Lacrosse Heads to Winthrop for First Road Game

Lacrosse at Winthrop
Date	Friday, March 3 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Rock Hill, S.C. \| Eagle Field
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF ) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Program
Live Stats	StatBroadcast
Twitter	@EMU_Lacrosse \| @EMUAthletics
Instagram	@emu_Lacrosse \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team returns to action Friday, March 3, with the first road contest in its inaugural season as Eastern is set to meet Winthrop University at Eagle Field. The visiting Eagles (0-1) are in search of their first program win while the host Eagles (1-1) will look to rebound from a home loss to first-year program Clemson, Feb. 18.
     The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Mike Vaillancourt set to call the action. Live statistics can be found at StatBroadcast.com.

OPENING DRAWS:
» Eastern played its inaugural game, Feb. 16, and fell to visiting Niagara, 18-4, inside the Indoor Practice Facility on campus.
» A total of 26 players saw action for the Eagles, including 23 freshmen. Additionally, of the 12 starters, two were freshmen. Both transfer field players, Sydney Lawrence (Oregon) and Julie Lindsey (Central Michigan), also earned starts in their Eastern debuts with fellow transfer Hannah Bargeron (Westminster (UT)) earning minutes in goal.
» In what will be a season of many firsts, Abby Alderman scored the first goal in program history as she collected a pass from her twin sister Amber Alderman and scored at 7:55 in the first quarter.
» Although they have played just once this season, the Eagles are leading the MAC in two statistical categories, including saves per game (14.00) and fewest turnovers per game (16.00).
» Through games played Feb. 26, both Abby Alderman and Gina Jaffurs and ranked 31st in the NCAA for caused turnovers with each averaging 2.0 per game.

SCOUTING WINTHROP: The Eagles enter the week 1-1 overall and will play at Davidson, March 1, before meeting Eastern at home. Winthrop opened the year with a 16-13 home victory over Kennesaw State before falling at home to Clemson, 21-1. Nine players have scored at least one goal so far this year for the Eagles, including Grayson McKenzie, who has a team-best five goals and sits second in points with five. Scarlet Cifarelli leads the team with six points on two goals and four assists. Defensively, Maddy Godgson has started both games in goal, saving five shots and allowing 22 goals while Emma Calhoun has seen minutes in two games, saving four and allowing 12.

QUICK REVIEW • NIAGARA: Eastern faced Niagara, Feb. 16, inside the Indoor Practice Facility (IPF) where the Green and White scored the program's first four goals ever, but ultimately fell to the Purple Eagles, 18-4, in its inaugural game.
     Niagara opened up scoring in the first quarter with two straight goals at 10:41 and 8:47, respectively, to take an early lead over the Eagles. Less than a minute later, freshman Abby Alderman netted a woman-up goal, the first in program history, off an assist from her twin sister Amber Alderman to cut the Purple Eagles' lead in half with 7:55 left in the first. Niagara then notched one more goal to lead, 3-1, after the first 15 minutes of play. In the second quarter, Niagara shot 9-for-14 in terms of goals to extend its lead to 12-1 at halftime. The Purple Eagles tacked on three more in the third quarter to increase their lead 15-1 through 45 minutes of play.
     Freshmen Mackenzie Blackwell and Haley Hodak scored back-to-back goals in the fourth, at 13:31 and 10:54, respectively, to cut Niagara's lead to 12. The Purple Eagles tallied three more in the quarter before Gina Jaffurs was able to find the back of the net, off an assist from Blackwell, with 11 seconds remaining to close out the game's scoring.

DEBUTS: In Eastern's inaugural game, Feb. 16, against Niagara, 26 different players logged their first minutes with the Eagles, including 23 freshmen making their collegiate debuts. Along with the rookies, all three of the program's transfers played, including both Julie Lindsey and Sydney Lawrence, who came to Eastern from Central Michigan and Oregon, respectively. Additionally, Hannah Bargeron saw time in goal as well after transferring in from Westminster (Utah).

START ME UP: The first starting lineup in program history featured 10 freshmen and two senior transfers, including both Sydney Lawrence and Julie Lindsey. Additionally, the entire starting defense was comprised of freshmen, including Giuliana Ditsky in goal.

THE OPPONENT TRAP: With 7:55 remaining in the first quarter against Niagara, Feb. 16, Abby Alderman took a pass from her twin sister, Amber Alderman, and slotted home a shot to give the program its first goal. Not only was it the first goal and first assist in Eastern history, it also was the first woman-up goal scored by the Eagles.

DOUBLE THE FUN: Mackenzie Blackwell posted the first multiple-point game in program history as the freshman scored one goal and added one assist against Niagara, Feb. 16. With 13:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, Blackwell carried the ball toward the cage and finished her shot with a goal, the first of her career. Then, with 11 seconds remaining in the game, Blackwell found a cutting Gina Jaffurs, who scored the fourth goal of the day for the Eagles and handed Blackwell her first helper and second point of the day. Blackwell also collected five draw controls on the day, the most of any Eagle player.

STANDING TALL: The Eagles got off to a strong start against Niagara, Feb. 16, as Eastern trailed, 3-1, at the end of the first quarter. In the opening 15 minutes of play, rookie goalie Giuliana Ditsky piled up seven of her 10 saves, including stopping the first two shots on frame by the Purple Eagles.

UP NEXT: After two weeks off between games, Eastern will start playing much more frequently as the Eagles return to action Tuesday, March 7, when Delaware State visits Ypsilanti. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start and will be played outside at Scicluna Field. The game also will be the first of two played next week by Eastern as the Eagles are slated to travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, to meet with fellow first-year program Xavier at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 12.

FOLLOW ALONG: You can follow the Eagles on your favorite social media platforms, including Twitter (@EMU_Lacrosse) and Instagram (@EMU_Lacrosse).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Abby Alderman

Amber Alderman

Hannah Bargeron

Mackenzie Blackwell

Giuliana Ditsky

Haley Hodak

Gina Jaffurs

Sydney Lawrence

Julie Lindsey

Eastern Michigan Athletics