Lacrosse Hosts Youngstown State in Home MAC Opener

GAME #9 \| Lacrosse vs. Youngstown State (MAC HOME OPENER)
Date	Sunday, March 23 \| 3 p.m.
Venue	Scicluna Field \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live	Watch (ESPN+) \| Live Statistics
Social Media	Instagram: @emu_Lacrosse \| Twitter: @EMU_Lacrosse

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – For the first time this season, the Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team will play an outdoor home game as the Eagles will play host to Youngstown State University at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 23, at Scicluna Field in Ypsilanti for EMU's home Mid-American Conference opener. The Eagles (4-4, 0-1 MAC) and Penguins (5-4, 0-1 MAC) are coming off one-goal losses in their MAC openers played March 16 with the Eagles falling at Robert Morris University, 10-9, and the Penguins dropping a 14-13 decision at home to visiting University of Akron.

SMILE FOR THE CAMERAS
Not only with the game mark the first outdoor home game and first home MAC contest of the year for the Eagles, it also will mark the first time an EMU home game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Tom Helmer, the Voice of the Eagles, will be on the call from Scicluna Field as Eastern Athletics adds its third new sport to the ESPN+ offering this year after debuting soccer and baseball this season.

OPENING DRAWS
» The Eagles are 4-4 overall and 0-1 in MAC play after falling on the road at Robert Morris, 10-9, March 16. The season has been built upon streaks as the team won four consecutive games between dropping its first two and last two contests played.
» Eastern is 1-1 in its MAC home opener after winning, 12-11, over Kent State, March 31, 2024, and falling to Central Michigan, 17-11, April 5, 2023. EMU is 1-0 when its MAC home opener is played outdoors at Scicluna Field following last year's win over the Golden Flashes.
» In the first half at Robert Morris (March 16), EMU held the Colonials to one goal, which tied for the fewest goals allowed in a single half of play in program history, marking the third time it has happened.
» With one free-position goal scored at Robert Morris (March 16), Mackenzie Blackwell brought her career total to 21 and broke the tie with Sydney Lawrence (2023-24) for the most in program history.
» Along with leading the MAC in team save percentage (.514), EMU players top the charts in four statistical categories with Mackenzie Blackwell setting the pace in goals per game (3.50) and shots per game (8.50) while Maddie Porter is the leader in saves percentage (.514) and ground balls per game (4.00).
» Maddie Porter is back on top of the national standings in ground balls per game as her 4.00 average places her in a three-way tie. The national leader in 2024 (4.20), Porter also ranks eighth in saves per game (11.13) and 12th in save percentage (.514) among NCAA Division I players.
» Mackenzie Blackwell and Emerson Henry also are nationally ranked with Blackwell sitting 12th in shots per game (8.50) and 25th in goals per game (3.50) while Henry is 46th in draw controls per game (5.38).
» 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).
» EMU players have earned three weekly honors from the MAC. Maddie Porter has twice been named the MAC Goalkeeper of the Week (March 4 & March 11) while Mackenzie Blackwell was tabbed the MAC Offensive Player of the Week once (March 4).
» 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.

LIFTING THE LID: MAC HOME OPENERS
Eastern is 1-1 in its first home MAC game of the year and 1-0 when that game is played outdoors at Scicluna Field. The Eagles dropped their inaugural opener, 17-11, to Central Michigan, April 5, 2023, with the game played inside at the EMU Indoor Practice Facility. Last year (March 31), EMU downed Kent State, 12-11, on Scicluna Field.

KNOW THE FOE: YOUNGSTOWN STATE
The Penguins come to town with a 5-4 record and stand 0-1 in MAC play after dropping a 14-13 decision to visiting Akron in last week's opener. The loss in league play snapped a four-game winning streak for YSU that saw it defeat two common opponents, including wins of 15-10 over Butler and 16-8 at Gardner-Webb. Individually, Katie Grottenthaler leads the team with 28 goals while Lena Cox paces the team with 33 points on 17 goals and 16 assists. In goal, Brooker Harper has appeared in eight games and has recorded a team-high 35 saves while allowing 12.46 goals per game.

IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. PENGUINS
The all-time series between Eastern Michigan and Youngstown State is tied at 1-1 with the home team winning both games. The Eagles are 1-0 when playing host to the Penguins after winning last year's meeting, 18-11, in Ypsilanti (April 21, 2024) to avenge a 17-15 loss at YSU, April 8, 2023.

FEELING HONORED
Eastern players have earned a trio of weekly awards from the Mid-American Conference, including Maddie Porter and Mackenzie Blackwell. Porter has twice been named the MAC Goalkeeper of the Week (March 4 and March 11) while Blackwell was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week once (March 4). Both players have now earned three weekly honors in their respective careers with Blackwell grabbing the offensive honor once in each of three seasons while Porter added a defensive player of the week accolade last year before the GK award was added for the 2025 campaign.

QUICK RECAP: MAC OPENER
Mackenzie Blackwell turned in her seventh hat trick of the season and Maddie Porter recorded 13 saves, but it was not enough as the Eagles fell at Robert Morris, 10-9, in both teams' MAC opener inside Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, Pa., March 16. EMU raced out to a 5-1 lead by halftime and 6-3 through the third, but a 7-3 third quarter in favor of the hosts gave RMU the victory.

ONE-DERFUL PLAY
In the first half at Robert Morris (March 16), the Eagles allowed just one goal in the first half, which came in the second quarter. It marked the third time in program history and the second time this season the Eagles have limited an opponent to a single goal in one half of play with the first coming at Butler (March 7) with one goal allowed in the second half. The first instance game just over one year earlier when the Eagles held Butler to one goal in the opening half of the game in Ypsilanti (March 15, 2024).

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.

KEEPING IT LOW
At the halfway point of the season, the Eagles have played eight games and held opponents to 10 goals or fewer five times. Along with the record four goals allowed at Butler, March 7, the Eagles also limited Gardner-Webb to six scores (Feb. 27), the third-fewest allowed in a game in program history.

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.

FEEL FREE TO POSITION THE BALL IN THE GOAL
In the past three games, Mackenzie Blackwell scored four goals on free-position shots, including one at Robert Morris (March 16), to bring her career total to 21. She now holds the program record for free-position goals, breaking the tie she held with Sydney Lawrence (2023-24). As it stands, Blackwell has netted six free-position goals in 2025, leaving her two away from tying her career best of eight that she scored last year, a total that ranks third on the single-season chart behind the 10 scored in both 2023 and 2024 by Lawrence.

WEARING MANY HATS
With three goals at Robert Morris (March 16), Mackenzie Blackwell recorded the 14th hat trick of the season for the Eagles. Along with her seven, Blackwell is joined on the list by Katheryn Wilson, who has three, and one each from Payton Bloedow, Kyleigh Dill, Emerson Henry, and Tracy Grollman.

MORE THAN HATS
Mackenzie Blackwell has played in all 40 games in program history and has tallied a school record 116 goals, 54 more than any other EMU player. Through the game at Robert Morris (March 16), Blackwell has recorded a hat trick in 7-of-8 games played in 2025 and 23-of-40 career games (57.5 percent). Additionally, she has scored multiple goals in 31-of-40 games (77.5 percent) while scoring at least one goal in 35-of-40 games (87.5 percent).

MILESTONES ON THE HORIZON
Four 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 183 career shots on goal, leaving her 17 from 200, while Maddie Porter has tallied 95 career ground balls, leaving her five away from being the first Eagle with 100 in a career. Freshman Emerson Henry has tallied 43 draw controls, leaving her seven away from becoming just the third Eagles to reach 50 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 28 goals through eight games, which is more than halfway to her school-record 49 goals scored last year in 16 games. With two more goals, she would become the first Eagle to record 30+ goals in three different seasons and she and Sydney Lawrence accomplished the feat in each of the past two seasons.
» 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 43 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 89 saves this year, leaving her 11 from reaching 100 and becoming the only EMU 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 16, the Eagles lead one team and four individual statistical categories in the MAC. As a team, the .514 save percentage leads the way, as does Maddie Porter in the same category (.514) and ground balls per game (4.00). Mackenzie Blackwell leads the way in two areas as her goals per game (3.50) and shots per game (8.50) both top the ledgers.

NATIONALLY KNOWN • TEAM
Eastern ranks among the top 50 in the nation in three categories once again this week, led by the team's .514 save percentage ranking 12th among all NCAA Division I teams. The Eagles also are 19th in fewest fouls committed per game (10.00), and 39th in goals against average (10.63).

BACK ON TOP
Last year, in her freshman season, Maddie Porter lead the NCAA in ground balls per game at 4.20 per contest. Through eight games this season, Porter is back in the top spot as her 4.0 average once again tops the charts. With 95 grounds ball recorded in her short time in Ypsilanti, Porter is closing in on 100 after she tallied seven at Robert Morris (March 16).

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. Along with leading the nation in ground balls per game (4.00), Porter also ranks eighth in saves per game (11.13), 12th in save percentage (.514), and 42nd in goals-against average (10.67). Mackenzie Blackwell is listed in two categories as she currently ranks 12th in shots per game (8.50) and 25th in goals per game (3.50) while Emerson Henry stands 46th in draw controls per game (5.38).

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 three areas, including 14th in goals per game (2.90), 20th in draw controls per game (5.08), and 49th in total goals scored (116). Maddie Porter stands 32nd with 95 total ground balls. Porter is not ranked in the ground balls per game category yet as she needs a minimum of 100 career ground balls to be ranked.

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 three games to play.

ADDING IT UP
Eastern has scored 92 goals this season, the most in program history over the first eight games of the season, surpassing the 90 scored last year. The Eagles have made it four consecutive games in which they reset the record after scoring 64 through five, 74 through six, and 83 through seven. To make it five consecutive games, the Eagles will need to score 10 goals to tie or 11 or more goals to take the top spot after last year's team tallied 102 through nine.

STINGY SCORING
Similar to the offense, the defense has set records for fewest goals allowed as the 85 conceded through eight games ranks as the fewest, just behind the 87 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. To stay on pace and maintain the lowest number recorded, the defense will need to hold Youngstown State to 13 or fewer goals scored Sunday.

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 return to the road next week as they will head north to Mount Pleasant, Mich., Sunday, March 30, for a noon showdown with rival Central Michigan University. The game will be streamed live on the CMU website, CMUChippewas.com.

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

Kelsea Dague

Kyleigh Dill

Tracy Grollman

Emerson Henry

Sydney Lawrence

Maddy Porter

Avery Schwab

Katheryn Wilson

Annika Wozney

Eastern Michigan Athletics