Lacrosse Welcomes Kent State Wednesday

Lacrosse vs. Kent State
Date	Wednesday, April 12 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Scicluna Field \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Game Program
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Social Media	Instagram: @emu_Lacrosse \| Twitter: @EMU_Lacrosse

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team is in preparation to play host to the Kent State University Golden Flashes, Wednesday, April 12, in a 2 p.m. meeting on Scicluna Field. The Eagles (1-10, 0-3 MAC) look to bounce back after dropping a close, 17-15 battle to the Penguins of Youngstown State University, April 8, on the road, while the Golden Flashes (5-6, 2-0 MAC) remain undefeated in the Mid-American Conference after taking a 13-10 triumph over Robert Morris University, April 5.

OPENING DRAWS:
» As a team, the Eagles set school records against the Penguins with 15 goals scored (13 at Butler, March 26), seven assists (7 at Xavier, March 12), and 22 points (18 at Butler). All three stand as school records in a conference game as well.
» Eastern recorded five woman-up goals in the setback, the most in a single game in program history. The previous record was just two scores on the advantage at Xavier, March 12.
» The team also recorded 19 draw control wins against YSU, the most in a MAC game for the Eagles after recording 16 at Detroit Mercy, April 1.
» Three Eagles recorded hat tricks at Youngstown State with Mackenzie Blackwell and Sydney Lawrence each scoring four goals and Amber Alderman adding three. It marked the first time in program history three Eagles have each tallied hat tricks in the same game after seeing two players notch three or more goals in the same game twice.
» Sydney Lawrence made more history for the Eagles as the senior recorded the program's first double hat trick as she scored four goals and added three assists for seven points at YSU.
» With at least one goal in the last five games, Sydney Lawrence also has dished out assists, including three against the Penguins for the second-most in a single game behind Avery Schwab's four dimes at Xavier.
» Mackenzie Blackwell continued her torrid scoring pace as she added four more goals against Youngstown State for her fifth hat trick of the season and fourth in a row, bringing her total to 10 goals in the past two games.
» Along with her overall hat trick, Mackenzie Blackwell made history as she scored the team's first woman-up hat trick with three goals coming on the advantage against YSU.
» Mackenzie Blackwell once again led the team in the draw circle as she was credited with 10 draw controls, tying her own school record.
» Amber Alderman had a career day as she finished with three goals and six draw controls over the Penguins, the fifth-most in a single game this year.
» Tracy Grollman continued to do it all on offense for Eastern as she recorded two goals and added on an assist verse the Penguins for the second game in a row.
» Gina Jaffurs recorded the first multiple assist game of her career with a pair of helpers in the setback to the Penguins.

WAY BACK WEDNESDAY: Take a blast to the past with the EMU lacrosse team as Wednesday's conference showdown against the Golden Flashes of Kent State is deemed "Way Back Wednesday"! Join us for the gameday action to receive your FREE Eastern Fanny Pack and welcome Spring by enjoying some old tunes out in the sun on Scicluna Field.

QUICK REVIEW • YOUNGSTOWN STATE: Eastern battled to the end, but its comeback effort came up short as the Eagles dropped a 17-15 decision to host Youngstown State. The Eagles saw three players record hat tricks, including Amber Alderman, who tallied the first of her career.
    YSU took a 2-0 lead before Tracy Grollman scored at 10:10 to make it 2-1. After another YSU goal made it 3-1, Mackenzie Blackwell pulled one back for EMU with her goal at 6:41 as she scored on a woman-up possession off a pass from Gina Jaffurs. YSU again scored to make it a two-goal game before Blackwell got her second of the game, this time on an assist from Grollman with 5:25 remaining. But the Penguins notched two more to close out the quarter to make it 6-3 through one.
    YSU opened the second quarter with a goal, but it was disallowed for an illegal stick. The Eagles took the ball, went down the field, and nearly scored before regaining possession and seeing Abby Alderman put one past the YSU goalie on an assist from Avery Schwab at 11:50. The Eagles then added another, this time Am. Alderman scoring on a pass from Sydney Lawrence to make it 6-5. But, the Penguins closed out the half with three goals in a row to take a 9-5 advantage into the break.
    The Eagles opened the scoring in the third quarter as they won the draw control and moved down the field where Lawrence tallied her first goal of the game to make it 9-6 in favor of the hosts. After a goal from YSU made it 10-6, the Eagles would see Blackwell net her fourth of the game at 11:29 on a woman-up free-position goal. The Penguins responded with three goals of their own to build a 13-7 lead at 8:14, but the Eagles responded again following a red card called on the hosts. Eastern received goals from Blackwell (woman-up), Lawrence (woman-up) and Schwab, who scored with 19 seconds remaining in the quarter, to make it 13-10 in favor of the Penguins.
    In the final stanza, the hosts scored at 13:38 to regain a four-goal lead before Am. Alderman scored her second of the day and her first from the free-position arc to make it 14-11 at 11:47. The Eagles clawed their way to within two goals with 10:27 to go as Lawrence picked up her third hat trick of the season with her third goal of the day. Following a YSU timeout, the Penguins scored three in a row to take a 17-12 lead with 4:11 remaining. The Eagles responded at 3:38 as Lawrence grabbed her fourth of the day to cut the deficit back to four. Am. Alderman scored her third of day to record her first career hat trick as she sent a pass from Lawrence into the net to make it 17-14 with 1:34 remaining after the man-up goal. The Eagles tallied again with 16 seconds remaining as Lawrence fed Grollman for her second goal of the day and the final goal in a 17-15 score.

SCOUTING KENT STATE: The Golden Flashes enter the game with a 5-6 record and are one of two undefeated teams in league play with a 2-0 MAC record (Central Michigan is 3-0). One of two teams in league with three wins away from home (Robert Morris is 3-3 in road games), Kent State has won two in a row overall, including a 13-10 deciation at RMU, April 5, in its most recent contest. The Golden Flashes also hold a 6-5 home win over Akron, April 1. Individually, both Kenzie Sklar and Jackie Wolford lead the way with 34 goals while Sklar leads the team with 40 totals points and Wolford is just behind with 38. Morgan Kubicki is tops in assists with 20. Defensively, KSU leads the league allowing 12.13 goals per game with Madison Flannigan leading the way with 108 saves and 104 goals allowed for a 50.9 save percentage and a 12.95 goals against average.

RECORD-BREAKING OUTCOME: As a team, the Eagles set school records against the Penguins, April 8 with 15 goals scored (13 at Butler, March 26), seven assists (7 at Xavier, March 12), and 22 points (18 at Butler). All three stand as school records in a conference game as well.

NOW THAT'S TAKING THE ADVANTAGE: Eastern recorded five woman-up goals against the host Penguins, April 8, the most in a single game in program history. The previous record was just two scores on the advantage at Xavier, March 12.

TRIPLE THE HEADWEAR: Three Eagles recorded hat tricks, April 8 with Mackenzie Blackwell and Sydney Lawrence each scoring four goals and Amber Alderman adding three. It marked the first time in program history three Eagles have each tallied hat tricks in the same game after seeing two players notch three or more goals in the same game twice (Lawrence (3), and Blackwell (4) at Xavier, March 12; and Lawrence (5), and Blackwell (4) at Buter, March 26).

MACK'S HATS: Mackenzie Blackwell continued her torrid scoring pace as she added four more goals over Youngstown State, April 8 for her fifth hat trick of the season and fourth in a row, bringing her total to 10 goals in the past two games. She leads the team with 28 goals this year. Along with her overall hat trick, Blackwell made history as she scored the team's first woman-up hat trick with three goals coming on the advantage in the game.

BLACKWELL'S DRAWINGS: Mackenzie Blackwell once again led the team in the draw circle as she was credited with 10 draw controls, April 8, tying her own school record. She has now tallied at least five draw controls in the last five games and seven of the 11 she has played this year.

GO, FRESHY, GO: Last week, Mackenzie Blackwell averaged 5.0 goals, 8.0 draw controls, and 2.5 ground balls for the Eagles in games at home against Central Michigan, April 5 and at Youngstown State, April 8. The rookie opened her week with a program-record six goals against the Chippewas while adding six draw controls and three ground balls before tallying four goals, 10 draw controls and two ground balls against the Penguins. Her six goals against CMU are fifth-highest in a game this year for any MAC player while her goals scored give her hat tricks in four consecutive games and five overall this year. Her 10 draw controls at YSU ties her own school record and marks the fifth game in a row in which she recorded at least six draws. Overall, Blackwell is currently the only freshman to rank in the Top 10 of the MAC in goals (#6 at 2.55), points (#10 at 2.73) and draw controls (#2 at 5.09).

HELPFUL JAFFURS: Gina Jaffurs recorded the first multiple assist game of her career with a pair of helpers against the Penguins, April 8. Additionally, it marks her first stretch of consecutive games recording at least one assist.

TRACKING TRACY: Tracy Grollman continued to do it all on offense for Eastern as she recorded two goals and added on an assist against YSU, April 8 for the second game in a row. She has now recorded at least one point in nine of the team's 11 games this year.

AMBER'S CAREER DAY: Amber Alderman had a career day against Youngstown State, April 8 as she finished with three goals and six draw controls, the fifth-most in a single game this year. Not only did she record her first hat trick and become only the sixth EMU player to do so, she did so after having scored just twice before all season with one goal each at Butler, March 26, and at Detroit Mercy, April 1.

DOUBLE HATTIE: Sydney Lawrence made more history for the Eagles as the senior recorded the program's first double hat trick as she scored four goals and added three assists for seven points in the game against YSU, April 8. Her point total ties the program record she established earlier this season when she netted five goals and added two helpers at Butler, March 26.

I SCORE, YOU SCORE, WE ALL SCORE: With at least one goal in the last five games, Sydney Lawrence also has dished out assists, including three against the Penguins, April 8 for the second-most in a single game behind Avery Schwab's four dimes at Xavier, March 12.

IN HER 20's: With her stats at YSU included, Sydney Lawrence has tallied many 20s as she now has 20 goals, 20 ground balls, 20 caused turnovers, and 27 draw controls to her credit.

EAGLES IN THE MAC: Sydney Lawrence is averaging 1.82 caused turnovers per game. That number leads the MAC and ranks 33rd nationally. Mackenzie Blackwell's 5.09 draw controls per game ranks second in the league and 42nd in the nation.

NEXT BEST: The EMU lacrosse team currently holds the No. 2 position in the MAC rankings in three different statistical categories. With a 47.5 free-position percentage, the Green and White rank second in the league and 31st nationally. Its 49.2 draw control percentage also ranks second in the MAC, and 65th in the nation.

UP NEXT: Following the midweek match up with Kent State, the Eagles will travel to Moon Township, Pa., Saturday, April 19, for a noon meeting with Robert Morris.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Abby Alderman

Amber Alderman

Mackenzie Blackwell

Tracy Grollman

Gina Jaffurs

Sydney Lawrence

Avery Schwab

Eastern Michigan Athletics