Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 6
Milwaukee, Wis.
12 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
at
Marquette
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Lacrosse Opens season Friday at Marquette
2/4/2026 3:30:00 PM | Lacrosse
Eastern looking to build off shared MAC title earned in 2025
| Game #1: at MARQUETTE | |
| Date | Friday, Feb. 6 | 12 p.m. CT |
| Venue | Valley Fields | Milwaukee, Wis. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live | ESPN+ | Live Stats |
| @EMU_Lacrosse | @EMUAthletics | |
| Game #2: vs. BUTLER | |
| Date | Sunday, Feb. 8 | 1 p.m |
| Venue | Indoor Practice Facility | Ypsilanti |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live | Live Stats |
| @EMU_Lacrosse | @EMUAthletics | |
Y
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team, regular season co-champions of the Mid-American Conference in 2025, is set to open its 2026 season this week as the Eagles will travel to face Marquette University before playing host to Butler University. The Eagles and Golden Eagles will lift the lid on 2026 when teams meet Friday, Feb. 6, inside Varsity Fields in Milwaukee, Wis., in a 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) game that will be streamed live on ESPN+. Two days later, Sunday, Feb. 8, the Eagles will play their home opener as they welcome the Bulldogs to town for a 1 p.m. contest inside the Indoor Practice Facility in Ypsilanti.
OPENING DRAWS
» Eastern Michigan finished the 2025 season with an 8-9 record and went 4-2 in MAC play to earn a three-way share of the MAC regular season title (Akron & Robert Morris). The Eagles advanced to the MAC Tournament for the second consecutive season before falling in the semifinals.
» The Eagles earned a three-way share of the 2025 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 continued a streak of 44 consecutive years with at least one EMU team earning a MAC title.
» Eastern is set to play 16 regular season games in 2026 with eight each being played at home and on the road. The schedule also features three games against teams from a 'Power 4' conference, including road games at Oregon (Big Ten) and Vanderbilt (SEC) and a home game with Cincinnati (Big 12).
» The Eagles will face four opponents for the first time in program history with games played at home and two on the road. The newcomers to the schedule include Lindenwood, Austin Peay, Vanderbilt, and UMass, who is the newest member of the MAC.
» Mackenzie Blackwell, who broke five school records during the 2025 season, is closing in on a pair of milestones for her career. She enters the 2026 season three goals shy of 150 while needing 40 points to reach 200.
» Maddy Porter has led the NCAA in ground balls per game average in each of her first two collegiate seasons. She enters 2026 needing 16 scoops to reach 150 for her career.
» Five Eagles were named captains for the 2026 season, including Mackenzie Blackwell, Samantha Borgert, Kelsey Dague, Maddy Porter, and Annika Wozney.
» The team will feature 12 seniors, including nine that were part of the program's first major signing class in 2022. The group will be honored in Senior Day festivities following the game with Robert Morris, April 18.
» EMU welcomed 12 new players to the program, including 11 freshmen and one transfer, senior Sanai James.
» The coaching staff also welcomed two new faces as Irene Carlquist and Ty McGuire were hired as assistant coaches. Carlquist, most recently the head coach at Lees-McRae, will work with the goalkeepers, while McGuire, the former head coach of the men's program at Concordia-Ann Arbor, will work with the defense.
» Maddie Dugan is in her second season guiding the Eagles. The 2024 MAC Coach of the Year at Detroit Mercy, Dugan guided the Eagles to a share of the MAC regular season crown in 2025, the first title in program history.
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.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
The MAC released its preseason coaches poll, Feb. 4, with the Eagles voted to finish tied for second with Akron as both received 37 points. League newcomer UMass was named the favorite to win with 48 points and six first-place votes with the remaining two first-place votes going to EMU and Robert Morris with one each. The Colonials, last year's tournament champion, earned 34 points to rank fourth with Central Michigan fifth (28 points), Kent State sixth (19), Youngstown State seventh (12), and Detroit Mercy eighth (nine). The coaches also voted on who they think will capture the MAC Tournament crown (April 30 & May 2 in Moon Township, Pa.) with UMass securing six votes and both EMU and host RMU garnering one each.
LIFTING LIDS • SEASON OPENERS
Eastern is 0-3 all-time in its first game of the season with last year's 15-10 loss to San Diego State (April 9, 2025) in Ypsilanti its closest contest of the three. The Eagles dropped an 18-4 decision to Niagara, Feb. 16, 2023, in their inaugural game, before falling at No. 7 Notre Dame, 21-6, Feb. 9, 2024.
LIFTING LIDS • ROAD OPENER
The Eagles are 0-3 in their first road game of the season with the last two coming at the hands of a nationally-ranked Notre Dame squad. After falling at Winthrop, 16-11, in the 2023 road opener (March 3), Eastern fell, 21-6, to the No. 7 Fighting Irish in 2024 (Feb. 9) and 17-7 to No. 11 UND in 2025 (Feb. 15).
LIFTING LIDS • HOME OPENER
Eastern is 1-2 in its first home game of the season and will face Butler in its home opener for the second time. After suffering an 18-4 loss in its inaugural game against Niagara in 2023 (March 16), the Eagles defeated Butler, 15-8, March 15, 2024, for its first home-opening win. Last year, the Eagles dropped a 15-10 decision to San Diego State (Feb. 9, 2025).
KNOW THE FOE: MARQUETTE
The Golden Eagles are coming off a 2025 season in which they posted a 10-6 record with a 3-3 mark in the BIG EAST, missing out on the postseason tournament by one game. A team that finished 6-2 at home last year, Marquette was voted fifth in the 2026 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll with the quartet of Hanna Bodner, Lauren Grady, Tess Osburn, and Mary Velner all earning Preseason All-BIG EAST accolades.
IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. GOLDEN EAGLES
Eastern is in search of its first win over Marquette as the Golden Eagles hold a 3-0 advantage in the series with a 1-0 lead when the game is played in Milwaukee. The first two games were dominated by MU as it scored wins of 18-5 and 15-4 in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Last year, the Eagles lost by four in a 32-goal contest that Marquette won in Ypsilanti, 18-14.
IN THE LAST MEETING • MARQUETTE
The Eagles and Golden Eagles last met April 25, 2025, in Ypsilanti, an 18-14 win for Marquette on the final day of the regular season. The visitors took a 6-4 lead after the first quarter and extended it to a 12-6 advantage at the break. After both teams scored four goals in the third (MU up, 16-10), EMU outscored the Golden Eagles, 4-2, but it was not enough as the Eagles fell, 18-14, on Senior Day. Mackenzie Blackwell scored five goals to lead the offense while Emerson Henry scored three goals, assisted on one, and recorded nine draw controls. Maddy Porter recorded 14 saves in goal while adding six ground balls.
BACK-TO-BACK
When Eastern and Marquette meet, it will mark back-to-back regular season games the duo have played as they met in Ypsilanti, April 25, 2025, to close out the regular season. Since that game, EMU played one game in the MAC Tournament while both teams held a single exhibition game earlier this week.
KNOW THE FOE: BUTLER
The Bulldogs are currently on a 21-game losing streak that includes the final seven games of the 2024 season and a 0-14 record last year. Butler, who last won, 16-10, at Xavier, March 23, 2024, was 0-8 away from home last year and has dropped 10 consecutive road games. Butler, who was voted to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Coaches Poll, opens its season Friday, Feb. 6, at Detroit Mercy before playing at EMU two days later.
IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. BULLDOGS
Eastern holds a 2-1 lead in its series with Butler after securing a 10-4 win in Indianapolis, March 7, 2025, to break the 1-1 tie. The Eagles have won back-to-back meetings with the Bulldogs after dropping a 14-13 decision at Butler in the 2023 season. Since then, Eastern tallied a 15-8 home win in 2024 before last year's victory.
IN THE LAST MEETING • BUTLER
Eastern defeated Butler, 10-4, in a low-scoring affair in Indianapolis, March 7, 2025, to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead in the all-time series. Eastern took a 2-0 lead through one and clung to a 3-2 lead at halftime before using a 4-0 third quarter to take a commanding 7-3 lead. EMU added three more goals in the fourth for the 10-4 win. Mackenzie Blackwell scored four times and Tracy Grollman added three while Emerson Henry added a pair of goals to her eight draw controls.
TAKING ON • BIG EAST
Marquette and Butler are both members of the BIG EAST and represent the first and second, respectively, of three Big East opponents on EMU's schedule this spring as Eastern will welcome Xavier to town, Feb. 14. Combined, Eastern is 2-6 against the BIG EAST which includes the 0-3 mark against Marquette, a 2-1 record with Butler, and a 0-2 record with the Musketeers.
LOOKING AHEAD • 2026 SCHEDULE
Eastern will play 16 regular season games with eight each at home and on the road. After opening on the road at Marquette (Feb. 6), the Eagles will play three consecutive home games that include tilts with Butler (Feb. 8), Lindenwood (Feb. 11), and Xavier (Feb. 14). Eastern then will play four consecutive road games that will see the team venture to New York to face Canisius (Feb. 18), Oregon to face Oregon (Feb. 22), and Tennessee to face both Austin Peay (March 1) and Vanderbilt (March 4). Back-to-back home games await the Eagles thereafter with Cincinnati (March 8) and a MAC opener with Kent State (March 14) on the slate before two more road games await EMU with trips to Detroit Mercy (March 19) and Akron (March 28). The final three home games come in succession to open April with contests against Central Michigan (April 4), UMass (April 11), and Robert Morris (April 18) on Senior Day before the regular season ends at Youngstown State (April 25). The MAC Tournament will be played April 30 (semifinals) and May 2 (final) in Moon Township, Pa.
AND YOU ARE?
One quarter of the Eagles' slate will come against teams Eastern has previously not played with two of those four games being played at home. The first of the four games comes Feb. 11 with a home contest against Lindenwood before Eastern plays back-to-back road games against Austin Peay (March 1) and Vanderbilt (March 4). The final of the four games comes April 11 when MAC newcomer UMass comes to town.
GROUNDING POWER
In its first three seasons, Eastern holds a 0-7 record against teams from the 'Power 4' conferences, a group of football conferences that include the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. The 2026 schedule will see the Eagles face three 'power' foes with games against Oregon (Big Ten) and Vanderbilt (SEC) on the road and Cincinnati (Big 12) at home. The loss at home to Oregon last year, 13-11, was the closest the Eagles have come to downing a 'power' conference foe.
GETTING THEIR FIRST?
The Eagles are set to face four teams in 2026 that they have played multiple times in the past and have not recorded a victory against, including Marquette (0-3), who the Eagles face in the season opener. Two conference foes appear on the list as both Central Michigan and Robert Morris have taken all four contests with the Eagles while Eastern is 0-2 against Xavier, who they will play Feb. 14.
BACK FOR MORE
The 2026 roster features 39 players with 27 returning from the 2025 team. This year's returning roster features 11 seniors, seven juniors, seven sophomores, and two redshirt freshmen.
FIRST CLASS
In the first three years of the program, Senior Day consisted of honoring a total of 10 players, including one in 2023, five in 2024, and four last year. This year, that number balloons to 12 as the first full class of Eagles to join the program will be recognized. The class will feature nine players that began their careers at EMU together, including Abby Alderman, Amber Alderman, Mackenzie Blackwell, Samantha Borgert, Gina D'Alessio, Kyleigh Dill, Haley Hodak, Maggie McCabe, and Annika Wozney. Additionally, Tracy Grollman, who was recognized last year, is back for redshirt senior season while two players that transferred into the program, Payton Bloedow (2025-26) and Sanai James (2026), will also be recognized.
HELLO! MY NAME IS...
The 2026 roster also features 12 newcomers, including 11 freshmen and one senior transfer, Sanai James, who spent the past three seasons with Delaware State. The rookie class, who have players hailing from seven states and two Canadian provinces, includes: Emma Baker, Ashley Culin, Christie Evans, Zola LeDonne, Reagan Morrison, Ainsley Owens, Ashley Poquette, Emma Reichert, Brooke Sganga, Paige Sutton, and Ella Toth.
NEW TO THE CREW
New players were not the only additions to the roster ahead of the 2026 season as two new assistant coaches have joined Maddie Dugan's coaching staff. Both Irene Carlquist and Ty McGuire bring previous coaching experiences with them to Ypsilanti including stints as head coaches and assistants. Carlquist, a goalkeeper as a player at Indianapolis (2015-19), was the head coach at Lees-McRae for two years before coming to Eastern and also served as the head coach at Clarke University (2023) and Fishers High School (2022) after working as an assistant coach at Anderson University (2020-22). McQuire, an EMU graduate, spent the past seven years leading the men's program at Concordia-Ann Arbor, where he guided them to the NAIA Tournament three times. He also has served as an assistant coach at Kalamazoo College while serving in various roles at local high schools, including Dexter, Hartland, Chelsea, and Grand Blanc.
AHOY, CAPTAINS!
Five Eagles were selected as team captains for the 2026 season. The captains include Mackenzie Blackwell, Samantha Borgert, Kelsea Dague, Maddy Porter, and Annika Wozney.
AWARD WINNERS
All five Eagles that earned awards from the MAC at the conclusion of the 2025 season are back this year, including 2025 MAC Attacker of the Year Mackenzie Blackwell and 2025 Goalkeeper of the Year Maddy Porter. Blackwell (attack), Porter (goalkeeper) and Annika Wozney (defense) each were named All-MAC First Team honorees while Emerson Henry (midfield) was named All-MAC Second Team. Henry and Katheryn Wilson were both named to the MAC All-Freshman Team while Blackwell and Porter earned placements on the MAC All-Tournament Team.
LOOKING BACK • 2025 SEASON
Eastern Michigan finished the 2025 regular season with an 8-8 record and a 4-2 mark in the MAC that placed it in a three-way tie for conference's regular season tilt with Akron and Robert Morris. As the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament, EMU fell to Akron to see its 2025 season come to a close.
The Eagles started the season 0-2 before bouncing back with four consecutive wins, marking the longest win streak in program history. After two consecutive losses, including a tough 10-9 loss at Robert Morris in the MAC opener, EMU reboundd with a 19-6 win at Youngstown State to draw its record even once again. Two more losses followed before the Eagles downed Detroit Mercy, 13-8. Following a close, 13-11, loss at home to Oregon, the Eagles won two in a row in MAC play to finish 4-2 in league action before dropping their regular season finale to Marquette, 18-14.
TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS!
Two Eagles led the MAC in three statistical categories in 2025 with both returning for EMU this year. Mackenzie Blackwell topped a pair of lists as she led the way in goals per game (3.47) and shots per game (7.76) while Maddy Porter led the way in ground balls per game (4.18).
NATIONALLY KNOWN • TEAM
As a team in 2025, the Eagles ranked among the top 50 in the NCAA in five statistical categories. The Eagles were 11th in save percentage (48.3 percent), 13th in fewest fouls committed (10.12), 32nd in ground balls per game (17.53), 37th in draw control percentage (53.6), and 50th in draw controls per game (14.00).
NATIONALLY KNOWN • INDIVIDUAL
Individually, three Eagles ranked in the top 50 in 10 categories with Maddy Porter leading the way as she was ranked in five areas. Porter led the nation in ground balls per game (4.18) and ranked eighth in saves (179), 10th in saves per game (10.53), 13th in save percentage (48.5), and 45th in goals against average (11.35). Mackenzie Blackwell had her name listed in four categories, including 16th in shots per game (7.76), 20th in goals per game (3.47), 30th in goals (59), and 40th in shots on goal per game (5.06) while Emerson Henry ranked 41st in draw controls per game (5.53).
NATIONALLY KNOWN • GAME HIGHS
During the 2025 season, three individual performances ranked among the best nationally with Maddy Porter recorded two and Mackenzie Blackwell with one. Porter jumped onto the list in the opening game of the season (Feb. 9) as she recorded 18 saves, which tied for the 18th-most in a single game last year. Then, in the April 13 game at Kent State, Porter recorded 10 ground balls, which ranked fifth in a single game, while Blackwell scored eight goals, the sixth-most in a game in 2025.
RECORD BREAKERS • TEAM
The Eagles broke 15 team records in 2025, including: wins (8), goals (198), hat tricks (27), game-winning goals (8), free-position goals (39), woman-down goals (3), assists (88), points (286), shots (474), shots on goal (330), ground balls (298), caused turnovers (141), goals against average (11.36), saves (180), and save percentage (.483).
RECORD BREAKERS • INDIVIDUAL
Individually, 11 season records were tied or broken in 2025 as well. Mackenzie Blackwell increased her school records in five categories, including goals (59), hat tricks (13), points (65), shots (132), and shots on goal (86) while Maddy Porter took the top spot in four categories, including ground balls (71), saves (179), saves per game (10.53), and save percentage (.485). Payton Bloedow tallied two woman-down goals to become the first EMU player with multiple down goals in a single season while Emerson Henry tied for the draw control record (94) that Blackwell set in 2024. Henry's total also broke an EMU freshman record.
PUSHING FOR MILESTONES
Several Eagles are on the hunt for career milestones with a few closing in quickly. Mackenzie Blackwell is three goals away from 150 while also sitting 40 points away from 200. Staying with goals, Abby Alderman needs five more to reach 50 for her career while she (29) and Tracy Grollman (13) are also closing in on 100 points. Maddy Porter needs 16 ground balls to reach 150 for her career while also needing 39 saves to reach 350. Emerson Henry is just six draw controls away from 100 for her career.
BLACKWELL'S VINYL STORE
Mackenzie Blackwell is no stranger to program records as she entered the 2025 season as the record holder in seven different categories, all of which she set in 2024. She reset the record in five categories in 2025, including:
» 59 goals (was 49)
» 13 hat tricks (was 10)
» 65 points (was 54)
» 132 shots (was 89)
» 86 shots on goal (was 72)
MORE THAN HATS
Mackenzie Blackwell has played in all 49 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-49 games (.878 percent)
» 2+ goals: 38-of-49 games (.776)
» 3+ goals: 30-of-49 games (.612)
» 4+ goals: 19-of-49 games (.388)
PORTER'S ICE CREAM PARLOR
Maddie Porter is no stranger to scooping up ground balls as has finished as the NCAA leader in per game average in each of her first two collegiate seasons. Last year, she collected 71 ground balls for an average of 4.18 one year after securing 63 for an average of 4.20. Following the 2025 season, Porter's 4.19 per game average ranked first among all active NCAA Division I players and sixth among all collegiate players active during the season while 134 career ground balls ranked 15th among NCAA Division I players.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern is back in action Wednesday, Feb. 11, when it plays host to the Lions of Lindenwood University inside the Indoor Practice Facility in Ypsilanti. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. start.
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) -- The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team, regular season co-champions of the Mid-American Conference in 2025, is set to open its 2026 season this week as the Eagles will travel to face Marquette University before playing host to Butler University. The Eagles and Golden Eagles will lift the lid on 2026 when teams meet Friday, Feb. 6, inside Varsity Fields in Milwaukee, Wis., in a 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) game that will be streamed live on ESPN+. Two days later, Sunday, Feb. 8, the Eagles will play their home opener as they welcome the Bulldogs to town for a 1 p.m. contest inside the Indoor Practice Facility in Ypsilanti.
OPENING DRAWS
» Eastern Michigan finished the 2025 season with an 8-9 record and went 4-2 in MAC play to earn a three-way share of the MAC regular season title (Akron & Robert Morris). The Eagles advanced to the MAC Tournament for the second consecutive season before falling in the semifinals.
» The Eagles earned a three-way share of the 2025 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 continued a streak of 44 consecutive years with at least one EMU team earning a MAC title.
» Eastern is set to play 16 regular season games in 2026 with eight each being played at home and on the road. The schedule also features three games against teams from a 'Power 4' conference, including road games at Oregon (Big Ten) and Vanderbilt (SEC) and a home game with Cincinnati (Big 12).
» The Eagles will face four opponents for the first time in program history with games played at home and two on the road. The newcomers to the schedule include Lindenwood, Austin Peay, Vanderbilt, and UMass, who is the newest member of the MAC.
» Mackenzie Blackwell, who broke five school records during the 2025 season, is closing in on a pair of milestones for her career. She enters the 2026 season three goals shy of 150 while needing 40 points to reach 200.
» Maddy Porter has led the NCAA in ground balls per game average in each of her first two collegiate seasons. She enters 2026 needing 16 scoops to reach 150 for her career.
» Five Eagles were named captains for the 2026 season, including Mackenzie Blackwell, Samantha Borgert, Kelsey Dague, Maddy Porter, and Annika Wozney.
» The team will feature 12 seniors, including nine that were part of the program's first major signing class in 2022. The group will be honored in Senior Day festivities following the game with Robert Morris, April 18.
» EMU welcomed 12 new players to the program, including 11 freshmen and one transfer, senior Sanai James.
» The coaching staff also welcomed two new faces as Irene Carlquist and Ty McGuire were hired as assistant coaches. Carlquist, most recently the head coach at Lees-McRae, will work with the goalkeepers, while McGuire, the former head coach of the men's program at Concordia-Ann Arbor, will work with the defense.
» Maddie Dugan is in her second season guiding the Eagles. The 2024 MAC Coach of the Year at Detroit Mercy, Dugan guided the Eagles to a share of the MAC regular season crown in 2025, the first title in program history.
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.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
The MAC released its preseason coaches poll, Feb. 4, with the Eagles voted to finish tied for second with Akron as both received 37 points. League newcomer UMass was named the favorite to win with 48 points and six first-place votes with the remaining two first-place votes going to EMU and Robert Morris with one each. The Colonials, last year's tournament champion, earned 34 points to rank fourth with Central Michigan fifth (28 points), Kent State sixth (19), Youngstown State seventh (12), and Detroit Mercy eighth (nine). The coaches also voted on who they think will capture the MAC Tournament crown (April 30 & May 2 in Moon Township, Pa.) with UMass securing six votes and both EMU and host RMU garnering one each.
LIFTING LIDS • SEASON OPENERS
Eastern is 0-3 all-time in its first game of the season with last year's 15-10 loss to San Diego State (April 9, 2025) in Ypsilanti its closest contest of the three. The Eagles dropped an 18-4 decision to Niagara, Feb. 16, 2023, in their inaugural game, before falling at No. 7 Notre Dame, 21-6, Feb. 9, 2024.
LIFTING LIDS • ROAD OPENER
The Eagles are 0-3 in their first road game of the season with the last two coming at the hands of a nationally-ranked Notre Dame squad. After falling at Winthrop, 16-11, in the 2023 road opener (March 3), Eastern fell, 21-6, to the No. 7 Fighting Irish in 2024 (Feb. 9) and 17-7 to No. 11 UND in 2025 (Feb. 15).
LIFTING LIDS • HOME OPENER
Eastern is 1-2 in its first home game of the season and will face Butler in its home opener for the second time. After suffering an 18-4 loss in its inaugural game against Niagara in 2023 (March 16), the Eagles defeated Butler, 15-8, March 15, 2024, for its first home-opening win. Last year, the Eagles dropped a 15-10 decision to San Diego State (Feb. 9, 2025).
KNOW THE FOE: MARQUETTE
The Golden Eagles are coming off a 2025 season in which they posted a 10-6 record with a 3-3 mark in the BIG EAST, missing out on the postseason tournament by one game. A team that finished 6-2 at home last year, Marquette was voted fifth in the 2026 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll with the quartet of Hanna Bodner, Lauren Grady, Tess Osburn, and Mary Velner all earning Preseason All-BIG EAST accolades.
IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. GOLDEN EAGLES
Eastern is in search of its first win over Marquette as the Golden Eagles hold a 3-0 advantage in the series with a 1-0 lead when the game is played in Milwaukee. The first two games were dominated by MU as it scored wins of 18-5 and 15-4 in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Last year, the Eagles lost by four in a 32-goal contest that Marquette won in Ypsilanti, 18-14.
IN THE LAST MEETING • MARQUETTE
The Eagles and Golden Eagles last met April 25, 2025, in Ypsilanti, an 18-14 win for Marquette on the final day of the regular season. The visitors took a 6-4 lead after the first quarter and extended it to a 12-6 advantage at the break. After both teams scored four goals in the third (MU up, 16-10), EMU outscored the Golden Eagles, 4-2, but it was not enough as the Eagles fell, 18-14, on Senior Day. Mackenzie Blackwell scored five goals to lead the offense while Emerson Henry scored three goals, assisted on one, and recorded nine draw controls. Maddy Porter recorded 14 saves in goal while adding six ground balls.
BACK-TO-BACK
When Eastern and Marquette meet, it will mark back-to-back regular season games the duo have played as they met in Ypsilanti, April 25, 2025, to close out the regular season. Since that game, EMU played one game in the MAC Tournament while both teams held a single exhibition game earlier this week.
KNOW THE FOE: BUTLER
The Bulldogs are currently on a 21-game losing streak that includes the final seven games of the 2024 season and a 0-14 record last year. Butler, who last won, 16-10, at Xavier, March 23, 2024, was 0-8 away from home last year and has dropped 10 consecutive road games. Butler, who was voted to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Coaches Poll, opens its season Friday, Feb. 6, at Detroit Mercy before playing at EMU two days later.
IN THE SERIES: EAGLES vs. BULLDOGS
Eastern holds a 2-1 lead in its series with Butler after securing a 10-4 win in Indianapolis, March 7, 2025, to break the 1-1 tie. The Eagles have won back-to-back meetings with the Bulldogs after dropping a 14-13 decision at Butler in the 2023 season. Since then, Eastern tallied a 15-8 home win in 2024 before last year's victory.
IN THE LAST MEETING • BUTLER
Eastern defeated Butler, 10-4, in a low-scoring affair in Indianapolis, March 7, 2025, to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead in the all-time series. Eastern took a 2-0 lead through one and clung to a 3-2 lead at halftime before using a 4-0 third quarter to take a commanding 7-3 lead. EMU added three more goals in the fourth for the 10-4 win. Mackenzie Blackwell scored four times and Tracy Grollman added three while Emerson Henry added a pair of goals to her eight draw controls.
TAKING ON • BIG EAST
Marquette and Butler are both members of the BIG EAST and represent the first and second, respectively, of three Big East opponents on EMU's schedule this spring as Eastern will welcome Xavier to town, Feb. 14. Combined, Eastern is 2-6 against the BIG EAST which includes the 0-3 mark against Marquette, a 2-1 record with Butler, and a 0-2 record with the Musketeers.
LOOKING AHEAD • 2026 SCHEDULE
Eastern will play 16 regular season games with eight each at home and on the road. After opening on the road at Marquette (Feb. 6), the Eagles will play three consecutive home games that include tilts with Butler (Feb. 8), Lindenwood (Feb. 11), and Xavier (Feb. 14). Eastern then will play four consecutive road games that will see the team venture to New York to face Canisius (Feb. 18), Oregon to face Oregon (Feb. 22), and Tennessee to face both Austin Peay (March 1) and Vanderbilt (March 4). Back-to-back home games await the Eagles thereafter with Cincinnati (March 8) and a MAC opener with Kent State (March 14) on the slate before two more road games await EMU with trips to Detroit Mercy (March 19) and Akron (March 28). The final three home games come in succession to open April with contests against Central Michigan (April 4), UMass (April 11), and Robert Morris (April 18) on Senior Day before the regular season ends at Youngstown State (April 25). The MAC Tournament will be played April 30 (semifinals) and May 2 (final) in Moon Township, Pa.
AND YOU ARE?
One quarter of the Eagles' slate will come against teams Eastern has previously not played with two of those four games being played at home. The first of the four games comes Feb. 11 with a home contest against Lindenwood before Eastern plays back-to-back road games against Austin Peay (March 1) and Vanderbilt (March 4). The final of the four games comes April 11 when MAC newcomer UMass comes to town.
GROUNDING POWER
In its first three seasons, Eastern holds a 0-7 record against teams from the 'Power 4' conferences, a group of football conferences that include the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. The 2026 schedule will see the Eagles face three 'power' foes with games against Oregon (Big Ten) and Vanderbilt (SEC) on the road and Cincinnati (Big 12) at home. The loss at home to Oregon last year, 13-11, was the closest the Eagles have come to downing a 'power' conference foe.
GETTING THEIR FIRST?
The Eagles are set to face four teams in 2026 that they have played multiple times in the past and have not recorded a victory against, including Marquette (0-3), who the Eagles face in the season opener. Two conference foes appear on the list as both Central Michigan and Robert Morris have taken all four contests with the Eagles while Eastern is 0-2 against Xavier, who they will play Feb. 14.
BACK FOR MORE
The 2026 roster features 39 players with 27 returning from the 2025 team. This year's returning roster features 11 seniors, seven juniors, seven sophomores, and two redshirt freshmen.
FIRST CLASS
In the first three years of the program, Senior Day consisted of honoring a total of 10 players, including one in 2023, five in 2024, and four last year. This year, that number balloons to 12 as the first full class of Eagles to join the program will be recognized. The class will feature nine players that began their careers at EMU together, including Abby Alderman, Amber Alderman, Mackenzie Blackwell, Samantha Borgert, Gina D'Alessio, Kyleigh Dill, Haley Hodak, Maggie McCabe, and Annika Wozney. Additionally, Tracy Grollman, who was recognized last year, is back for redshirt senior season while two players that transferred into the program, Payton Bloedow (2025-26) and Sanai James (2026), will also be recognized.
HELLO! MY NAME IS...
The 2026 roster also features 12 newcomers, including 11 freshmen and one senior transfer, Sanai James, who spent the past three seasons with Delaware State. The rookie class, who have players hailing from seven states and two Canadian provinces, includes: Emma Baker, Ashley Culin, Christie Evans, Zola LeDonne, Reagan Morrison, Ainsley Owens, Ashley Poquette, Emma Reichert, Brooke Sganga, Paige Sutton, and Ella Toth.
NEW TO THE CREW
New players were not the only additions to the roster ahead of the 2026 season as two new assistant coaches have joined Maddie Dugan's coaching staff. Both Irene Carlquist and Ty McGuire bring previous coaching experiences with them to Ypsilanti including stints as head coaches and assistants. Carlquist, a goalkeeper as a player at Indianapolis (2015-19), was the head coach at Lees-McRae for two years before coming to Eastern and also served as the head coach at Clarke University (2023) and Fishers High School (2022) after working as an assistant coach at Anderson University (2020-22). McQuire, an EMU graduate, spent the past seven years leading the men's program at Concordia-Ann Arbor, where he guided them to the NAIA Tournament three times. He also has served as an assistant coach at Kalamazoo College while serving in various roles at local high schools, including Dexter, Hartland, Chelsea, and Grand Blanc.
AHOY, CAPTAINS!
Five Eagles were selected as team captains for the 2026 season. The captains include Mackenzie Blackwell, Samantha Borgert, Kelsea Dague, Maddy Porter, and Annika Wozney.
AWARD WINNERS
All five Eagles that earned awards from the MAC at the conclusion of the 2025 season are back this year, including 2025 MAC Attacker of the Year Mackenzie Blackwell and 2025 Goalkeeper of the Year Maddy Porter. Blackwell (attack), Porter (goalkeeper) and Annika Wozney (defense) each were named All-MAC First Team honorees while Emerson Henry (midfield) was named All-MAC Second Team. Henry and Katheryn Wilson were both named to the MAC All-Freshman Team while Blackwell and Porter earned placements on the MAC All-Tournament Team.
LOOKING BACK • 2025 SEASON
Eastern Michigan finished the 2025 regular season with an 8-8 record and a 4-2 mark in the MAC that placed it in a three-way tie for conference's regular season tilt with Akron and Robert Morris. As the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament, EMU fell to Akron to see its 2025 season come to a close.
The Eagles started the season 0-2 before bouncing back with four consecutive wins, marking the longest win streak in program history. After two consecutive losses, including a tough 10-9 loss at Robert Morris in the MAC opener, EMU reboundd with a 19-6 win at Youngstown State to draw its record even once again. Two more losses followed before the Eagles downed Detroit Mercy, 13-8. Following a close, 13-11, loss at home to Oregon, the Eagles won two in a row in MAC play to finish 4-2 in league action before dropping their regular season finale to Marquette, 18-14.
TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS!
Two Eagles led the MAC in three statistical categories in 2025 with both returning for EMU this year. Mackenzie Blackwell topped a pair of lists as she led the way in goals per game (3.47) and shots per game (7.76) while Maddy Porter led the way in ground balls per game (4.18).
NATIONALLY KNOWN • TEAM
As a team in 2025, the Eagles ranked among the top 50 in the NCAA in five statistical categories. The Eagles were 11th in save percentage (48.3 percent), 13th in fewest fouls committed (10.12), 32nd in ground balls per game (17.53), 37th in draw control percentage (53.6), and 50th in draw controls per game (14.00).
NATIONALLY KNOWN • INDIVIDUAL
Individually, three Eagles ranked in the top 50 in 10 categories with Maddy Porter leading the way as she was ranked in five areas. Porter led the nation in ground balls per game (4.18) and ranked eighth in saves (179), 10th in saves per game (10.53), 13th in save percentage (48.5), and 45th in goals against average (11.35). Mackenzie Blackwell had her name listed in four categories, including 16th in shots per game (7.76), 20th in goals per game (3.47), 30th in goals (59), and 40th in shots on goal per game (5.06) while Emerson Henry ranked 41st in draw controls per game (5.53).
NATIONALLY KNOWN • GAME HIGHS
During the 2025 season, three individual performances ranked among the best nationally with Maddy Porter recorded two and Mackenzie Blackwell with one. Porter jumped onto the list in the opening game of the season (Feb. 9) as she recorded 18 saves, which tied for the 18th-most in a single game last year. Then, in the April 13 game at Kent State, Porter recorded 10 ground balls, which ranked fifth in a single game, while Blackwell scored eight goals, the sixth-most in a game in 2025.
RECORD BREAKERS • TEAM
The Eagles broke 15 team records in 2025, including: wins (8), goals (198), hat tricks (27), game-winning goals (8), free-position goals (39), woman-down goals (3), assists (88), points (286), shots (474), shots on goal (330), ground balls (298), caused turnovers (141), goals against average (11.36), saves (180), and save percentage (.483).
RECORD BREAKERS • INDIVIDUAL
Individually, 11 season records were tied or broken in 2025 as well. Mackenzie Blackwell increased her school records in five categories, including goals (59), hat tricks (13), points (65), shots (132), and shots on goal (86) while Maddy Porter took the top spot in four categories, including ground balls (71), saves (179), saves per game (10.53), and save percentage (.485). Payton Bloedow tallied two woman-down goals to become the first EMU player with multiple down goals in a single season while Emerson Henry tied for the draw control record (94) that Blackwell set in 2024. Henry's total also broke an EMU freshman record.
PUSHING FOR MILESTONES
Several Eagles are on the hunt for career milestones with a few closing in quickly. Mackenzie Blackwell is three goals away from 150 while also sitting 40 points away from 200. Staying with goals, Abby Alderman needs five more to reach 50 for her career while she (29) and Tracy Grollman (13) are also closing in on 100 points. Maddy Porter needs 16 ground balls to reach 150 for her career while also needing 39 saves to reach 350. Emerson Henry is just six draw controls away from 100 for her career.
BLACKWELL'S VINYL STORE
Mackenzie Blackwell is no stranger to program records as she entered the 2025 season as the record holder in seven different categories, all of which she set in 2024. She reset the record in five categories in 2025, including:
» 59 goals (was 49)
» 13 hat tricks (was 10)
» 65 points (was 54)
» 132 shots (was 89)
» 86 shots on goal (was 72)
MORE THAN HATS
Mackenzie Blackwell has played in all 49 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-49 games (.878 percent)
» 2+ goals: 38-of-49 games (.776)
» 3+ goals: 30-of-49 games (.612)
» 4+ goals: 19-of-49 games (.388)
PORTER'S ICE CREAM PARLOR
Maddie Porter is no stranger to scooping up ground balls as has finished as the NCAA leader in per game average in each of her first two collegiate seasons. Last year, she collected 71 ground balls for an average of 4.18 one year after securing 63 for an average of 4.20. Following the 2025 season, Porter's 4.19 per game average ranked first among all active NCAA Division I players and sixth among all collegiate players active during the season while 134 career ground balls ranked 15th among NCAA Division I players.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern is back in action Wednesday, Feb. 11, when it plays host to the Lions of Lindenwood University inside the Indoor Practice Facility in Ypsilanti. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. start.
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
M/A
/ Lacrosse
G
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
D
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
D
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
D/M
/ Lacrosse
D
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
G
/ Lacrosse
D
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
D
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
D
/ LacrosseGiving Tuesday 2025 - EMU Lacrosse
Monday, December 01
Giving Tuesday 2025 - Eastern Michigan Lacrosse
Monday, December 01
Lacrosse Updates EMU's Championship Trophy
Friday, May 02
Lacrosse Falls to Marquette on Senior Day
Friday, April 25