Lacrosse Set to Host Delaware State

Lacrosse vs. Delaware State
Date	Tuesday, March 7 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Scicluna Field
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF ) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Digital Programs
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Twitter	@EMU_Lacrosse \| @EMUAthletics
Instagram	@emu_Lacrosse \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team is set to welcome Delaware State University Tuesday, March 7, in a 2 p.m. contest at Scicluna Field. The second home game in program history, the Eagles (0-2) are coming off a strong showing in their first road game in which they dropped a 16-11 decision at Winthrop University, March 3. A live stream of the game is not available, but live statistics can be found at EMUEagles.com/LiveStats.

OPENING DRAWS:
» Eastern is coming off a 16-11 loss at Winthrop, March 5, in its inaugural road contest with several Eagles finding the score sheet, including Sydney Lawrence, who tallied a single-game record four points on two goals and two assists while adding nine draw controls.
» After being held to four goals in its first game, the Eagles exploded for 11 against Winthrop with seven players scoring at least one goal, four of whom netted two each.
» The Eagles made huge gains statistically between their first and second games, including goals (+7), shots (+20), shots on goal (+15), ground balls (+11), and draw controls (+12).
» After going 0-of-2 in free-position shots in their opener, the Eagles responded to finish the game at Winthrop shooting 5-of-10 from the eight-meter arc.
» Through two games, 28 players have seen action for the Eagles with 14 different players having earned at least one start this season, including Samantha Borgert and Skylar Hilmer at Winthrop.

SCOUTING DELAWARE STATE: The Hornets, who play at St. Francis (Pa.), March 5, currently stand 2-1 with their first loss coming in their most recent game, a close 11-10 setback at home to Presbyterian, Feb. 22. DSU, who opened the year with wins over Howard, 16-4, in Chapel Hill, N.C., Feb. 11, and a four-overtime, 13-12, thriller over visiting Akron, Feb. 19, is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
   Offensively, Rossella Nardi leads the way with 10 points on a team-best nine goals while Saniya Craft has tallied six goals with four others having each scored four times this year. One of those players, Mica Lambert, has scored both of the game-winning goals for the Hornets in 2023. On the defensive side of things, the Hornets are allowing just 9.00 goals per game, which tops the ASUN rankings, with Yeda Couto-Erickson leading the way with an 8.51 goals allowed average and a 54.4 save percentage through three games.

QUICK REVIEW • WINTHROP: Eastern played its inaugural road game at Winthrop, March 3, and lost a 16-11 decision to the host Eagles in Rock Hill, S.C. After solid defensive play for both teams to start the contest, it was Winthrop's offense who got on the board first, with 9:33 remaining in the opening quarter. Down 2-0 with just over four minutes left in the opening stanza, it was Abby Alderman who netted EMU's first goal. She was assisted by Sydney Lawrence.
   After just four goals total were exchanged in the opening quarter, the offenses for both squads picked up their efficiency in the second 15 minutes of play. Winthrop put six more goals on the scoreboard, while Eastern added four of its own to enter halftime down four, 9-5. After picking up an assist in the first quarter, it was Lawrence who scored the second goal of the day, and first of the second quarter, for the Green and White.
   After a one-goal third, Eastern's scoring unit elevated its play yet again in the fourth quarter, scoring a game-high five single-period goals en route to outpacing Winthrop 5-3 in the quarter. Despite the late-game push by the Eagles, they were unable to complete the comeback, falling 16-11, but scoring 10+ goals in a game for the first time in program history.

TALE OF TWO GAMES: In their inaugural game, the Eagles were held to eight shots, four goals, zero free-position goals, seven ground balls, and eight draw controls en route to an 18-4 loss to visiting Niagara, Feb. 16. At Winthrop, March 3, the Eagles' improvements were noticeable in all of those categories, particularly on offense. While the defense held Winthrop to two fewer goals than Niagara (16), the offense came to life and netted 11 goals, five of which game on free-position shots and were the first five free-po goals in program history. It didn't stop there as Eastern fired 28 shots at Winthrop, up 20 over its inaugural game, while also more than doubling its efforts in ground balls with 18 (7 vs. Niagara) and draw controls with 20 (8 vs. Niagara).

SYD THE KID: In her first game with the Eagles after four years at Oregon, Sydney Lawrence tallied two shots and recorded one caused turnover against Niagara, Feb. 16. At Winthrop, March 3, Lawrence obliterated those numbers as she finished with four points on two goals and two assists while launching eight shots, seven of which were on goal, while collecting two ground balls, two caused turnovers, and nine draw controls. While all of those numbers are season-bests, she recorded six career-highs, including three by wide margins.
   Her four points marked the first time in her career she had recorded multiple points in the same game, surpassing the one she tallied five times, most recently April 22, 2022, with Oregon at Colorado. Her first multiple goal and multiple assist game bettered the single goal and single assist games she had for the Ducks while her two free-po goals are just the second and third of her career with the first coming against Stanford, April 3, 2022. Where she really made huge gains came in her shot and draw control totals with eight and nine, respectively. Her previous career-best marks were three shots at Arizona State, April 5, 2019, and one draw control two times with the last coming at Stanford.

FAST ON THE DRAW: In their opening game with Niagara, Feb. 16, the Eagles were held to just eight draw controls won on the day. On the road at Winthrop, March 3, Eastern more than doubled that total with 20 wins, nine of which came from Sydney Lawrence, who entered the game with just two total draw controls in her career, both coming with Oregon prior to her arrival at EMU. With the strong showing against WU, the Eagles rank fourth in the MAC in draw controls.

FEELING FREE: The Eagles drew 10 free-position shots at Winthrop, March 3, after earning just two in their inaugural game against Niagara, Feb. 16. After not scoring on either attempt against the Purple Eagles in the opener, Eastern scored five times from the fan, accounting for one-third of the team's 15 goals scored this season, with Sydney Lawrence's goal with 11:57 remaining in the second quarter standing as the first free-po goal in program history. Additionally, the defense of free-position shots has been strong this year as opponents are a combined 2-of-12 on the year.

MORE FIRSTS FOR ABBY: After becoming the first player to score a goal in program history with her strike against Niagara, Feb. 16, Abby Alderman added her name to another scoring first as she is the first player to score a goal on the road in program history. The goal came with 4:11 remaining in the first quarter.

ACCOUNTS OPENED: The Eagles have scored 15 goals so far this season with eight different players accounting for those scores. In the game at Winthrop, March 3, four individuals added their name to the list with both Tracy Grollman and Sydney Lawrence each scoring twice while Skylar Hilmer and Avery Schwab each netting one goal. They joined Abby Alderman, Mackenzie Blackwell, Haley Hodak, and Gina Jaffurs on the scoring list as each tallied one goal against Niagara, Feb. 16, with Alderman (2), Blackwell (2), and Jaffurs scoring at Winthrop as well.

DEBUTS: Through two games, the Eagles have featured 28 different players on the field. 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). At Winthrop, rookies Olivia Halverson and Gretchen McCann joined the list of debutantes.

START ME UP: The first starting lineup in program history (Niagara, Feb. 16) 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. Two more freshmen earned their first starts at Winthrop, March 3, including Samantha Borgert and Skylar Hilmer.

UP NEXT: Eastern returns to the road Sunday, March 12, when the Eagles will face fellow first-year program Xavier University in a 2 p.m. contest at Corcoran Field in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game will be streamed live on FloSports.

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Players Mentioned

Abby Alderman

Hannah Bargeron

Mackenzie Blackwell

Samantha Borgert

Giuliana Ditsky

Tracy Grollman

Olivia Halverson

Skylar Hilmer

Haley Hodak

Gina Jaffurs

Sydney Lawrence

Julie Lindsey

Gretchen McCann

Avery Schwab

Eastern Michigan Athletics