Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, April 5
Ypsilanti, Mich.
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
1-9 (0-2)
11
vs
17
Central Michigan
4-6 (2-0)
1
2
3
4
F
Central Mich.
3
2
3
9
17
Eastern Mich.
0
5
1
5
11
Eagles Give Defending Champs Run for Their Money; Fall 17-11 to the Chippewas
4/5/2023 3:18:00 PM | Lacrosse
Blackwell recorded program-high six goals on the day
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team fought valiantly in a 17-11 home setback to the defending Mid-American Conference champions, Central Michigan University, Wednesday, April 5, inside the Indoor Practice Facility. The Eagles (1-9, 0-2 MAC) were led by Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md.-Northern), who posted a program six goals on eight shots and won six draw controls for the Green and White. Meanwhile, the Chippewas (4-6, 2-0 MAC) remain undefeated in MAC games following their win.
How It Happened
The Eagles surrendered three goals in the first quarter before opening up the gates in the second as Gina Jaffurs (Leonardtown, Md. St. Mary's Ryken College) found the back of the net on a free-position attempt for her fourth goal of the season. From there, EMU allowed another Chippewa goal before Blackwell responded with her first make of the day with help from Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md.-Patuxent) to put the score, 4-2, in favor of CMU. The Eagles connected on two back-to-back shots from both Blackwell and Tracy Grollman (Annapolis, Md.-Annapolis Area Christian School) to even the score with 8:41 left in the half. Almost four minutes later, Sydney Lawrence (Wylie, Texas-Plano Senior-Oregon) gave the Eagles the advantage for the first time in the game as she drilled one home off a free-position attempt. However, the ending of the second saw the Chippewas make the equalizer with only 47 seconds left on the clock to finish the first half 5-5.
In the third quarter, Central Michigan regained the lead before Lawrence neutralized the score with an unassisted goal, her 16th of the season. With the Eagles up by one, the Chippewas acted quickly as the visitors nailed in two more to finish the quarter ahead of EMU, 8-6.
A hard-fought battle in the fourth saw a total of 14 goals scored between the two schools with Blackwell accounting for four of them herself. The period began with the Chippewas extending their lead by two before Blackwell connected on a dime from Lawrence to give the Eagles their seventh notch of the game. From there, the shooting range was open for both the Michigan-based teams with the Chippewas coming away with a 17-11 victory over the Eagles.
Game Notes
» Blackwell scored a program record six goals against the Chippewas, topping her career-high four goals set on two occasions (at Xavier, March 12, and at Butler, March 26). Additionally, the six goals tie for the fourth most in a single game within the MAC this season.
» With her six goals, Blackwell recorded her fourth hat trick of the season and third consecutive after doing so against Butler, March 26, and Detroit Mercy, April 1. The freshman now has double the amount of hat tricks than the next Eagle, which is Lawrence with two.
» Blackwell registered the program's first home draw control against a MAC opponent en route to her six total on the day. It marked her seventh game recording five or more draw controls and her fifth consecutive accomplishing the feat. Blackwell remains the Eagles' top scorer with 24 total.
» Blackwell's last two goals in the game came 22 seconds apart, making it the fastest a single player has scored back-to-back goals in program history. Prior to today's contest, teammate Avery Schwab (Dublin, Ohio Dublin-Scioto) held the title as she netted two just 33 seconds apart against Delaware State, March 7.
» Jaffurs secured the Eagles' first goal of the day off a free-position attempt early in the second quarter, making it the first home goal against a MAC member in school history as well as the first home goal against a MAC foe off a free-position. With her goal, Jaffurs also collected the program's first home point against a MAC member.
» Grollman earned the first woman-up home goal against a MAC member in program history with her equalizer in the second quarter. Additionally, Grollman has recorded at least one made goal in eight of the ten contests played this season. The only other members of the team to record the same feat are both Blackwell and Lawrence with eight games each.
» Schwab assisted on Grollman's equalizer, making it the program's first woman-up assist against a MAC member.
» Am. Alderman tallied the school's first home assist against a MAC team with her helper on Blackwell's goal at the 11:34 mark in the second period.
» Giuliana Ditsky (Wyomissing, Pa.-Berks Catholic) recorded a program and career-tying 12 saves against the Chippewas' offense with her first of the day coming at the 9:12 mark of the first quarter going down as the program's first home save against a MAC opponent.
» Lawrence was impressive on the defensive end scooping the program's first-ever home ground ball against a MAC team en route to her five total, which ties the EMU record and career-high when she tallied five against Kennesaw State, Feb. 20, 2022, when she was an Oregon Duck. Additionally, Lawrence also notched the program's first-ever caused turnover in a home MAC game as she finished with three on the day tying the EMU record with herself and Jaffurs.
» The team saw five of their goals come off free-position attempts, which tied for the second most after the team produced six at Butler, March 26.
» The 25 ground balls recorded in the contest mark as the team's second most in a single game and rank as the sixth most by a MAC member this year.
» Five different Eagles assisted on a goal in today's game. The five players mark a program-high, topping the four that recorded at least one assist against Butler, March 26.
Up Next
Following the midweek contest against CMU, the Eagles will travel to Youngstown, Ohio, Saturday, April 8, for a conference meeting with the Penguins at 1 p.m.
How It Happened
The Eagles surrendered three goals in the first quarter before opening up the gates in the second as Gina Jaffurs (Leonardtown, Md. St. Mary's Ryken College) found the back of the net on a free-position attempt for her fourth goal of the season. From there, EMU allowed another Chippewa goal before Blackwell responded with her first make of the day with help from Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md.-Patuxent) to put the score, 4-2, in favor of CMU. The Eagles connected on two back-to-back shots from both Blackwell and Tracy Grollman (Annapolis, Md.-Annapolis Area Christian School) to even the score with 8:41 left in the half. Almost four minutes later, Sydney Lawrence (Wylie, Texas-Plano Senior-Oregon) gave the Eagles the advantage for the first time in the game as she drilled one home off a free-position attempt. However, the ending of the second saw the Chippewas make the equalizer with only 47 seconds left on the clock to finish the first half 5-5.
In the third quarter, Central Michigan regained the lead before Lawrence neutralized the score with an unassisted goal, her 16th of the season. With the Eagles up by one, the Chippewas acted quickly as the visitors nailed in two more to finish the quarter ahead of EMU, 8-6.
A hard-fought battle in the fourth saw a total of 14 goals scored between the two schools with Blackwell accounting for four of them herself. The period began with the Chippewas extending their lead by two before Blackwell connected on a dime from Lawrence to give the Eagles their seventh notch of the game. From there, the shooting range was open for both the Michigan-based teams with the Chippewas coming away with a 17-11 victory over the Eagles.
Game Notes
» Blackwell scored a program record six goals against the Chippewas, topping her career-high four goals set on two occasions (at Xavier, March 12, and at Butler, March 26). Additionally, the six goals tie for the fourth most in a single game within the MAC this season.
» With her six goals, Blackwell recorded her fourth hat trick of the season and third consecutive after doing so against Butler, March 26, and Detroit Mercy, April 1. The freshman now has double the amount of hat tricks than the next Eagle, which is Lawrence with two.
» Blackwell registered the program's first home draw control against a MAC opponent en route to her six total on the day. It marked her seventh game recording five or more draw controls and her fifth consecutive accomplishing the feat. Blackwell remains the Eagles' top scorer with 24 total.
» Blackwell's last two goals in the game came 22 seconds apart, making it the fastest a single player has scored back-to-back goals in program history. Prior to today's contest, teammate Avery Schwab (Dublin, Ohio Dublin-Scioto) held the title as she netted two just 33 seconds apart against Delaware State, March 7.
» Jaffurs secured the Eagles' first goal of the day off a free-position attempt early in the second quarter, making it the first home goal against a MAC member in school history as well as the first home goal against a MAC foe off a free-position. With her goal, Jaffurs also collected the program's first home point against a MAC member.
» Grollman earned the first woman-up home goal against a MAC member in program history with her equalizer in the second quarter. Additionally, Grollman has recorded at least one made goal in eight of the ten contests played this season. The only other members of the team to record the same feat are both Blackwell and Lawrence with eight games each.
» Schwab assisted on Grollman's equalizer, making it the program's first woman-up assist against a MAC member.
» Am. Alderman tallied the school's first home assist against a MAC team with her helper on Blackwell's goal at the 11:34 mark in the second period.
» Giuliana Ditsky (Wyomissing, Pa.-Berks Catholic) recorded a program and career-tying 12 saves against the Chippewas' offense with her first of the day coming at the 9:12 mark of the first quarter going down as the program's first home save against a MAC opponent.
» Lawrence was impressive on the defensive end scooping the program's first-ever home ground ball against a MAC team en route to her five total, which ties the EMU record and career-high when she tallied five against Kennesaw State, Feb. 20, 2022, when she was an Oregon Duck. Additionally, Lawrence also notched the program's first-ever caused turnover in a home MAC game as she finished with three on the day tying the EMU record with herself and Jaffurs.
» The team saw five of their goals come off free-position attempts, which tied for the second most after the team produced six at Butler, March 26.
» The 25 ground balls recorded in the contest mark as the team's second most in a single game and rank as the sixth most by a MAC member this year.
» Five different Eagles assisted on a goal in today's game. The five players mark a program-high, topping the four that recorded at least one assist against Butler, March 26.
Up Next
Following the midweek contest against CMU, the Eagles will travel to Youngstown, Ohio, Saturday, April 8, for a conference meeting with the Penguins at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
CMU
EMU
Shots
39
32
Turnovers
11
10
Caused Turnovers
9
7
Draw Controls
20
12
Free-Position Shots
7
9
Ground Balls
20
25
Game Leaders
Players
G
6
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
5
CT
3
G
1
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ LacrosseM
/ Lacrosse
G
/ LacrosseA
/ LacrosseM
/ LacrosseD
/ Lacrosse
A
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