Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 23
Ypsilanti, Mich.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
5-4 (1-1MAC)
19
vs
6
Youngstown State
5-5 (0-2MAC)
1
2
3
4
F
Youngstown St.
2
3
1
0
6
Eastern Michigan
4
7
3
5
19
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Wilson Scores Six to Lead Lacrosse Past YSU, 19-6
3/23/2025 7:44:00 PM | Lacrosse
Freshman tallied a career-high eight points in the contest for EMU’s first MAC win of 2025
Highlights
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- With the temperatures dipping into high 30s and the wind chill and gusty winds cooling off Scicluna Field even more, the Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team brought the heat as the Eagles captured a 19-6 win over Youngstown State University Sunday, March 23, in the Mid-American Conference home opener for EMU. The Eagles (5-4, 1-1 MAC) scored a program-record-tying 19 goals in the win with freshman Katheryn Wilson (Dacula, Ga./Mill Creek) tallying a career-high six goals and eight points against the visiting Penguins (5-5, 0-2 MAC)
How It Happened
The Penguins struck first with a goal less than one minute into the contest before the Eagles would go on to score the next three goals to take a 3-1 advantage and a lead they would not relinquish. Wilson got the scoring started as she found the netting with 11:18 to play before Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md./Northern) gave the Eagles their first lead of the day. Wilson was back on the score sheet with her second, this time on an assist from classmate Emerson Henry (Ashburn, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson). After the Penguins pulled one back, Roya Khaleeli (Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula) scored on a free-position shot to make it 4-2 after the first quarter.
The Eagles continued to build upon their lead as they would score the first three goals of the second quarter for a 7-2 lead. Wilson scored back-to-back goals to tie her career high with Avery Schwab (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin-Scioto) earning the assist on the second score. Blackwell followed with her second of the day before the visitors scored their third to cut into the lead. The two teams would trade goals over the next scores with Tracy Grollman (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School) scoring her first, Khaleeli tallying he second, this time on an assist from Wilson, and Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) scoring on a free-position shot. Schwab added her first of the day on a free-position shot to end the quarter with the Eagles up, 11-5, at halftime.
Out of the break, Blackwell found Grollman for her second of the day, this time with the woman advantage before YSU would score with 13:09 remaining in third quarter, their final goal of the day. The Eagles added two more in the third with Henry cutting through the defense for a score before Stella Burke (Peterborough, Ontario/St. Peter's Catholic Secondary), on an assist from Wilson, scored her first collegiate goal to make it 14-6 after three.
In the final frame, the Eagles continued to find the back of the cage. Despite being down a player, Payton Bloedow (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake/Stony Brook) collected a ground ball in the defensive end, sprinted up field and into the offensive zone, and ran in on frame for her first of the day. The goal stands as the first woman-down goal scored against a MAC foe in program history and the second of the season for Bloedow. Burke followed with her second of the day before Grollman completed her hat trick with 5:30 to play. The final two goals were tallied by Wilson as she scored her second free-position goal, this time on the woman-up advantage, before scoring unassisted with 2:20 to play for her sixth of the day.
Overall, the defense, backed by eight saves from Maddie Porter (Montrose, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson), pitched shutout in the fourth quarter and held the visitors to just one goal in the second half, marking the second week in a row and the third time this year EMU limited an opponent to a single score in one half of play (first half at Robert Morris, March 16). Additionally, the Eagles recorded 18 more draw controls than YSU (23-5) with Henry recording a career-high 12 after tying her previous career high with nine in the first half.
Game Notes
» Katheryn Wilson finished the game with a career-high six goals and eight points. Her six goals tied for the third-most in a single game in EMU history and tie for the second-highest total in a MAC game for the Eagles. Wilson, who tied for the league lead in both goals in a game and points in a game, posted nine shots on goal and two free-position goals scored, both of which tied for the second-most in program history. Wilson has now recorded four hat tricks in her freshman campaign.
» Emerson Henry tallied a career-high 12 draw controls, which ties for the second-most in a single game in program history and the second-most in a MAC game behind Mackenzie Blackwell's 16 recorded against YSU last year (April 21, 2024). Henry, who scored one and goal and added an assist, tied her then-career-high of nine draw controls by halftime.
» Payton Bloedow scored one goal on the day, but it was a big one as she scored while the Eagles were down a player, marking just the fourth woman-down goal the Eagles have scored in program history and the first in a MAC contest.
» Stella Burke entered the game with three points on three assists to her credit and exited with two goals. Burke tallied her first two collegiate goals on two shots.
» Tracy Grollman recorded her second hat trick of the season after scoring three at Butler (March 7). Grollman now has five career hat tricks, which ranks as the second-most among active EMU players.
» Maddie Porter recorded eight saves in the game while limiting the Penguins to just six goals. It marked the second game in a row in which Porter held a team to a single goal in one half of play after doing so at Robert Morris one week earlier (March 16) in the first half of play.
Team Notes
» Eastern improved to 2-1 all-time against Youngstown State, marking the second MAC foe the Eagles have a winning record against (2-1 vs. Detroit Mercy). The Eagles are now 2-0 when hosting YSU after winning, 18-11, last year (April 21, 2024).
» The six goals allowed are the fewest in MAC game in program history. The previous best was nine in EMU's 12-9 road win at Detroit Mercy last season (April 7, 2024).
» The one goal allowed in the first half tied for the lowest in any half of play in program history and marks the third time it has happened this year. The first instance this season came at Butler, March 7, with one goal allowed in the second half, while the most recent occurrence happened last week at Robert Morris (March 16) in the first half.
» Offensively, the 19 goals scored are the most in a MAC game and tied for the most in a single game in program history, equaling the 19 scored at Presbyterian (W, 19-10), Feb. 25. The previous record for a conference game was the 18 scored at home last year against the Penguins (W, 18-11), April 21, 2024.
» The Eagles scored the final seven goals of the game to record the longest streak in a MAC game, surpassing the six consecutive goals scored against Detroit Mercy, April 29, 2023, in EMU's first MAC win.
» EMU scored seven goals in the second quarter to tie for the most goals scored in single stanza for the fourth time overall and the second time this year after scoring seven at Presbyterian. It also tied for the most in a single MAC game, marking the third time the Eagles have accomplished the feat and first since the game with YSU last year.
» The Eagles had nine different players score at least one goal, marking the most in a single conference game and the second-most in program history. The record stands at 10 at Howard, Feb. 25, 2024.
» The 23 draw controls recorded by the Eagles are the most in a single game this season, surpassing the 19 tallied at Gardner-Webb (Feb. 27). The total tied for the third-highest total in a single game in program history and the second-most in a MAC game.
Up Next
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.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- With the temperatures dipping into high 30s and the wind chill and gusty winds cooling off Scicluna Field even more, the Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team brought the heat as the Eagles captured a 19-6 win over Youngstown State University Sunday, March 23, in the Mid-American Conference home opener for EMU. The Eagles (5-4, 1-1 MAC) scored a program-record-tying 19 goals in the win with freshman Katheryn Wilson (Dacula, Ga./Mill Creek) tallying a career-high six goals and eight points against the visiting Penguins (5-5, 0-2 MAC)
How It Happened
The Penguins struck first with a goal less than one minute into the contest before the Eagles would go on to score the next three goals to take a 3-1 advantage and a lead they would not relinquish. Wilson got the scoring started as she found the netting with 11:18 to play before Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md./Northern) gave the Eagles their first lead of the day. Wilson was back on the score sheet with her second, this time on an assist from classmate Emerson Henry (Ashburn, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson). After the Penguins pulled one back, Roya Khaleeli (Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula) scored on a free-position shot to make it 4-2 after the first quarter.
The Eagles continued to build upon their lead as they would score the first three goals of the second quarter for a 7-2 lead. Wilson scored back-to-back goals to tie her career high with Avery Schwab (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin-Scioto) earning the assist on the second score. Blackwell followed with her second of the day before the visitors scored their third to cut into the lead. The two teams would trade goals over the next scores with Tracy Grollman (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School) scoring her first, Khaleeli tallying he second, this time on an assist from Wilson, and Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) scoring on a free-position shot. Schwab added her first of the day on a free-position shot to end the quarter with the Eagles up, 11-5, at halftime.
Out of the break, Blackwell found Grollman for her second of the day, this time with the woman advantage before YSU would score with 13:09 remaining in third quarter, their final goal of the day. The Eagles added two more in the third with Henry cutting through the defense for a score before Stella Burke (Peterborough, Ontario/St. Peter's Catholic Secondary), on an assist from Wilson, scored her first collegiate goal to make it 14-6 after three.
In the final frame, the Eagles continued to find the back of the cage. Despite being down a player, Payton Bloedow (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake/Stony Brook) collected a ground ball in the defensive end, sprinted up field and into the offensive zone, and ran in on frame for her first of the day. The goal stands as the first woman-down goal scored against a MAC foe in program history and the second of the season for Bloedow. Burke followed with her second of the day before Grollman completed her hat trick with 5:30 to play. The final two goals were tallied by Wilson as she scored her second free-position goal, this time on the woman-up advantage, before scoring unassisted with 2:20 to play for her sixth of the day.
Overall, the defense, backed by eight saves from Maddie Porter (Montrose, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson), pitched shutout in the fourth quarter and held the visitors to just one goal in the second half, marking the second week in a row and the third time this year EMU limited an opponent to a single score in one half of play (first half at Robert Morris, March 16). Additionally, the Eagles recorded 18 more draw controls than YSU (23-5) with Henry recording a career-high 12 after tying her previous career high with nine in the first half.
Game Notes
» Katheryn Wilson finished the game with a career-high six goals and eight points. Her six goals tied for the third-most in a single game in EMU history and tie for the second-highest total in a MAC game for the Eagles. Wilson, who tied for the league lead in both goals in a game and points in a game, posted nine shots on goal and two free-position goals scored, both of which tied for the second-most in program history. Wilson has now recorded four hat tricks in her freshman campaign.
» Emerson Henry tallied a career-high 12 draw controls, which ties for the second-most in a single game in program history and the second-most in a MAC game behind Mackenzie Blackwell's 16 recorded against YSU last year (April 21, 2024). Henry, who scored one and goal and added an assist, tied her then-career-high of nine draw controls by halftime.
» Payton Bloedow scored one goal on the day, but it was a big one as she scored while the Eagles were down a player, marking just the fourth woman-down goal the Eagles have scored in program history and the first in a MAC contest.
» Stella Burke entered the game with three points on three assists to her credit and exited with two goals. Burke tallied her first two collegiate goals on two shots.
» Tracy Grollman recorded her second hat trick of the season after scoring three at Butler (March 7). Grollman now has five career hat tricks, which ranks as the second-most among active EMU players.
» Maddie Porter recorded eight saves in the game while limiting the Penguins to just six goals. It marked the second game in a row in which Porter held a team to a single goal in one half of play after doing so at Robert Morris one week earlier (March 16) in the first half of play.
Team Notes
» Eastern improved to 2-1 all-time against Youngstown State, marking the second MAC foe the Eagles have a winning record against (2-1 vs. Detroit Mercy). The Eagles are now 2-0 when hosting YSU after winning, 18-11, last year (April 21, 2024).
» The six goals allowed are the fewest in MAC game in program history. The previous best was nine in EMU's 12-9 road win at Detroit Mercy last season (April 7, 2024).
» The one goal allowed in the first half tied for the lowest in any half of play in program history and marks the third time it has happened this year. The first instance this season came at Butler, March 7, with one goal allowed in the second half, while the most recent occurrence happened last week at Robert Morris (March 16) in the first half.
» Offensively, the 19 goals scored are the most in a MAC game and tied for the most in a single game in program history, equaling the 19 scored at Presbyterian (W, 19-10), Feb. 25. The previous record for a conference game was the 18 scored at home last year against the Penguins (W, 18-11), April 21, 2024.
» The Eagles scored the final seven goals of the game to record the longest streak in a MAC game, surpassing the six consecutive goals scored against Detroit Mercy, April 29, 2023, in EMU's first MAC win.
» EMU scored seven goals in the second quarter to tie for the most goals scored in single stanza for the fourth time overall and the second time this year after scoring seven at Presbyterian. It also tied for the most in a single MAC game, marking the third time the Eagles have accomplished the feat and first since the game with YSU last year.
» The Eagles had nine different players score at least one goal, marking the most in a single conference game and the second-most in program history. The record stands at 10 at Howard, Feb. 25, 2024.
» The 23 draw controls recorded by the Eagles are the most in a single game this season, surpassing the 19 tallied at Gardner-Webb (Feb. 27). The total tied for the third-highest total in a single game in program history and the second-most in a MAC game.
Up Next
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.
Team Stats
YSU
EMU
Shots
26
34
Turnovers
13
18
Caused Turnovers
12
12
Draw Controls
5
23
Free-Position Shots
3
9
Ground Balls
24
22
Game Leaders
Players
G
6
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
2
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M/A
/ LacrosseA
/ Lacrosse
M
/ LacrosseA
/ LacrosseA
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
G
/ Lacrosse
A
/ LacrosseM
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