. The opening draw is scheduled for 2 p.m. There will be no broadcast of the game, but live stats can be followed at YSUSports.com.

Last Time Out

The Penguins earned their second win of the season in an offensive explosion against Detroit Mercy, 15-7, last Saturday at Titan Field.

• YSU's 15 goals marked its highest total in a single game this season.
• Claire Baenziger, Molly Brooks, and Ally Garrett each scored three goals.
• YSU had six assists as a team, its highest total this campaign
• Gwen Bogash had a team-high five points, including a YSU career-high three assists.
• Mackenzie Flannigan tied a season-high with seven ground balls while also causing a career-high five turnovers. She broke the single-season program ground balls record during the contest. She is currently up to 44 ground balls this season, breaking the previous record of 42
• YSU scored at least three goals in each quarter.
• Overall, the Penguins set season-highs in points (21), goals (15), free-position goals (5), assists (6), shots (36), shots on goal (26), and caused turnovers (13).

By The Numbers

• Claire Baenziger has a team-high 30 goals, followed by Ava Kreutzer with 10, and Ally Garrett with nine. Baenziger also has a team-high 47 draw controls.
• Of the 80 goals scored by the Penguins this season, only 25 of the goals have come off assists. Gwen Bogash leads the team with six assists, followed by Ava Kreutzer with five.
• The Penguins have shot just 42% (20-for-48) on free-position attempts, although they were 5-for-6 vs. UDM last Saturday, raising their season average by 6%.
• Mackenzie Flannigan has corralled a team-high 44 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 26. She caused a season-high five turnovers vs. UDM on Apr. 4.
• Alyssa Edwards leads the 'Guins with 10 appearances in the cage, making eight starts. She has accumulated 61 saves and has a 34% save percentage.

Where the 'Guins Rank Amongst the MAC and Nationally

Mackenzie Flannigan

• Leads the MAC and ranks 21st nationally in CT/G (2.17)
• Ranks 2nd in the MAC and 6th nationally in GB/G (3.67)

Claire Baenziger

• Ranks 2nd in the MAC in DC/G (3.92)
• Ranks 2nd in the MAC and 14th nationally FPG/G (0.83)
• Ranks 5th in Goals-Per-Game (2.50)

Strong Sophomore Campaign for CB

Claire Baenziger has started her sophomore season strongly through the first 12 games, netting a team-high 30 goals.

She has scored at least two goals in 10 of YSU's 12 games, including a current seven-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 47 draw controls, which has widely eclipsed her 2025 total of eight. That number would currently put her in a tie for 8th in the program's record book for single-season draw controls, tying Abby Yesko's total in 2023.

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 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) – 44 (and counting)

2. Tori Bustamante (2025) – 42

3. Natalie Calandra-Ryan (2022) – 39

Flannigan has also shown a strong ability to create turnovers as she has quickly climbed the single-season CT leaderboard as well:

Caused Turnovers

1. Natalie Calandra-Ryan (2022) - 37

2. Tori Bustamante (2025) – 36

3. Kayla Stecker (2024) – 27

4. Mackenzie Flannigan (2026) - 26

She has caused at least three turnovers in five games this season, including a season-high five CT performance last Saturday vs. Detroit Mercy.

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 18 goals.

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

During last Saturday's matchup vs. Detroit Mercy, the freshmen class combined for six goals. Brooks notched a hat trick with three, while Griffin had two, and Jerry netted 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 Duquesne

The Dukes enter Saturday's matchup with a 1-10 record overall and are currently winless in A-10 play (0-6).

Duquesne is currently on a seven-game losing skid, including a 19-6 setback vs. VCU last Saturday. The Dukes were blitzed out of the gate in that game by VCU, falling behind 15-0 with 5:36 remaining in the second quarter.

The Dukes have been a very efficient squad when given opportunities this season, ranking third nationally in free-position percentage (61%) and fifth in shot percentage (53%).

Individually, Emma Raines leads the team offensively with 29 goals and leads the nation in shot percentage (71%), while Gracin Emerson leads the nation in assists-per-game (4.73) and ranks third in total assists (52).

Series History

This will be the fourth meeting all-time between YSU and Duquesne, with the Dukes leading the series, 3-0.

Each contest has been highly competitive, with no game decided by more than four points.

Duquesne defeated YSU, 12-11, last season inside the WATTS on Feb. 19, 2025. Claire Baenziger scored two goals for the Penguins, while Sami Drew, Ava Kreutzer, and Genna Cooke each scored once.

A Win vs. Duquesne Would…

• Be YSU's first win in program history vs. Duquesne
• Mark YSU's second win over a member of the Atlantic Conference, and first since 2022
• Mark YSU's third road win of the season
• Mark YSU's first stretch of back-to-back wins this season
• Be Head Coach Liza Oakley's third 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 return home for a Mid-American Conference matchup against Central Michigan this Saturday. The opening draw is scheduled for noon.

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