Lacrosse Set For MAC Tournament Thursday

Game #16 vs. #2 ROBERT MORRIS
Game	MAC Tournament Semifinal #2
MAC Info	Tournament Central Page
Date	Thursday, May 2 - 4 p.m.
Venue	CMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex (Mt. Pleasant)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live	Live Stats \| Watch
Twitter	@EMU_Lacrosse \| @EMUAthletics

Game #17 vs. #1 CMU or #4 UDM (if advancing)
Game	MAC Touranment Final
MAC Info	Tournament Central Page
Date	Saturday, May 4 - 12 p.m.
Venue	CMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex (Mt. Pleasant)
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live	Live Stats \| Watch
Twitter	@E MU_Lacrosse \| @EMUAthletics

Y
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- In only its second year as a program, the Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team is set to compete in the postseason for the first time as the Eagles will head north to Mount Pleasant, Mich., for the 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament, hosted by Central Michigan University, Thursday, May 2, and Saturday, May 4. The Eagles (7-8, 4-2 MAC) are seeded third in the tournament and will face No. 2 Robert Morris University (6-11, 4-2 MAC) in the second semifinal, which is slated for a 4 p.m. opening draw. The first semifinal, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the CMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex, will see the No. 1 seed and host Chippewas (5-12, 5-1 MAC) meet No. 4 University of Detroit Mercy (5-11, 3-3 MAC). The winners of the two games will meet Saturday, May 4, at noon to play for the tournament title and berth into the NCAA Tournament.

TOURNAMENT TIDBITS
» The three-game tournament is being played for the third time (was not played in 2021) with Central Michigan having won the previous two events.
» All three games will be streamed live on GetSomeMACtion.com and are free of charge.
» All three games are free to attend as well with free parking around the facility in Mount Pleasant.

THE STAKES
The 2024 MAC Tournament will not only crown a champion, it also will determine which team advances to the 2024 NCAA Tournament that begins Friday, May 10. The winner of the MAC Tournament will receive the league's automatic berth into the national event with all selections being announced Sunday, May 5, at 9 p.m.

OPENING DRAWS
» Eastern enters the MAC Tournament with a 7-8 record overall and finished tied for second in the MAC standings with a 4-2 record. The Eagles lost their last game, 12-10, at home to Robert Morris, April 27.
» Following games played April 28, the four teams that qualified for the MAC Tournament include Central Michigan (No. 1), Robert Morris (No. 2), Eastern Michigan (No. 3), and Detroit Mercy (No. 4). The Eagles and Titans are making their debuts in the conference tournament this year.
» In the season finale against Robert Morris, April 27, the Eagles were led in scoring by Abby Alderman, who netted four goals for her third career hat trick and second of the year. She has scored at least one goal in each of the last five games, including two or more in three of those contests.
» Mackenzie Blackwell finished the game against RMU, April 27, with one goal and one assist while collecting 10 draw controls, marking the second consecutive game and fourth time this year she has posted 10+ draw controls in the same game. She now has 94 draws on the season, leaving her six shy of the century mark.
» Mackenzie Blackwell is also nearing two more milestones. In season statistics, she is one goal shy of reaching 50 for the year after leading the team with 39 last year. On a career level, Blackwell has tallied 94 points, leaving her six shy of 100.
» Sydney Lawrence continued to do a little of everything for the Eagles as she scored two goals, collected four ground balls, five caused turnovers, and one draw control. The five caused turnovers tied her own school record she set in the previous home game, April 17, against Xavier.
» The game with Robert Morris, April 27, was Senior Day for five Eagles as the program recognized the contributions of Liv Dameron, Olivia Halverson, Emily Kahn, Sydney Lawrence, and Addie Pastor.
» While all five seniors earned a place in the starting line up on Senior Day, it was special for Emily Kahn as she made her collegiate debut while Olivia Halverson made her season debut.
» Five Eagles were selected captains ahead of the 2024 season, including sophomores Mackenzie Blackwell, Skylar Hilmer, Gina Jaffurs, and Annika Wozney, and graduate student Sydney Lawrence.
» Head Coach Sara Tisdale is back for her second year building the Eagle program and carries a career record of 114-85 in 12 years of coaching. Eastern is the third program she has started from scratch after starting programs at Augustana (Ill.) in 2012 and Central Michigan in 2016.
» The MAC Tournament semifinal game will mark the 200th as a head coach for Sara Tisdale.
» Eastern was voted fourth in the 2024 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, up from a tie for sixth in 2023. The Eagles bettered the expectations as they placed tied for second.

WITH A WIN OVER RMU, EASTERN WOULD...
» Avenge the season finale loss at home, April 27, and give EMU its first win over RMU in three tries.
» Give the Eagles a win in the first neutral site contest played in program history.
» Send the Eagles into the MAC Tournament final for the first time in program history.

WELL, WELL, WELL... HOW THE TURNTABLES...
In their inaugural season, the Eagles went 0-8 on the road and were 0-4 against MAC foes, including 0-1 at Youngstown State. Following its game with the Penguins, April 21, Eastern is 5-4 on the road in 2024 and 3-0 in MAC play. The win at YSU helped EMU finish a perfect 3-0 on the road in league play this year and gave the Eagles a winning road record for the first time in program history.

TEAM CAPSULE: #1 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas finished the MAC slate 5-1 to win the regular season crown, earn the No. 1 seed, and play host to the tournament in Mount Pleasant. CMU is making its third consecutive appearance in the MAC Tournament and is the two-time defending champion after claiming gold in 2022 at the No. 1 seed and last year as the No. 3. Skye DePrado leads the team with 41 points on 36 goals and five assists while Alexa Martel has saved 193 shots in goal.

IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. CHIPPEWAS
Eastern is 0-3 against Central Michigan following a 16-7 home loss, April 14. The Chippewas won both games last year, including a 17-11 score in Ypsilanti, April 5, and 19-4 in Mount Pleasant, April 26.

TEAM CAPSULE: #2 ROBERT MORRIS
The Colonials finished with a 4-2 record in the MAC to tie with Eastern for second place and earned the No. 2 seed by virtue of their 12-10 win in Ypsilanti on the final day of the regular season. Robert Morris is making its third appearance in the MAC Tournament after reaching the final and falling to CMU in each of the first two years, including as the No. 1 seed and host last year. Jenna Irwin (32) and Colleen Tifft (20) each have scored over 20 goals while Sydney Riker has tallied 108 saves on the year.

IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. COLONIALS
Eastern is 0-2 all-time against Robert Morris, including a 12-10 home loss last weekend, April 27. The first game was played April 19, 2023, in Moon Township, Pa., with the host Colonials winning, 19-7.

FEELING NEUTRAL
The MAC Tournament game with Robert Morris stands as the first neutral site contest in program history, though it should be the second. Earlier this year, the Eagles and then-No. 5 Michigan were to play in the Grow Our Game event at Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School in Detroit, April 3, but the game was moved to Ypsilanti because of inclement weather in the area.

TEAM CAPSULE: #4 DETROIT MERCY
Like the Eagles, the Titans are making their MAC Tournament debut and will enter the event as the No. 4 seed after tying with Kent State for fourth but earning the tournament berth by virtue of a head-to-head win over the Golden Flashes. Cat Kopchia leads the way for the Titans with 55 goals and 61 points while Lead Bodnar (28) and Maddy Camm (21) each have scored 20+ goals. Meredith Leavell has stopped 156 shots in goal this year.

IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. TITANS
Eastern holds a 2-1 record against Detroit Mercy and has won two in a row, including a 12-9 road win, April 7. The Titans won the first meeting at home, 17-7, April 1, 2023, before the Eagles claimed a 17-12 decision at home, April 29, 2023, to score the program's first MAC win. A meeting in the final of the MAC Tournament would mark the first neutral site competition between the two schools.

RUN IT BACK
When the Eagles and Colonials meet, it will mark the first time in program history Eastern has played the same team in back-to-back games following its 12-10 home loss to Robert Morris, April 27, in the regular season finale. The game will mark the third time, however, the Eagles will play the same team for a second time in the same season after doing so twice in 2023. In those instances, EMU is 1-1 in the rematch after dropping both games to Central Michigan and splitting with Detroit Mercy. Against the Titans, UDM won the first contest, 17-7, in Detroit, April 1, 2023, with the Eagles taking the rematch in Ypsilanti, 17-12, April 29, 2023.

LOOKING BACK: SENIOR DAY
The Eagles dropped a 12-10 decision to visiting Robert Morris, April 27, in the regular season finale for both teams. Abby Alderman provided a season-high four goals to lead the offense while Sydney Lawrence added two goals, four ground balls, five caused turnovers, and one draw control. Mackenzie Blackwell drew closer to several milestones as she netted one goal and one assist to go along with 10 draw controls, marking her second game in a row with 10+ draws won. Overall, the Eagles fell behind early before clawing their way back to ties of 6-6 and 7-7 before falling behind, 10-7. EMU again fought back to tie things at 10-10, but two late goals from the Colonials ended the game.

SYD'S SMORGASBORD
Throughout the year, Sydney Lawrence has done it all for the Eagles and the April 27 game with Robert Morris was no different. On her Senior Day, Lawrence scored two goals, collected four ground balls, caused five turnovers, and won one draw control against the Colonials. For the season, Lawrence ranks among the top 10 in five categories in the MAC, including eighth in goals (1.92), fourth in assists (1.15), fifth in points (3.08), second in caused turnovers (1.69), and eighth in ground balls (2.23).

NO DOUBTING ABBY
In the season finale against Robert Morris, April 27, the Eagles were led in scoring by Abby Alderman, who netted four goals for her third career hat trick and second of the year. She has scored at least one goal in each of the last five games, including two or more in three of those contests.

AT THE (DRAW) CONTROLS
Mackenzie Blackwell finished the game against RMU, April 27, with one goal and one assist while collecting 10 draw controls, marking the second consecutive game and fourth time this year she has posted 10+ draw controls in the same game. She now has 94 draws on the season, leaving her six shy of the century mark. Her 6.27 per game average continues to lead the MAC and ranks 25th nationally.

MILESTONE WATCH
Mackenzie Blackwell is also nearing two more milestones. In season statistics, she is one goal shy of reaching 50 for the year after leading the team with a then-program single-season record 39 last year. On a career level, Blackwell has tallied 94 points on 88 goals and six assists, leaving her six shy of 100 points and 12 goals shy of the century mark.

ONE OF THE BEST
With her 49 goals in 15 games, Mackenzie Blackwell is averaging 3.27 goals per contest, which is third in the MAC and ranks 34th nationally. The fourth-highest scoring sophomore in NCAA Division I, Blackwell's 49 goals rank 47th in the nation as well.

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS
As a team, the Eagles hold the top spot in seven statistical categories in the MAC with top three rankings in four others. Through games played April 28, Eastern leads the league in points (16.33), goals (11.00), woman-up goals (2.33), shots on goal per game (19.87), save percentage (.466), ground balls (18.47), and draw controls (15.47).

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS, PART II
Individually, an Eagle leads three categories with Mackenzie Blackwell holding the top spot in draw controls per game (6.27); Avery Schwab is tops in assists (1.27); and Maddie Porter leads in ground balls per game (4.29).

THE SUPER SCOOPER
Maddie Porter not only leads the MAC in ground balls per game (4.29), she also leads all players in NCAA Division I with Madison Hranicka (Delaware) and Hanna Pawela (Duquesne) tied for second at 4.21. Additionally, she is the top-ranked freshman in the category with second belonging to freshman goalie Lauren Solis of Colgate, who ranks tied for 26th nationally at 2.76.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE ADVANTAGE
Eastern has taken advantage of being a woman up in 2024 as the Eagles have scored 35 times this year, an average of 2.43 woman-up goals per game after averaging just 1.12 per game last year. Additionally, the EMU defense is doing its part as only 10 woman-up goals have been scored this year, an average of 0.67 per game, compared to last year's 14 goals allowed, an average of 0.88.

THESE EAGLES AREN'T FOULS
Through 15 games, the Eagles have committed 111 fouls, an average of 7.40 per game, both of which are the second fewest of any team in NCAA Division I behind only Old Dominion, who leads both, including fewest number of fouls committed (106) and average per game (6.63).

NATIONAL LISTS
As a team, the Eagles rank among the top 50 in three other categories among all NCAA Division I teams. Eastern is 17th nationally in ground balls (18.47), 20th in save percentage (.466), and 24th in draw controls (15.47).

HIGH MARKS
As a team, the Eagles have posted four marks that rank among the top four nationally in single-game standings with the 20 saves recorded at Marquette (March 17) ranking third in a single game among all NCAA Division I teams. Earlier this year, the 26 draw controls recorded at Duquesne (Feb. 15) rank as the third-most while the 37 ground balls recorded at Howard (Feb. 25) rank fourth. The 24 draw controls recorded at YSU (April 21) are tied for 21st.

HAPPY HELPERS
It is no surprise the Eagles are close to the top of the MAC in assists as three players rank among the top five with Avery Schwab (1.27) leading the league. Sydney Lawrence sits fourth on the chart (1.15) with Tracy Grollman fifth (1.00).

ON THE HORIZON
Should the Eagles win the 2024 MAC Tournament, they would earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament that begins next week, Friday, May 10. The NCAA Selection Show will announce the qualifying team and locations of games Sunday, May 5, on NCAA.com at 9 p.m. ET.

FOLLOW US
For all things EMU Lacrosse, be sure to check out the team's social media accounts, including EMU_Lacrosse on X (formerly Twitter) and EMU_Lacrosse on Instagram.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Abby Alderman

Mackenzie Blackwell

Liv Dameron

Tracy Grollman

Olivia Halverson

Skylar Hilmer

Gina Jaffurs

Emily Kahn

Sydney Lawrence

Addie Pastor

Maddy Porter

Avery Schwab

Annika Wozney

Eastern Michigan Athletics