Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, May 1
Moon Township, Pa.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Akron
Lacrosse Faces Akron in MAC Semifinal Thursday
4/29/2025 4:56:00 PM | Lacrosse
EMU earned a share of its first conference title; will play as the No. 2 seed
| GAME #17 | Lacrosse at MAC TOURNAMENT | Semifinal vs. Akron | |
| Date | Thursday, May 1 | 4 p.m. (approx.) |
| Venue | Joe Walton Stadium | Moon Township, Pa. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| MAC Info | MAC Championship Page | Purchase Tickets |
| Live | Watch (ESPN+) | Live Statistics |
| Social Media | Instagram: @emu_Lacrosse | Twitter: @EMU_Lacrosse |
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team will look to add to an historic season this week when the Eagles, the 2025 Mid-American Conference Co-Champions, will face the University of Akron in the semifinals of the 2025 MAC Tournament, Thursday, May 1, inside Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, Pa. The Eagles (8-8, 4-2 MAC) are the No. 2 seed in the four-team event and will face the No. 3 Zips (9-7, 4-2 MAC), who shared the league title with the Eagles and Robert Morris University, in a 4 p.m. contest that will be streamed live on ESPN+.
CHAMPIONS!
For the first time in the program's three-year history, the Eagles are MAC Champions! Eastern posted a 4-2 record in league play with its only losses coming in one-goal road games at Robert Morris (March 16) and Central Michigan (March 30). Both Akron and Robert Morris posted 4-2 records as well following the Zips' home win over the Colonials on the final day of the regular season to force a three-way tie for the crown. While the title stands as the first for the Eagles, it marks the 159th MAC crown earned by an EMU team and continues a streak of 44 consecutive years Eastern has secured at least one conference title in an academic year.
THE FIELD IS SET
Following a three-way tie and several tiebreakers, the field for the 2025 MAC Tournament stands as Robert Morris earning the No. 1 seed and hosting duties while Eastern Michigan is No. 2, Akron is No. 3, and Detroit Mercy the No. 4 seed. RMU and UDM will open the tournament at 1 p.m. May 1 in the first semifinal with the Eagles and Zips meeting in the second at approximately 4 p.m. The winners will meet Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. with the winner of the championship game earning the MAC's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
All three games will be played at Joe Walton Stadium on the Robert Morris campus. Tickets are on sale on the MAC tournament website and are $10 for each day of the tournament. Visit GetSomeMACtion.com to purchase tickets for the event.
OPENING DRAWS
» Eastern ended the regular season at 8-8 overall and 4-2 in the MAC with both win totals setting program records for the most in a single season.
» The Eagles earned a three-way share of the MAC title, marking the program's first conference crown in its three years of play and the 159th earned by an EMU team. The win also continues a streak of 44 consecutive years with at least one EMU team earning a MAC title.
» Eastern will be looking to secure its first postseason victory when it plays Akron. EMU made its postseason debut in 2024 in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament where the No. 3 seed Eagles fell to No. 2 seed Robert Morris, 12-11, in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
» In the previous two MAC Tournaments, the No. 1 seed/host has not won the tournament title with RMU falling in 2023 final and Central Michigan falling in the semifinals in 2024. Last year, the No. 2 seed, RMU, won the title, the same position the Eagles occupy this year.
» The Eagles finished second in the league in goals scored (194) and tied for first in goals allowed (177) to post the second-best goal differential (+17) in the league behind Youngstown State's +19 (201-182).
» Through the regular season, nine individual single-season program records were broken along with 12 records.
» Mackenzie Blackwell broke five school records and became the first in program history to record 50+ goals, 60+ points, and 100+ shots in a season. Maddie Porter joined her by becoming the first Eagle to record 70+ ground balls and 150+ saves in a single season
» Emerson Henry has tallied 94 draw controls this season to break the EMU freshman record (83) while tying the record set by Mackenzie Blackwell last year. Henry is now just six draw wins away from becoming the first Eagles to record 100+ draw controls in a single season.
» The team is closing in on several milestones as the Eagles are six goals away from recording 200+ in a single season, one free-position goal from reaching 40 for the first time, five assists from reaching 90, and 21 points from reaching 300 in a season for the first time.
» 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 Titan 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.
THE STAKES
The team that claims the MAC Tournament title will not only be crowned champion, but also will receive the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show will air at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 4, on ESPNU.
TOUGH ON TOP
The MAC has held a lacrosse tournament for the past two years (2023 and 2024) with the host not winning either event as Robert Morris fell in the final it hosted in 2023, and Central Michigan fell in the semifinals in 2024. EMU, the No. 2 seed, will try to help continue the trend and repeat what happened last year when the No. 2 seed won the title.
WHAT A WIN OVER AKRON WOULD MEAN...
» A program-record ninth win on the year.
» The program's first postseason victory (0-1).
» The program's first tournament final appearance.
» The program's first win at a neutral site (0-1).
» The program's first time defeating the same team twice in the same season.
» The program's second time posting three consecutive victories over the same team (W3 vs. UDM).
KNOW THE FOE: AKRON
The Zips, one of three co-champions in the MAC, hold a 9-7 record after posting a 4-2 mark in league play. Akron is coming off a 14-12 home win over Robert Morris (April 27) to force the three-way tie with EMU and RMU while snapping a two-game skid that included road losses at UMBC (22-8) and Eastern Michigan (16-12). Individually, Sienna Hinchcliffe leads the way with 3.31 goals and 4.06 points per game, which ranks second and first, respectively, in the MAC. Noelle Body also ranks highly in the MAC as she is third in both assists (1.44) and points (3.44). Defensively, Hannah Sanders ranks third in the MAC in goals-against average (10.77) while ranking fourth in saves per game (8.13) and seventh in saves percentage (.431).
TOP MEETING... AGAIN
The game between Eastern and Akron will pit the top two goals scorers in the MAC against one another as Mackenzie Blackwell leads with 3.69 per game and Sienna Hinchcliffe is second at 3.31. The duo also is the top two point producers with Hinchcliffe first at 4.06 and Blackwell second at 4.00.
IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. ZIPS
Eastern holds a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with Akron following its 16-12 home win, April 20, to break the tie. The Zips won the first meeting, 10-9, April 22, 2023, during EMU's inaugural season before the Eagles captured an 11-10 win at Akron, March 24, 2024. The most recent win marked the first team the home team had won the game in the series.
IN THE LAST MEETING
Needing a win in their final MAC game of the year and then help from others, the Eagles took care of their business as they handed visiting Akron a 16-12 defeat, April 20, in Ypsilanti. Tracy Grollman tallied a career-high eight points on five goals and three assists to help the Eagles turn a 7-5 deficit into a 16-12 win. Maddie Porter made nine saves, and the Eagles limited the Zips to four goals in the second half, including zero in the fourth quarter, to claim the win and a 4-2 mark in league play. Akron's win over Robert Morris one week later was the help EMU needed to share in the MAC crown.
TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS!
Following the regular season, the Eagles lead two team and three individual statistical categories. As a team, the Eagles' 11.06 goals-against average and 9.63 fouls per game both lead the MAC. Individually, Mackenzie Blackwell tops the lists in both goals (3.69) and shots per game (8.19) while Maddie Porter leads the way with 4.38 ground balls per game.
NATIONALLY KNOWN • TEAM
In the April 28 release of the NCAA statistical update, the Eagles rank among the national top 50 in six categories with two in the top 15. Eastern currently ranks 10th in saves percentage (.491), 11th in fewest fouls committed (9.63), and 30th in ground balls (17.75) while ranking 48th in three areas, including goals-against average (11.06), caused turnovers (8.56), and draw controls (14.06).
NATIONALLY KNOWN • INDIVIDUAL
Three Eagles rank in the national top 50 in seven categories with Maddie Porter leading the way in four. Porter continues to lead the nation in ground balls (4.38) while ranking ninth in saves per game (10.63), 10th in save percentage (.494), and 42nd in goals-against average (11.05). Mackenzie Blackwell is 13th in shots per game (8.19) and 16th in goals per game (3.69) while Emerson Henry is 38th in draw controls per game (5.88).
NATIONALLY KNOWN • GAME HIGHS
Two Eagles have turned in three single-game performances that rank among the national top 20 for the season with Maddie Porter owning two and Mackenzie Blackwell one. Porter's 10 ground balls at Kent State (April 13) rank as the fifth-most in a single game this year while her 18 saves against San Diego State (Feb. 9) in the opener rank 13th. Blackwell posted eight goals at Kent State to record the fifth-highest single-game total in 2025.
STAYING ACTIVE
Both Mackenzie Blackwell and Maddie Porter rank among the top 50 in NCAA Division I on the active player career statistics list with each finding their name in three categories. Among all active players on an NCAA Division I roster this year, Blackwell currently ranks 13th in goals per game (3.06), 31st in draw controls per game (4.56), and 42nd in total goals scored (147) while Porter is first in ground balls per game (4.29), 14th in total ground balls (133), and 40th in total saves (302).
GREAT EIGHT
The win over Akron (April 20) gave the Eagles their record eighth win of the season, surpassing the mark set in 2024 when the team finished 7-9. Additionally, the team finished 4-2 in MAC play for the second consecutive year to tie for the most wins in a league season in program history.
HIGH FLYING
The Eagles scored 16 goals against Akron (April 20), marking the second-most scored against a league foe this year behind the 19 tallied against Youngstown State (March 23). All four of EMU's MAC wins in 2025 have produced at least 13 goals as the Eagles posted wins of 19-6 over YSU, 13-8 over Detroit Mercy (April 6), 15-8 over Kent State (April 13), and 16-12 against Akron.
HAPPY TO HELP POINTING THINGS OUT
Against the Zips (April 20), the Eagles added 10 assists on the 16 goals for 26 points. The 10 helpers tied for the second-most in a single game (11 at Delaware State, Feb. 28, 2024, is the record) while tying the single-game MAC record after posting 10 against Detroit Mercy (April 29, 2023). Seven different players recorded at least one assists, which tied for the program's single-game record.
PITCHING SHUTOUTS
Trailing by one heading into the fourth, the Eagles went on a 5-0 run to hand Akron a 16-12 loss (April 20). The fourth quarter shutout marked the eighth quarter in 2025 the Eagles held an opponent scoreless, the most in a single season in program history.
RECORD BREAKERS
The Eagles have broken 12 team records this season, including: goals (194), hat tricks (27), game-winning goals (eight), free-position goals (39), woman-down goals (three), assists (85), points (279), shots (456), shots on goal (319), caused turnovers (137), fewest goals allowed (177), and saves (171). Some of the biggest improvements came in goals scored (+18), hat tricks (+7), points (+21), shots (+29), fewest goals allowed (-14), and saves (+6).
PUSHING FOR MILESTONES
While the Eagles have at least one more chance to add to those marks, they also have a chance to reach several milestones. With six goals, the team would score 200 for the first time in a single season while one more free-position goal would mark the first time it has reached 40. Five assists would get the team to 90 for the first time while 21 points would push EMU to 300 for the first time.
BLACKWELL'S VINYL STORE
Mackenzie Blackwell is no stranger to program records as she entered the season as the record holder in seven different categories, all of which she set in 2024. Following the Marquette game (April 25), Blackwell continued to reset the standard in four categories to bring her total to five this season:
» 59 goals (was 49)
» 13 hat tricks (was 10)
» 64 points (was 54)
» 131 shots (was 89)
» 86 shots on goal (was 72)
MORE MACK MILESTONES?
Along with the school records she holds, Mackenzie Blackwell reached several milestones for the program in 2025 and still has a few more she could reach. Her 59 goals made her the first player to score 50+ in a season and she is one away from becoming the first to score 60 in a season. She is six points away from becoming the first to reach 70 after becoming the first to reach 60 as well. Lastly, she has tallied 84 shots on goal, leaving her four away from becoming the first to reach 90 and 14 from 100.
MORE THAN HATS
Mackenzie Blackwell has played in all 48 games in program history and has tallied a school record 147 goals, 85 more than any other EMU player. Here is how she has fared in scoring goals for the Eagles throughout her career:
» 1+ goals: 43-of-48 games (.896 percent)
» 2+ goals: 38-of-48 games (.792)
» 3+ goals: 30-of-48 games (.625)
» 4+ goals: 19-of-48 games (.396)
PORTER'S ICE CREAM PARLOR
Maddie Porter is no stranger to scooping up ground balls as the sophomore collected six more against Marquette (April 25) to bring her season total to 70, which bettered her own single-season record of 63 set last year. The national leader in ground balls in 2024 and the current leader this year, Porter is averaging 4.38 scoops per game and ranks first nationally among all active NCAA Division I players in the category (sixth among all NCAA players).
MORE MILESTONES
Already the single-season record holder with 170 saves, Maddie Porter stopped 14 against Marquette (April 25) to bring her career total to 302, making her the first Eagles to reach 300 career saves.
OH HENRY!
Emerson Henry made it back-to-back games with stellar numbers are the freshman recorded four points on three goals and one assist while adding nine draw controls to mark the fourth time this year she has collected at least nine draw wins in a game. With those draws, she brought her season total to 94, which tied Mackenzie Blackwell for the most in a single season one week removed from bettering Blackwell's freshmen record of 82. With six more draw wins, Henry would become the first EMU player to reach 100 in a single season.
THE WIZARD OF WOZ
Annika Wozney recorded a career-high five caused turnovers in the game with Akron, a total that also tied the single-game record at Eastern Michigan while tying for the most in a single game by any player in the MAC this year. The record was set twice last year by Sydney Lawrence, who tallied five against both Robert Morris (April 27, 2024) and Xavier (April 17, 2024). Overall, Wozney now has 18 career caused turnovers, leaving her two away from joining Lawrence as the only player with 20+ caused turnovers in a single season.
FASHION TREND
Two more hat tricks were added to the total last week against Marquette as the Eagles now have 27 on the year after Mackenzie Blackwell and Emerson Henry scored five and three goals, respectively. The single-season record for hat tricks (it was 20 in 2024) has come from the play of seven Eagles, including Blackwell (13), Katheryn Wilson (five), Tracy Grollman (three), Henry (three), Abby Alderman, Payton Bloedow, and Kyleigh Dill.
CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT
Defensively, the Eagles have allowed 177 goals this season, an average of 11.05 per game, which is 14 fewer than they did last year through 16 games (191) and 67 better than the 2023 season (244). The game with Akron at the MAC Tournament will mark the 17th game of the season, the most the team has played since playing 16 in its first two campaigns.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Offensively, the Eagles have scored a program-record 194 goals this year, 29 more than they did through 16 games last year (165). The 194 goals also surpassed the 176 goals scored all of last season (16 games).
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
With a win, the Eagles would advance to the final of the 2025 MAC Tournament and face the winner of the first semifinal between top-seed and host Robert Morris University and No. 4 seed University of Detroit Mercy, Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. A loss to the University of Akron would end the season for EMU.
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.
Players Mentioned
M
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
D
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
G
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
D
/ LacrosseLacrosse Updates EMU's Championship Trophy
Friday, May 02
Lacrosse Falls to Marquette on Senior Day
Friday, April 25
EMU Defeats Akron, 16-12, to Punch Ticket to MAC Tournament
Sunday, April 20
Ainsley McLain Talks about Pediatric Cancer
Tuesday, April 08