Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, April 21
Youngstown, Ohio
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-7, 4-1MAC
18
at
11
Youngstown State
0-15, 0-5MAC
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Eastern Michigan
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Youngstown State
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11
MAC Tournament Berth Secured as Lacrosse Downs YSU, 18-11
4/21/2024 4:03:00 PM | Lacrosse
Lawrence tallies 13 points, Blackwell with 16 draw controls, and EMU ties scoring record with 18
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- Several record performances helped the Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team score an 18-11 Mid-American Conference road victory at Youngstown State University Sunday, April 21, and punched the team Eagles' ticket to the upcoming 2024 MAC Tournament in two weeks' time. The Eagles (7-7, 4-1 MAC) had several top performers in the win over the Penguins (0-15, 0-5 MAC), most notably Sydney Lawrence (Plano, Texas/Plano East/Oregon), who finished the game with eight goals and five assists for 13 points, which tied for the most points in a single game played this year in NCAA Division I.
Heading to the Tournament
Like one year ago, the Eagles were one game from ending their regular season. The major difference, however, is the 2024 team will have more games to play after next week's finale. Standing 4-1 in league play and with results tabulated from the day, the Eagles have clinched a berth in the 2024 MAC Tournament, which will take place May 2 and 4 at location to be determined. As it stands, Central Michigan University (5-0 MAC) is in a position to host the tournament as the top seed while EMU (4-1), Robert Morris University (3-2), and the University of Detroit Mercy (3-3) are the remaining teams in the field. Games played next weekend, including RMU at EMU, Sunday, April 28, at 1 p.m. for Senior Day, will go a long way toward determining seeding in the event.
How It Happened
Despite Lawrence opening the scoring with her first of eight goals at the 12:05 mark in the first, the Eagles found themselves trailing, 4-2, at the end of the first. The Penguins tied things up two minutes after Lawrence's first and then again scored with 6:28 remaining. The hosts added two more to build a two-goal advantage after one.
In the second, Lawrence came out and scored her hat trick on a woman-up advantage just 12 seconds into the second before YSU scored once again. But that is where Eastern began its push to victory as Skylar Hilmer (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry), who was playing on her birthday, scored her first of the day with Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md./Northern) following with an up goal that Lawrence assisted on. Lawrence then dished to Abby Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) for her goal before Hilmer was back for her second and a 7-5 EMU lead at halftime.
Following the break, Lawrence, who posted three goals and two assists in the first half, answered a YSU goal to make it 8-6 before another Penguins' goal cut the lead to 8-7 with 10:44 remaining in the third. From there, however, the Eagles rose to the occasion and scored five in a row with Lawrence scoring the first two of the run. From there, Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) scored on the advantage from a Tracy Grollman (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School) assist with her sister Abby Alderman following with a woman-up goal assisted by Lawrence. Blackwell scored again on the advantage, this time being assisted by Roya Khaleeli (Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula), to make it 13-7. After a YSU goal, Blackwell netted her hat trick, but the hosts scored twice more in the final 40 seconds to make it 14-10 at the end of three.
In the final stanza, it was all Eagles as Eastern scored four goals and allowed just one. Grollman, who was assisted by Lawrence, scored on the advantage before Lawrence added her own woman-up goal, and Hilmer finished her hat trick with another Lawrence assist. After the Penguins scored their final goal, Lawrence, netted her final of eight scores to bring the final to 18-11.
Game Notes
» Eastern improved to 7-7 overall and 4-1 in MAC play while Youngstown State fell to 0-15 overall and 0-5 in MAC play.
» With the win, the Eagles clinched a berth into the 2024 MAC Tournament that will be played May 2 and May 4 at a to-be-determined site (the top seed in the tournament plays host to the event).
» Three statistics recorded on the day rank among the top 20 in NCAA Division I games this year. Sydney Lawrence's 13 points are tied for the single-game high with Bria Foley (Wofford) while Mackenzie Blackwell's 16 draw controls rank tied for 20th. As a team, the 24 draw controls recorded rank tied for 20th as well.
» As a team, the Eagles tied a program record with 18 goals scored, a mark they set Feb. 28 at Delaware State. The 18 goals also stand as the most in a MAC contest for EMU, surpassing the 17 scored against Detroit Mercy at home, April 29, 2023.
» Eastern also broke the record for woman-up goals scored with seven, surpassing the five scored at YSU last year, April 8, 2023.
» The 24 draw controls recorded rank second in a single game in EMU history (26 at Duquesne, Feb. 15, 2024) and the most in a MAC game (23 vs. Detroit Mercy, April 29, 2023). Similarly, the 25 points posted by the team rank third in a single game at EMU and second in a MAC contest behind the 27 recorded against the Titans.
» Sydney Lawrence etched her name into numerous charts on the day. She recorded just the third double-hat trick (3+ goal and 3+ assists in the same game) in program history and the second of her career after scoring four goals and adding three assists against YSU in last year's meeting (April 8, 2023). In her two games against the Penguins, she has combined for 12 goals, eight assists, and 20 total points.
» Along with her 13 points tying for the single-game lead in NCAA Division I lacrosse, Sydney Lawrence now ranks among the best in program history in several categories. Her 13 points, five assists, and three woman-up goals are all school records while her eight goals are one behind the nine Mackenzie Blackwell scored at Delaware State (Feb. 28) earlier this year.
» The Eagles saw three players score hat tricks in the game as Sydney Lawrence (eight), Mackenzie Blackwell (three), and Skylar Hilmer (three) each tallied three or more goals. It marked the second time this season three hat tricks were recorded in the same game after Abby Alderman, Blackwell, and Tracy Grollman each scored three at Howard University (Feb. 25).
» Skylar Hilmer had a birthday to remember as she scored her first hat trick of the season and the third of her career. The last time she netted three goals in a game was April 29, 2023, in the team's 17-12 win over visiting Detroit Mercy.
» Mackenzie Blackwell won 16 draw controls to rank tied for 20th on the single-game list for all NCAA Division I players. The total also stands as a school record, surpassing the 12 she wrangled at Duquesne University, Feb. 14, 2024.
Series Notes
» Eastern is 1-1 all-time against Youngstown State following the 18-11 win.
» The team teams have played twice with both games coming in Youngstown, Ohio. The Penguins won the last meeting, 17-15, April 8, 2023.
Up Next
The final game of the 2024 regular season is up next for the Eagles as they will welcome the Colonials of Robert Morris to Scicluna Field Sunday, April 27 for a 1 p.m. Mid-American Conference contest. The game also will serve as Senior Day for the Eagles with a ceremony being held before the start of the contest.
Heading to the Tournament
Like one year ago, the Eagles were one game from ending their regular season. The major difference, however, is the 2024 team will have more games to play after next week's finale. Standing 4-1 in league play and with results tabulated from the day, the Eagles have clinched a berth in the 2024 MAC Tournament, which will take place May 2 and 4 at location to be determined. As it stands, Central Michigan University (5-0 MAC) is in a position to host the tournament as the top seed while EMU (4-1), Robert Morris University (3-2), and the University of Detroit Mercy (3-3) are the remaining teams in the field. Games played next weekend, including RMU at EMU, Sunday, April 28, at 1 p.m. for Senior Day, will go a long way toward determining seeding in the event.
How It Happened
Despite Lawrence opening the scoring with her first of eight goals at the 12:05 mark in the first, the Eagles found themselves trailing, 4-2, at the end of the first. The Penguins tied things up two minutes after Lawrence's first and then again scored with 6:28 remaining. The hosts added two more to build a two-goal advantage after one.
In the second, Lawrence came out and scored her hat trick on a woman-up advantage just 12 seconds into the second before YSU scored once again. But that is where Eastern began its push to victory as Skylar Hilmer (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry), who was playing on her birthday, scored her first of the day with Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md./Northern) following with an up goal that Lawrence assisted on. Lawrence then dished to Abby Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) for her goal before Hilmer was back for her second and a 7-5 EMU lead at halftime.
Following the break, Lawrence, who posted three goals and two assists in the first half, answered a YSU goal to make it 8-6 before another Penguins' goal cut the lead to 8-7 with 10:44 remaining in the third. From there, however, the Eagles rose to the occasion and scored five in a row with Lawrence scoring the first two of the run. From there, Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) scored on the advantage from a Tracy Grollman (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School) assist with her sister Abby Alderman following with a woman-up goal assisted by Lawrence. Blackwell scored again on the advantage, this time being assisted by Roya Khaleeli (Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula), to make it 13-7. After a YSU goal, Blackwell netted her hat trick, but the hosts scored twice more in the final 40 seconds to make it 14-10 at the end of three.
In the final stanza, it was all Eagles as Eastern scored four goals and allowed just one. Grollman, who was assisted by Lawrence, scored on the advantage before Lawrence added her own woman-up goal, and Hilmer finished her hat trick with another Lawrence assist. After the Penguins scored their final goal, Lawrence, netted her final of eight scores to bring the final to 18-11.
Game Notes
» Eastern improved to 7-7 overall and 4-1 in MAC play while Youngstown State fell to 0-15 overall and 0-5 in MAC play.
» With the win, the Eagles clinched a berth into the 2024 MAC Tournament that will be played May 2 and May 4 at a to-be-determined site (the top seed in the tournament plays host to the event).
» Three statistics recorded on the day rank among the top 20 in NCAA Division I games this year. Sydney Lawrence's 13 points are tied for the single-game high with Bria Foley (Wofford) while Mackenzie Blackwell's 16 draw controls rank tied for 20th. As a team, the 24 draw controls recorded rank tied for 20th as well.
» As a team, the Eagles tied a program record with 18 goals scored, a mark they set Feb. 28 at Delaware State. The 18 goals also stand as the most in a MAC contest for EMU, surpassing the 17 scored against Detroit Mercy at home, April 29, 2023.
» Eastern also broke the record for woman-up goals scored with seven, surpassing the five scored at YSU last year, April 8, 2023.
» The 24 draw controls recorded rank second in a single game in EMU history (26 at Duquesne, Feb. 15, 2024) and the most in a MAC game (23 vs. Detroit Mercy, April 29, 2023). Similarly, the 25 points posted by the team rank third in a single game at EMU and second in a MAC contest behind the 27 recorded against the Titans.
» Sydney Lawrence etched her name into numerous charts on the day. She recorded just the third double-hat trick (3+ goal and 3+ assists in the same game) in program history and the second of her career after scoring four goals and adding three assists against YSU in last year's meeting (April 8, 2023). In her two games against the Penguins, she has combined for 12 goals, eight assists, and 20 total points.
» Along with her 13 points tying for the single-game lead in NCAA Division I lacrosse, Sydney Lawrence now ranks among the best in program history in several categories. Her 13 points, five assists, and three woman-up goals are all school records while her eight goals are one behind the nine Mackenzie Blackwell scored at Delaware State (Feb. 28) earlier this year.
» The Eagles saw three players score hat tricks in the game as Sydney Lawrence (eight), Mackenzie Blackwell (three), and Skylar Hilmer (three) each tallied three or more goals. It marked the second time this season three hat tricks were recorded in the same game after Abby Alderman, Blackwell, and Tracy Grollman each scored three at Howard University (Feb. 25).
» Skylar Hilmer had a birthday to remember as she scored her first hat trick of the season and the third of her career. The last time she netted three goals in a game was April 29, 2023, in the team's 17-12 win over visiting Detroit Mercy.
» Mackenzie Blackwell won 16 draw controls to rank tied for 20th on the single-game list for all NCAA Division I players. The total also stands as a school record, surpassing the 12 she wrangled at Duquesne University, Feb. 14, 2024.
Series Notes
» Eastern is 1-1 all-time against Youngstown State following the 18-11 win.
» The team teams have played twice with both games coming in Youngstown, Ohio. The Penguins won the last meeting, 17-15, April 8, 2023.
Up Next
The final game of the 2024 regular season is up next for the Eagles as they will welcome the Colonials of Robert Morris to Scicluna Field Sunday, April 27 for a 1 p.m. Mid-American Conference contest. The game also will serve as Senior Day for the Eagles with a ceremony being held before the start of the contest.
Team Stats
EMU
YSU
Shots
36
27
Turnovers
13
10
Caused Turnovers
5
7
Draw Controls
24
7
Free-Position Shots
6
5
Ground Balls
9
14
Game Leaders
G
8
A
5
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
1
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
1
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
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