Lacrosse Heads to Robert Morris for MAC Opener

GAME #8 \| Lacrosse at Robert Morris (MAC OPENER)
Date	Sunday, March 16 \| 12:00 p.m.
Venue	Joe Walton Stadium \| Moon Township, Pa.
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live	Watch (ESPN+) \| Live Statistics
Social Media	Instagram: @emu_Lacrosse \| Twitter: @EMU_Lacrosse

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team jumps into league play this weekend when the Eagles travel to Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, Pa., to take on the Colonials of Robert Morris University in both teams' Mid-American Conference opener, Sunday, March 16, at 12 p.m. The Eagles (4-3) are set to open league play on the road for the third consecutive year and will look to defeat a Colonial (1-6) team that knocked EMU from the 2024 MAC Tournament with a 12-11 decision in the semifinals.

OPENING DRAWS
» The Eagles went 1-1 last week with a 10-4 win at Butler (March 7) and a 13-9 loss at Cincinnati (March 9) to move to 4-3 on the year.
» Eastern extended its winning streak to a program-record four in a row with its 10-4 win at Butler. The streak was snapped one game later at Cincinnati.
» With the win at Butler, the Eagles captured their fourth win in six games to mark the quickest the team has reached four wins, surpassing the eight games needed in 2024.
» The Eagles will open MAC play on the road for the third consecutive year and the first time at Robert Morris. EMU is 1-1 all-time in MAC openers.
» Maddie Porter was named the MAC Goalkeeper of the Week, March 11, earning the award for the second consecutive week. She is the first player in the league this year to win back-to-back honors from the MAC.
» Over the past two games, several Eagles have hit statistical milestones, including Mackenzie Blackwell and Maddie Porter. Blackwell secured one draw control at Butler (March 7) to bring her career total to 200 (39 games), adding to her impressive list of firsts at EMU, including 100+ points and 100+ goals. With her third save at Cincinnati, Porter reached 200 saves in her career (21 games).
» Mackenzie Blackwell scored three free-position goals last week, including two at Butler, to bring her career total to 20. She is now tied for the program record with Sydney Lawrence (2023-24).
» Three Eagles hold top 50 national rankings according to the latest NCAA statistical update (March 9). Maddie Porter ranks ninth in ground balls (3.57), 12th in saves per game (10.86), 13th in save percentage (.507) and 49th in goals-against average (11.18); Mackenzie Blackwell is 14th in shots per game (7.86) and 24th in goals per game (3.57); and Emerson Henry is 36th in draw controls (5.86).
» Several early-season wins came with milestones as the 19-10 win at Presbyterian (Feb. 25) was the first for Maddie Dugan as head coach at EMU and her first road win with the Eagles. The win at home over Canisius (March 1) marked her first home victory and the first time in program history the Eagles had won at the EMU Indoor Practice Facility (0-4 entering the game).
» Maddie Dugan is in her first season guiding the Eagles. The 2024 MAC Coach of the Year at Detroit Mercy, Dugan took a Titans team that was selected to finish seventh in the standings to the MAC Tournament championship game. She is in her seventh year as a collegiate head coach.

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FEELING HONORED
For the second consecutive week, Maddie Porter was recognized by the conference coaches as she was named the MAC Goalkeeper of the Week (March 11). Porter averaged 8.5 saves per game on the weekend as she tallied six at Butler to lead the Eagles to their program-record fourth consecutive win before stopping 11 at Cincinnati. Against the Bulldogs, she limited the hosts to just four goals, which are the fewest allowed in program history, surpassing the five allowed last year at Howard. The league leader in saves percentage (.504), Porter stopped 11 Cincinnati shots to tie for the seventh-highest save total in program history and post 11+ saves in a game for the fourth time this year. Porter has recorded 208 career saves as her third save of the game at Cincinnati made her the first EMU player to reach the milestone total.

LIFTING THE LID: MAC OPENERS
Eastern is not only set to open its Mid-American Conference slate this weekend, but also to open it on the road for the third year in a row. The Eagles are 1-1 all-time in their conference opener with an 11-10 win at Akron, March 24, 2024, that followed a 17-7 loss at Detroit Mercy, April 1, 2023.

KNOW THE FOE: ROBERT MORRIS
The Colonials are 1-6 this year and have lost six consecutive games after opening the year with an 11-10 win at Duquesne. Robert Morris has played a pair of common opponents with the Eagles as they lost at Cincinnati, 18-4 (Feb. 15) and, in its most recent game, fell at Canisius, 15-9 (March 8). Individually, Vivian LaMange leads the team with 21 points on six goals and a MAC-leading 15 assists while Jenna Irwin is the top scorer on the team with 17 goals and three assists for 20 points. Defensively, Sydney Riker has started all seven games, allowing 13.78 goals per game, and saving 37.6 percent of shots she faces.

IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. COLONIALS
The Eagles are searching for their first win over the Colonials as Robert Morris has won all three previous meetings. The series opened April, 19, 2023, with a 19-7 win for RMU at home in the Eagles' inaugural season. Last year, in Ypsilanti, EMU fell, 12-10, one week before falling in the MAC Tournament, 12-11.

IT'S YOU AGAIN!
When playing against MAC foes, the game at Robert Morris will mark the third consecutive for the Eagles against the Colonials. The streak started April 27, 2024, with a 12-10 RMU win at Eastern Michigan in the regular season finale. The two teams met one week later in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament in Mount Pleasant, Mich., with the Colonials, the No. 2 seed in the event, winning, 12-11, over the No. 3 seed Eagles.

PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
Regardless of their current records, the meeting with Robert Morris, according to the votes cast in the 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, will feature the predicted third-place finisher (EMU) traveling to play against the predicted champion (RMU). The Colonials received 34 points and four first-place votes while the Eagles garnered 26 points and one first-place vote. Central Michigan was selected second with 31 points and two first-place votes. It doesn't end there as the coaches also cast their ballots for who they thought would win the MAC Tournament and both Eastern and Robert Morris earned two votes while CMU garnered three.

QUICK RECAP: 10-4 GOOD BUDDY
Mackenzie Blackwell and Tracy Grollman each tallied hat tricks, including combining for five goals in the second half, as the Eagles pulled away from Butler to claim a 10-4 road win at Varsity Field in Indianapolis, Ind., March 7. The win extended the Eagles' then-program-record winning streak to four consecutive games. Maddie Porter faced just 10 shots in the game as she made six saves and allowed four goals. Porter, who kept Butler scoreless in the first and fourth quarters, brought her career saves total to 197, leaving her three away from becoming the first EMU player to record 200 saves in a career.

FOUR IN A ROW
Entering the season, the longest winning streak the Eagles had secured was two games, which they accomplished twice last year, first with back-to-back wins at Howard (16-5) and Delaware State (18-6) and then again with a win at Akron (11-10) and a home win against Kent State (12-11). With their road results over the weekend, the Eagles doubled the record and won their fourth consecutive game with the 10-4 win at Butler before seeing the streak snapped at Cincinnati (13-9).

LIMBO CONTEST
The game with Butler not only saw the Eagles win, but also produced the fewest goals allowed in a game in program history. The previous record was five goals allowed in a 16-5 win at Howard, Feb. 25, 2024. The first three games in program history provided the initial records, including 18 to Niagara (L, 18-4) before lowering it to 16 (L, 16-11) at Winthrop, and then lowered again to seven (W, 12-7) against Delaware State.

QUICK RECAP: BEARCATS PREVAIL
Eastern saw its four-game winning streak come to an end as the Eagles fell on the road at Cincinnati, 13-9, March 9, inside Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mackenzie Blackwell tallied her sixth hat trick of the season to pace the Eagles (4-3) while Maddie Porter posted 11 saves against the Bearcats (5-4) for her fourth game with double-digit saves this year. Emerson Henry did a little bit of everything against Cincinnati as she finished with one goal, three ground balls, six draw controls, and one caused turnover. She has now scored at least one goal in four consecutive games while recording at least five draw controls in each of the last five games. Her third consecutive game with at least one caused turnover, Henry's three ground balls stand as a career high, surpassing the two she recorded in the opener with San Diego State.

ABOVE THE LINE
With its win at Butler (March 7), the Eagles moved two games above .500 for the first time in program history as the team stood 4-2. Despite the loss at Cincinnati, the Eagles remain above .500 at 4-3.

ALL SHE DOES IS WIN (THE GAME)
Eastern has won four games this year and twice, the game-winning goal has gone to Caitlyn Beahm with the scores coming in back-to-back games. She first secured the win with her lone goal at home against Canisius (March 1), which helped the Eagles to a 12-10 victory. One game later, at Butler (March 7), she scored the fifth goal of the contest in EMU's 10-4 win. Her two game-winners rank second on the single-season list behind Mackenzie Blackwell's four tallied last year while her three career winners ranks behind only the four scored by Blackwell.

MILESTONES ACHIEVED
In the past two games, Mackenzie Blackwell and Maddie Porter have recorded milestones in several statistical categories. Blackwell, who recently scored her 100th career goal (at Gardner-Webb, Feb. 27), secured the 200th draw control of her career with one at Butler (March 7). Porter recorded 17 saves over the past two games, which brought her career total to 208, making her the first Eagle to make 200+ saves in a career.

FEEL FREE TO POSITION THE BALL IN THE GOAL
In the past two games, Mackenzie Blackwell scored three goals on free-position shots, including two at Butler (March 7) to not only bring her season total to a team-best five, but also move her career total to 20. With those 20 free-position goals, Blackwell is now tied for Sydney Lawrence (2023-24) for the most in program history.

MILESTONES ON THE HORIZON
Three Eagles are approaching milestones in other career categories as well. Avery Schwab has dished a school-record 39 assists, leaving her one away from becoming the first Eagle with 40 and 11 from reaching the 50 assists mark. Mackenzie Blackwell has 176 career shots on goal, leaving her 24 from 200, while Maddie Porter has tallied 88 career ground balls, leaving her 12 away from being the first Eagle with 100 in a career.

MORE TO COME
Several Eagles are already moving up the rankings for single-season statistics, including Mackenzie Blackwell in two areas, and one each for Maddie Porter, Avery Schwab, and Emerson Henry:
» Blackwell has tallied 25 goals through seven games, which is more than halfway to her school-record 49 goals scored last year in 16 games.
» Blackwell also has posted hat tricks in 6-of-7 games, leaving her four from tying her own school record (10 in 2024).
» Schwab has nine assists and, with one more, would become the first player in EMU history to dish double-digit helpers in three seasons after setting the school record with 19 last year and 11 in 2023.
» Henry has 41 draw controls through seven games, placing her fourth on the single-season chart and nine away from becoming just the third EMU player to reach 50 in a single season with Blackwell on the list twice (94 in 2024 and 83 in 2023) and Abby Alderman once (59 in 2024).
» Porter has tallied 76 saves this year, leaving her 24 from reaching 100 and becoming the only Eagles keeper to record 100 saves in two seasons after recording 132 in her rookie season last year.

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS!
Through games played March 9, the Eagles lead one team and four individual statistical categories in the MAC. As a team, the .507 save percentage leads the way, as does Maddie Porter in the same category (.507). Mackenzie Blackwell leads the way in goals per game (3.57) and shots per game (7.86) while Emerson Henry is top of the charts in draw controls per game (5.86).

NATIONALLY KNOWN • TEAM
Eastern ranks among the top 50 in the nation in four categories once again this week, led by the team's .507 save percentage ranking 11th among all NCAA Division I teams. The Eagles also are 27th in shot percentage (.459), 28th in fewest fouls committed per game (10.57), and 36th in draw controls per game (14.57).

NATIONALLY KNOWN • INDIVIDUAL
On a national level, three Eagles are ranked in the top 50 among all NCAA Division I players with Maddie Porter listed in four areas, including ninth in ground balls (3.57), 12th in saves per game (10.86), 13th in save percentage (.507), and 49th in goals-against average (11.18). Mackenzie Blackwell is listed in two categories as she currently ranks 14th in shots per game (7.86) and 24th in goals per game (3.57) while Emerson Henry stands 36th in draw controls per game (5.86).

STAYING ACTIVE
In addition to the season statistics, two Eagles rank among the top 50 in career statistics among active players this season. Mackenzie Blackwell is among the top 50 in four areas, including 12th in goals per game (2.90), 20th in draw controls per game (5.13), 48th in total goals scored (113), and 50th in points per game (3.15). Maddie Porter stands 46th with 88 total ground balls.

ROAD WARRIORS
After not winning one game on the road in 2023 (0-8), the Eagles went 5-4 away from Ypsilanti last year. After dropping its first two games of 2024 (21-6 at No. 7 Notre Dame and 16-13 at Duquesne), the Eagles won two consecutive away games, including a 16-5 decision at Howard for the program's first road victory and an 18-6 score at Delaware State. The wins at Presbyterian and Gardner-Webb marked the second time the Eagles have won back-to-back road games in program history. Additionally, the win at Butler (March 7) gave EMU its third road win of the year, leaving it two away from tying the program record with four games to play.

HITTING THE ROAD
When playing MAC games on the road, the Eagles are 3-4 all-time and on a three-game winning streak. After dropping all four games in their inaugural season (2023), Eastern posted wins of 11-10 at Akron (March 24), 12-9 at Detroit Mercy (April 7), and 18-11 at Youngstown State (April 21) last year. A win at Robert Morris would not only be the first in program history against the Colonials, but it would also increase the program-record winning streak to four consecutive MAC road contests.

ADDING IT UP
Eastern has scored 83 goals this season, the most in program history over the first seven games of the season, surpassing the 79 scored last year. The Eagles have made it three consecutive games in which they reset the record after scoring 64 through five and 74 through six. To make it four consecutive games, the Eagles will need to score seven goals to tie or eight or more goals to take the top spot after last year's team tallied 90 through eight games.

STINGY SCORING
Similar to the offense, the defense has set records for fewest goals allowed as the 75 conceded through seven games ranks as the fewest, just behind the 77 allowed last year. The four goals allowed to Butler (March 7) helped this year's team take the record for goals allowed through six games with 62 compared to the 63 allowed in 2024.

KEPT IT 100
Mackenzie Blackwell became the first player in EMU history to reach 100 points in her career as she tallied four goals and one assist in the opener with San Diego State to put her exactly at 100 points. She reached 100 career goals with her first of five goals at Gardner-Webb. She is closing in on another milestone statistically as the junior currently has 199 career draw controls, leaving her one away from 200.

WEARING MANY HATS
Emerson Henry recorded three goals against Canisius (March 1) to record the first hat trick of her career and the 10th by an Eastern player this year. Mackenzie Blackwell has tallied six in seven games while Katheryn Wilson has posted three. Payton Bloedow, Kyleigh Dill, and Tracy Grollman have recorded one each this season.

THAT'S A FIRST • DUGAN
Maddie Dugan tallied several first victories last week as the head coach of the Eagles picked up her first win in charge when Eastern captured a 19-10 win at Presbyterian, Feb. 25. The win also marked her first win on the road with the Eagles. Four days later, Dugan earned her first home victory as the Eagles scored a 12-10 win over visiting Canisius.

THAT'S A FIRST • INDOOR WINNING
With their 12-10 win over Canisius, March 1, the Eagles did something they had not done in program history: win an indoor home game. Ahead of the game with the Golden Griffins, the Eagles stood 0-4 all-time when playing at the Indoor Practice Facility.

MAKING DEBUTS
Five Eagles made their debuts against San Diego State, including four freshmen. The rookies seeing their first action included Stella Burke, Marley Helton, Erin Humphrey, and Katheryn Wilson while Payton Bloedow, saw her first action after transferring in from Stony Brook for her junior season. Additionally, three players earned their first collegiate starts, including sophomore Kendall Nagle and freshmen Burke and Humphrey.

AHOY, CAPTAINS!
Four Eagles were selected as team captains for the 2025 season. The captains include sophomores Mackenzie Blackwell, Samantha Borgert, Kelsea Dague, and Annika Wozney.

ON THE HORIZON
The Eagles are back in action Sunday, March 23, when the Penguins of Youngstown State University come to town for a Mid-American Conference game. The Eagles and Penguins are set to meet at Scicluna Field in Ypsilanti with the opening draw control scheduled for 3 p.m.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Abby Alderman

Mackenzie Blackwell

Payton Bloedow

Samantha Borgert

Stella Burke

Kelsea Dague

Kyleigh Dill

Tracy Grollman

Marley Helton

Emerson Henry

Erin Humphrey

Sydney Lawrence

Kendall Nagle

Maddy Porter

Avery Schwab

Katheryn Wilson

Annika Wozney

Eastern Michigan Athletics