On Sunday, Feb. 9, the Eastern Michigan Women's lacrosse team lost a physical back-and-forth battle to the Aztecs of San Diego State University.
The game started fast, with the Eagles striking first within the first three minutes. Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Maryland/Northern) opened the scoring and added three more goals, totaling four in the game. San Diego State fired right back with two quick goals, thus beginning the physical back-and-forth battle.
In the first quarter, freshman Kathryn Wilson (Dacula, Georgia/Mill Creek) and Emerson Henry (Ashburn, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) scored their first collegiate goals, helping the Eagles enter the break only down one.
Wilson tied the game 4-4 with a free position goal after a personal foul on SDSU to open up the scoring in the second quarter. SDSU fired right back, but a quick answer from Blackwell tied the game 5-5. The Aztecs scored another two goals right before the half to make the score 7-5, but a third goal for Blackwell to make it a hat trick with seconds to go in the half made it 7-6.
Each team managed just one goal in the third quarter, keeping the game close at 8-7 heading into the final period. The Eagles' goal in the 3rd came from Wilson, who also completed the hat trick in her first collegiate game. Into the fourth, the teams combined for 10 goals, but seven of them belonged to the Aztecs. Despite goals from Abby Alderman (Lusby, Maryland/Patuxent), Blackwell, and Wilson, the Eagles ultimately fell 15-10.
Despite the loss, the game featured some key milestones. It marked Head Coach Maddie Dugan’s debut, and three Eagles made their first collegiate starts, including sophomore Kendall Nagle (Sudlersville, Maryland/Queen Anne's County), and freshmen Stella Burke (Peterborough, Ontario/St. Peter's Catholic Secondary) and Erin Humphrey (Auburn Hills, Michigan/Troy). With four goals in the outing, Blackwell tallied her 18th collegiate hat trick and 12th game with four or more goals.
The Eagles return to action on Saturday, Feb. 15, when they venture to South Bend, Indiana, to take on the University of Notre Dame. The Eagles and ninth-ranked Fighting Irish game will start at 3 p.m. and air live on Atlantic Coast Conference Network Extra.
