Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 14
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
6-4
12
vs
6
Kent State
4-4
1st quarter1
2nd quarter2
3rd quarter3
4th quarter4
FinalF
Kent State
0
1
3
2
6
Eastern Michigan
4
3
2
3
12
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Lacrosse Opens MAC Play with a 12-6 Home Win over Kent State
3/14/2026 5:11:00 PM | Lacrosse
Grollman (six points) and Blackwell (five) led the charge for the Eagles in their opener
Photos | Highlights
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team delivered a complete performance in its first-ever home Mid-American Conference opener, powering past Kent State University, 12-6, Saturday, March 14, at Scicluna Field. The Eagles (6-4, 1-0 MAC) snapped a two-game slide behind standout efforts from Tracy Grollman, Mackenzie Blackwell, and Maddy Porter to defeat the visiting Golden Flashes (4-4, 0-1 MAC).
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan wasted no time asserting itself as Emerson Henry (Ashburn, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) scored unassisted less than one minute into the contest. The early momentum continued when Blackwell (North Beach, Md./Northern) buried her first of three goals, assisted by Grollman (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School), then Grollman struck for her own tally with help from Kendall Nagle (Sudlersville, Md./Queen Anne's County). Roya Khaleeli (Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula) capped a dominant first quarter with a free-position goal as EMU led, 4-0, after one.
In the second quarter, Kent State momentarily cut into the lead before Blackwell added her second, assisted by Kyleigh Dill (Dover, Del./Dover). The Eagles finished the half with a flourish as Kelsea Dague (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) converted a feed from Grollman and Henry struck again on a woman-up situation, also set up by Grollman, giving EMU a 7-1 edge at the break.
After halftime, the Golden Flashes responded with a three-goal run in the third, but EMU kept them at bay with Grollman's second goal, assisted by Blackwell, and a free-position finish from Abby Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent). With the lead at 9-4 entering the final quarter, the Eagles put the game away as Blackwell completed her hat trick on another Grollman assist, Dague struck unassisted, and Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) added a late goal, helped by Blackwell. Kent State managed two more, but 16 saves from Porter (Montrose, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) preserved the 12-6 result.
Individual Notes
» Mackenzie Blackwell tallied five points on three goals and two assists to bring her career total to 200 points, making her the first player in program history to surpass 50, 100, 150, and now 200 points. Her 200th point came on an assist of Amber Alderman's goal with 3:53 to play in the game after she had completed her hat trick earlier in the quarter.
» Mackenzie Blackwell recorded the 37th hat trick of her career and her seventh of the season to give her 176 career goals. She added a pair of assists to tie her season and career-highs for the fourth time while adding three ground balls and a career-high four caused turnovers. Her caused turnover total, which surpassed her previous best of three set one game earlier against Cincinnati (March 8) tied for the fifth-highest total in a single game in program history and the third-highest total against a MAC opponent.
» Tracy Grollman piled on six points on two goals and four assists in the game to mark the fifth time in 10 games in 2026 she has recorded at least four points while marking her second consecutive game with at least five points. Her four assists tied for the third-highest total in a single game in EMU history and the second-best in a MAC game while her point total tied for ninth overall and sixth in a MAC contest.
» With her six points, Tracy Grollman continued to add to her program-leading assist total, bringing it to 56 and leaving her four away from becoming the first player to reach 60 in EMU history. She has now dished out two or more assists in five consecutive games, including nine assists in the past two games, and collected at least three helpers in four games this year. Additionally, she scored two or more goals for the third time in 2026 while marking the second time she has recorded at least two goals and two assists in the same game after tallying two of each at Oregon (Feb. 22).
» Emerson Henry has continued to have a hot hand on offense as she finished with two goals, marking the fifth consecutive game she has netted at least two scores. She also was credited with her first game-winning goal of the season and the second of her career.
» Haley Hodak (Severn, Md./Old Mill) finished the game with four ground balls and two caused turnovers on defense, tying season-bests in both categories. Her two caused turnovers marked the fourth time in 2026 she has posted two and the 11th time in her career while her four scoops tied the career-high she recorded against Lindenwood (Feb. 11) earlier this season.
» Maddy Porter finished with 16 saves and four ground balls while allowing just six goals, the fewest permitted in a game this year (was seven in a 9-7 home win over Xavier, Feb. 14). The 16 saves ranked as the fourth-highest in single-game history at EMU while breaking the record for saves in a MAC contest with the previous mark set last year at Kent State (April 13, 2025) when she halted 14 attempts.
» With her 16 saves, Maddy Porter surpassed another milestone as she now has 406 saves in her career. The second player in program history to record 100 career saves, Porter is the only netminder to reach 200, 300, and now 400.
Team Notes
» Eastern improved to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in MAC play with the win while Kent State fell to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in league action.
» The Eagles are now 3-1 in their series with the Golden Flashes and have won three consecutive meetings.
» Eastern improved to 2-2 in MAC openers and 1-0 when its first conference game of the season was played in Ypsilanti. Additionally, Eastern is 3-1 in its MAC home opener and has won three consecutive home lid lifters.
» The six goals allowed marked the fewest surrendered in a game this year and tied for the fewest ever allowed in a home game, a home MAC game, and any MAC game played after permitting seven goals to Youngstown State, March 23, 2025, in EMU's 19-6 home win last year. The total also tied for the third-fewest allowed in any game EMU has played, regardless of location.
» The one goal allowed in the first half tied for the fewest surrendered in a single half of play for the fifth time in program history. It also tied the record for the fewest allowed in the first half of any game played.
» The Eagles' six-goal margin of victory ranked as the third-highest in a home game in program history and the second-best in a home MAC contest. Additionally, it ranked fourth in all MAC games played, regardless of location.
Up Next
The first two Mid-American Conference road games of the season await Eastern Michigan next week as the Eagles will venture next door into Wayne County to face the Titans of the University of Detroit Mercy, March 19, at 4 p.m. in Detroit.
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 delivered a complete performance in its first-ever home Mid-American Conference opener, powering past Kent State University, 12-6, Saturday, March 14, at Scicluna Field. The Eagles (6-4, 1-0 MAC) snapped a two-game slide behind standout efforts from Tracy Grollman, Mackenzie Blackwell, and Maddy Porter to defeat the visiting Golden Flashes (4-4, 0-1 MAC).
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan wasted no time asserting itself as Emerson Henry (Ashburn, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) scored unassisted less than one minute into the contest. The early momentum continued when Blackwell (North Beach, Md./Northern) buried her first of three goals, assisted by Grollman (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School), then Grollman struck for her own tally with help from Kendall Nagle (Sudlersville, Md./Queen Anne's County). Roya Khaleeli (Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula) capped a dominant first quarter with a free-position goal as EMU led, 4-0, after one.
In the second quarter, Kent State momentarily cut into the lead before Blackwell added her second, assisted by Kyleigh Dill (Dover, Del./Dover). The Eagles finished the half with a flourish as Kelsea Dague (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) converted a feed from Grollman and Henry struck again on a woman-up situation, also set up by Grollman, giving EMU a 7-1 edge at the break.
After halftime, the Golden Flashes responded with a three-goal run in the third, but EMU kept them at bay with Grollman's second goal, assisted by Blackwell, and a free-position finish from Abby Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent). With the lead at 9-4 entering the final quarter, the Eagles put the game away as Blackwell completed her hat trick on another Grollman assist, Dague struck unassisted, and Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) added a late goal, helped by Blackwell. Kent State managed two more, but 16 saves from Porter (Montrose, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) preserved the 12-6 result.
Individual Notes
» Mackenzie Blackwell tallied five points on three goals and two assists to bring her career total to 200 points, making her the first player in program history to surpass 50, 100, 150, and now 200 points. Her 200th point came on an assist of Amber Alderman's goal with 3:53 to play in the game after she had completed her hat trick earlier in the quarter.
» Mackenzie Blackwell recorded the 37th hat trick of her career and her seventh of the season to give her 176 career goals. She added a pair of assists to tie her season and career-highs for the fourth time while adding three ground balls and a career-high four caused turnovers. Her caused turnover total, which surpassed her previous best of three set one game earlier against Cincinnati (March 8) tied for the fifth-highest total in a single game in program history and the third-highest total against a MAC opponent.
» Tracy Grollman piled on six points on two goals and four assists in the game to mark the fifth time in 10 games in 2026 she has recorded at least four points while marking her second consecutive game with at least five points. Her four assists tied for the third-highest total in a single game in EMU history and the second-best in a MAC game while her point total tied for ninth overall and sixth in a MAC contest.
» With her six points, Tracy Grollman continued to add to her program-leading assist total, bringing it to 56 and leaving her four away from becoming the first player to reach 60 in EMU history. She has now dished out two or more assists in five consecutive games, including nine assists in the past two games, and collected at least three helpers in four games this year. Additionally, she scored two or more goals for the third time in 2026 while marking the second time she has recorded at least two goals and two assists in the same game after tallying two of each at Oregon (Feb. 22).
» Emerson Henry has continued to have a hot hand on offense as she finished with two goals, marking the fifth consecutive game she has netted at least two scores. She also was credited with her first game-winning goal of the season and the second of her career.
» Haley Hodak (Severn, Md./Old Mill) finished the game with four ground balls and two caused turnovers on defense, tying season-bests in both categories. Her two caused turnovers marked the fourth time in 2026 she has posted two and the 11th time in her career while her four scoops tied the career-high she recorded against Lindenwood (Feb. 11) earlier this season.
» Maddy Porter finished with 16 saves and four ground balls while allowing just six goals, the fewest permitted in a game this year (was seven in a 9-7 home win over Xavier, Feb. 14). The 16 saves ranked as the fourth-highest in single-game history at EMU while breaking the record for saves in a MAC contest with the previous mark set last year at Kent State (April 13, 2025) when she halted 14 attempts.
» With her 16 saves, Maddy Porter surpassed another milestone as she now has 406 saves in her career. The second player in program history to record 100 career saves, Porter is the only netminder to reach 200, 300, and now 400.
Team Notes
» Eastern improved to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in MAC play with the win while Kent State fell to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in league action.
» The Eagles are now 3-1 in their series with the Golden Flashes and have won three consecutive meetings.
» Eastern improved to 2-2 in MAC openers and 1-0 when its first conference game of the season was played in Ypsilanti. Additionally, Eastern is 3-1 in its MAC home opener and has won three consecutive home lid lifters.
» The six goals allowed marked the fewest surrendered in a game this year and tied for the fewest ever allowed in a home game, a home MAC game, and any MAC game played after permitting seven goals to Youngstown State, March 23, 2025, in EMU's 19-6 home win last year. The total also tied for the third-fewest allowed in any game EMU has played, regardless of location.
» The one goal allowed in the first half tied for the fewest surrendered in a single half of play for the fifth time in program history. It also tied the record for the fewest allowed in the first half of any game played.
» The Eagles' six-goal margin of victory ranked as the third-highest in a home game in program history and the second-best in a home MAC contest. Additionally, it ranked fourth in all MAC games played, regardless of location.
Up Next
The first two Mid-American Conference road games of the season await Eastern Michigan next week as the Eagles will venture next door into Wayne County to face the Titans of the University of Detroit Mercy, March 19, at 4 p.m. in Detroit.
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
KSU
EMU
Shots
27
28
Turnovers
18
20
Caused Turnovers
16
13
Draw Controls
10
9
Free-Position Shots
1
2
Ground Balls
25
24
Game Leaders
Attacker
G
3
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
4
Attacker
G
2
A
4
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Midfielder
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
1
Midfielder
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Lacrosse
M/A
/ LacrosseA
/ LacrosseM
/ Lacrosse
A
/ LacrosseA
/ LacrosseM
/ Lacrosse
D/M
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
M
/ Lacrosse
G
/ LacrosseLacrosse Downed Kent State, 12-6, to Win its MAC Opener
Saturday, March 14
Highlights of Eastern lacrosse hosting Cincinnati
Sunday, March 08
Maddy Porter Makes 21 Saves at Vanderbilt
Thursday, March 05
Highlights: Eastern Defeats Oregon on the Road
Monday, February 23