Lacrosse Travels to #16 Michigan Wednesday

GAME #11 \| Lacrosse at #16 Michigan
Date	Wednesday, April 2 \| 5 p.m.
Venue	U-M Lacrosse Stadium \| Ann Arbor, Mich.
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live	Watch (BTN+) \| Live Statistics
Social Media	Instagram: @emu_Lacrosse \| Twitter: @EMU_Lacrosse

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team returns to the road this week with a trip down the street to the U-M Lacrosse Stadium in Ann Arbor where the Eagles will face No. 16 University of Michigan, Wednesday, April 2. The mid-week game between the Eagles (5-5) and Wolverines (7-4) is set to start at 5 p.m. and will be aired live on BTN+.

OPENING DRAWS
» The Eagles enter the game at Michigan with a 5-5 overall record and stand 1-2 in MAC play following their 10-9 loss at Central Michigan (March 30). In their past three games, the Eagles have lost twice, both by 10-9 scores.
» Through the third week of MAC play, both Detroit Mercy and Robert Morris are tied at the top with a 2-0 record while Akron is just behind them at 2-1. Kent State (1-1), EMU (1-2), and CMU (1-2) are just off the pace.
» EMU's game at Michigan will mark the second of three consecutive contests against schools from Michigan. The Eagles played at CMU (March 30) and will welcome Detroit Mercy to town Sunday, April 6.
» In the game at Central Michigan, Mackenzie Blackwell scored four goals to bring her season total to 34 goals, which ranks third on the program's single-season ledger behind her 49 (2024) and 39 (2023) goals. She is the first EMU player to score 30+ goals in the three seasons after tying Sydney Lawrence last year with two seasons of 30+ (30 in 2023 and 31 in 2024).
» With her four goals at CMU, Mackenzie Blackwell tallied a hat trick in her eighth game this season and the 25th time in her career. Blackwell also has tallied multiple goals in all 10 games played in 2025 and 33-of-42 career games played for the Eagles.
» Tracy Grollman scored two goals and added one assist against the Chippewas (March 30). The goals marked the sixth time in nine games scored multiple times while scoring at least one in each of the last six games. Additionally, she now has 61 career points on 41 goals and 20 assists, making just the second player in EMU history to post a 40-20 after Sydney Lawrence (2023-24) finished with 87 points on 61 goals and 26 assists.
» Stella Burke tallied on goal at CMU, bringing her total to three in her freshman season. She has scored all three of her goals in MAC contests after opening her account with two against Youngstown State one game prior.
» Maddie Porter, one of the top goalkeepers in the MAC and the NCAA, posted nine saves and one ground ball at Central Michigan. She has made 106 saves this year, making her the first EMU player to record multiple seasons of 100+ saves after setting the record with 132 last year.
» Two Eagles are quite close to milestone statistical marks. Maddie Porter (99) is one ground ball away from becoming the first EMU player 100 in a career while Abby Alderman (95) is five shots away from becoming just the third EMU player to fire 100 in a career.
» 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.

TOUR DE MICHIGAN
When Eastern plays at Michigan, it will mark the second of three consecutive games for the Eagles against fellow Michigan schools. After falling at Central Michigan, 10-9, March 30, and then playing at U-M, April 2, the Eagles will return home to play host to Detroit Mercy, April 6, in a pivotal Mid-American Conference game as the Titans are currently tied with Robert Morris for the top spot in the MAC standings at 2-0. Youngstown State rounds out the standings at 0-3.

KNOW THE FOE: MICHIGAN
The Wolverines, ranked No. 16 in the latest IWLCA Top 25, stands 7-4 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play following their 13-12 overtime home loss to unranked Penn State (March 30). Prior to playing the Nittany Lions, Michigan played three consecutive games against nationally-ranked foes, including at No. 5 Maryland (L, 14-12), at home against No. 21 USC (W, 11-9), and at No. 21 Ohio State (W, 14-7). Earlier in the season, the Wolverines played a pair of ranked teams and split with them, including a 12-6 loss at No. 9 Yale and a 15-8 home win against No. 12 Penn. Individually, Jill Smith continues to lead the team as she has accumulated 48 points on 32 goals and 16 assists while Kaylee Dyer is just behind her with 45 points on 27 goals and 18 helpers. Defensively, Erin O'Grady is a standout in goal nationally as she ranks third in the NCAA in save percentage (.536), 14th in saves (111), and 17th in saves per game (10.09).

IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. WOLVERINES
Eastern trails, 0-2, in the all-time series with the nationally-ranked Wolverines winning the previous two meetings by double-figures. The first meeting came March 19, 2023, at No. 17 U-M with the hosts claiming a 16-3 victory. Last year, the game was to be played at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, but rain forced the contest to be moved to EMU's Indoor Practice Facility where the No. 5 Wolverines won, 20-4.

CAGE MATCH
Both the Eagles and Wolverines receive strong performances from their goalkeepers as Maddie Porter and Erin O'Grady, respectively, rank among the top 20 of the NCAA in the same three statistical categories. Porter is currently eighth (third in the MAC) in saves per game (10.60) while O'Grady ranks 17th (second in the B1G) at 10.09. The Eagle is 10th in save percentage (.515) and the Wolverine third (5.36) with both leading their respective leagues. Finally, Porter's 106 saves are 20th nationally (third in the MAC) while O'Grady has tallied 111 to rank 14th nationally (second in the B1G).

A WIN WOULD BE POWERFUL
Heading into the game in Ann Arbor, the Eagles, who began play in 2023, are 0-5 all-time against teams in a 'Power Four' conference and 0-2 this season following a 17-7 loss at No. 11 Notre Dame (Feb. 15) and 13-9 at Cincinnati (March 9). The Eagles, who also play host to Oregon (Feb. 11) later this season, are 0-2 against the Big Ten (Michigan), 0-2 against the Atlantic Coast (Notre Dame), and 0-1 against the Big 12 (Cincinnati).

FEELING HONORED
The Eagles have collected four weekly awards from the conference with two coming on offense and two on defense. Katheryn Wilson (March 25) and Mackenzie Blackwell (March 4) have been named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week this season while Maddie Porter (March 4 and March 11) has twice been named the MAC Goalkeeper of the Week.

EASY AS 1-2-3
Mackenzie Blackwell finished the game at Central Michigan (March 30) with four goals to bring her season total to 34. The MAC leader in goals per game (3.40) and second in goals scored, Blackwell's 34 scores moved her third on the program's single-season scoring sheet. The holder of the top three totals in program history, Blackwell scored a record 39 goals in 2023 before improving the mark to 49 last year. All told, she recently broke the tie with Sydney Lawrence (2023-24) for most seasons with 30+ goals at two after Lawrence scored 30 in 2023 and 31 in 2024.

HATS OFF TO YOU
With her four goals at Central Michigan, Blackwell brought her season total to 8-of-10 games with a hat trick while recording the 25th hat trick of her career. Blackwell's hat trick against the Chippewas marked the 17th of the season by an EMU player as Katheryn Wilson (four), Tracy Grollman (two), Payton Bloedow, Kyleigh Dill, and Emerson Henry have each recorded at least one hat trick this season. As a team, the 17 combined hat tricks this year are third in program history with 2024 team recording 20 and the 2023 squad 18. The 2025 team is averaging 1.7 hat tricks per game this year, which ranks the highest of the three seasons with 2024 (1.25) and 2023 (1.13) teams trailing behind.

MORE THAN HATS
Mackenzie Blackwell has played in all 42 games in program history and has tallied a school record 122 goals, 60 more than any other EMU player. Through the game at Central Michigan (March 30), Blackwell has recorded a hat trick in 8-of-10 games played in 2025 and 25-of-42 career games (59.5 percent). Additionally, she has scored multiple goals in 33-of-42 games (78.6 percent) while scoring at least one goal in 37-of-42 games (88.1 percent).

GROLLMAN GRINDS
In the game with CMU, Tracy Grollman scored two goals and added one assist. Grollman, who recorded multiple goals in her sixth different game this season, has now scored at least once in each of the last six contests. With her points against the Chippewas, Grollman moved her career totals to 41 goals and 20 assists for 61 points, making her just the second EMU player with 40+ goals and 20+ assists in a career, joining Sydney Lawrence (2023-24), who finished her career with 87 points on 61 goals and 26 helpers.

KEEP(ER) IT 100
Maddie Porter has crossed or is nearing the century mark in two statistical categories. The sophomore goalkeeper tallied nine saves at Central Michigan (March 30) to give her 106 on the season, making her the first player in EMU history to record 100+ stops in multiple seasons after she posted a school-record 132 last year. Porter is one ground ball away from 100 as she has tallied 99 in her career.

TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS!
As a team, the Eagles lead the MAC in four statistical categories following games played March 30. EMU currently tops the charts in woman down goals per game (0.2), saves percentage (.514), draw controls (14.3), and fewest fouls committed (9.8). Individually, Mackenzie Blackwell leads the league in three categories, including goals (3.4), points (3.8), and shots (8.0), while Maddie Porter ranks first in save percentage (.515).

NATIONALLY KNOWN • TEAM
The Eagles are ranked in the NCAA Division I top 50 in five statistical categories following games played March 30. Eastern ranks eighth in save percentage (.514), ninth in fewest fouls committed (9.8), goals-against average (10.1), 46th in draw controls per game (14.3), and 50th in ground balls (16.6).

NATIONALLY KNOWN • INDIVIDUAL
On an individual basis, four Eagles find themselves among the top 50 in NCAA Division I with Maddie Porter leading the way in four categories, including fifth in ground balls (3.6), eighth in saves per game (10.6), 10th in save percentage (.515), and 30th in goals-against average (10.13). Mackenzie Blackwell is currently 14th in shots (8.0) and goals (3.4) per game; Emerson Henry ranks 41st in draw controls per game (5.7); and Katheryn Wilson is 49th in free-position shot percentage (60.0).

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 16th in goals per game average at 2.9 while also ranking 25th in draw controls per game at 4.86. Maddie Porter currently ranks 32nd with 99 career ground balls and, with one more, will be eligible to be ranked in the ground balls per game category.

LIMBO CONTEST
The game with Youngstown State (March 23) was not all about offense as the Eagles limited the Penguins to six goals, the lowest permitted in a MAC contest in program history and the second-lowest allowed to any opponent this season behind the four allowed to Butler (March 7) in EMU's 10-4 road win. In all games played, the previous record was five goals allowed in a 16-5 win at Howard, Feb. 25, 2024, while the previous low for a MAC opponent was nine in Eastern's 12-9 win at Detroit Mercy (April 7, 2024) last season.

PITCHING SHUTOUTS
A big part of the record performance was the team's play in the second half as the Penguins scored just one goal, which came with 13:09 to play in the third. The Eagles, who shut out YSU in the final 28:09 of the game, have shut out an opponent in a single quarter seven times this year and have done so in back-to-back weeks after holding Robert Morris scoreless in the first quarter (March 16). All told, the seven shutout quarters are the most in a single season for the program after posting five in 2024 and none in 2023, the team's inaugural season.

ONE-DERFUL PLAY
For the second consecutive game and third time this season, the Eagles held an opponent to a record-low one goal in a single half of play as Youngstown State scored once in the second half (March 23). The defensive performance followed a similar showing in the first half at Robert Morris (March 16) when the Eagles allowed just one goal in the second quarter. The single goal allowed to the Penguins marked the fourth time in program history and the third time this season the Eagles have limited their 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 came 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).

AN ARTIST LOVES TO DRAW (CONTROL)
Emerson Henry had a career day in the draw circle as the freshman recorded 12 wins to lead the Eagles to 23 draw controls on the day. All told, the Eagles won the category, 23-5, to post an 18-win difference over Youngstown State (March 23), the third-highest difference in program history. The record stands at +19 as the Eagles outdrew both Detroit Mercy (April 7, 2024), 22-3, and Duquesne (Feb. 15, 2024), 26-7, with both games played on the road.

GET DOWN ON IT
Early in the fourth quarter against Youngstown State (March 23), the Eagles were whistled for a yellow card offense and were playing one woman down. During the ensuing action, Payton Bloedow made collected a ground ball and raced to the opposite end of the Scicluna Field turf where she fired a shot into the back of the net to record the first woman-down goal against a MAC foe in program history. Bloedow, who also scored a woman-down goal in the fourth quarter at Presbyterian (Feb. 25), is the program's all-time leader with two.

HAPPY HELPER
Avery Schwab assisted on one goal against YSU (March 23) to bring her career total to 40 and her season total to a team-leading 10. The school record holder for career assists and the first player to record 40 helpers in a career, Schwab has now handed out double-digit assists in all three seasons she has played for Eastern, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat.

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 rank 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.

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.

ROOKIE SCORING
Freshman Stella Burke not only tallied her first collegiate goal in the game with Youngstown State (March 23), but she also scored twice for her first multiple-point game as well. She is the fourth freshman to record her first career goal this season following Katheryn Wilson (four) and Emerson Henry (one) against San Diego State (Feb. 9) and Sydney Howard (one) at Presbyterian (Feb. 25).

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
Eastern returns to Mid-American Conference play at home Sunday, April 6, with the University of Detroit Mercy visiting Scicluna Field for an 11 a.m. contest that will be streamed live on ESPN+. The Eagles will be facing a Titan team that not only is the co-leaders in the MAC at 2-0, but also the former team of current EMU Head Coach Maddie Dugan, who guided the Titans to the MAC Tournament championship game and was named the 2024 MAC Coach of the Year.

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

Emerson Henry

Sydney Howard

Sydney Lawrence

Maddy Porter

Avery Schwab

Katheryn Wilson

Annika Wozney

Eastern Michigan Athletics