The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team enters the 2026 season with the momentum of a historic 2025 campaign that saw the program capture a share of its first-ever Mid-American Conference Championship.
In just their third varsity season, the Eagles finished the regular season with a program-best eight wins and a 4-2 mark in conference play, securing a three-way tie for the title alongside the University of Akron and Robert Morris University. While the year reached a bittersweet conclusion with a 16-4 loss to Akron in the MAC Tournament semifinals, the season was a resounding success that established EMU as a legitimate title threat and saw the team break 12 program records. Now, with 12 seniors returning and a hunger to move beyond the semifinal round for the first time, the Eagles are prepared to build on their co-champion status and chase the program’s first undisputed crown.
A veteran squad with established leadership
The foundation of the 2026 Eagles is built on experience and defensive grit. Leading the charge are team captains Mackenzie Blackwell, a senior attacker from North Beach, Maryland, and Annika Wozney, a senior defender from Elk River, Minnesota. Blackwell and Wozney represent the heart of a senior class that has seen the program grow from its infancy to a championship-caliber team.
The roster is filled with veteran talent across all positions. Senior midfielders like Abby Alderman, Amber Alderman and Payton Bloedow — a transfer who previously played at Stony Brook University — provide a sturdy presence in the center of the field. Defensively, the Eagles return seniors Samantha Borgert, Sanai James and Gina D’Alessio to protect the net. In the goal, junior Maddy Porter and sophomore Elanya Narloch return with experience, joined by incoming freshman Emma Baker.
The McGuire era begins on defense
The coaching staff sees a major addition this season as head coach Maddie Dugan announced the hiring of EMU alumnus Ty McGuire as an assistant coach. McGuire, who will lead the team's defense, returns to Ypsilanti after a stellar seven-season run as the head men's lacrosse coach at Concordia University in Ann Arbor. During his tenure there, he posted a 57-38 record, won three conference titles and was named Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Coach of the Year twice.
Coach Dugan expressed high confidence in McGuire, noting that as an alum, he has a "strong connection to the university" and brings a perspective that will add "real value to our team and our culture." McGuire highlighted the honor of returning to his alma mater, stating that he is ready to help the team "grow and hit the goals we're chasing." He joins assistant coach Irene Carlquist and graduate assistant Liv Dameron on Dugan's staff.
Infusion of new talent
While the veterans provide the foundation, the 2026 season also marks the arrival of Coach Dugan's first full signing class. The program has added 11 recruits for the 2025-26 academic year, a group Dugan described as having a "strong commitment, work ethic, and passion for lacrosse." These newcomers hail from seven U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, bringing diverse athletic backgrounds in sports ranging from rugby to alpine ski racing.
The new class includes attackers Zola LeDonne and Brooke Sganga; midfielders Ashley Culin, Christie Evans, Reagan Morrison, Ainsley Owens, Ashley Poquette and Ella Toth; and defenders Emma Reichert and Paige Sutton, alongside goaltender Emma Baker. This influx of talent is expected to provide immediate depth as the Eagles navigate a grueling 16-game schedule.
The 2026 gauntlet: Schedule highlights
The 2026 schedule is designed to test the Eagles early and often, featuring seven home contests and matchups against four first-time opponents. The season officially begins Feb. 6, 2026, in Milwaukee against Marquette University, followed by the home opener Feb. 8 against Butler University at the Indoor Practice Facility.
Key stretches of the season include:
- The non-conference road swing: In late February, the Eagles embark on a four-game road trip that takes them to Canisius University, the University of Oregon, Austin Peay State University and Vanderbilt University.
- Conference play: The MAC season kicks off March 14 against Kent State University at Scicluna Field.
- The UMass challenge: On April 11, the Eagles will host the University of Massachusetts, the newest member of the MAC and a formidable opponent coming off an Atlantic 10 Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Championship rematches: April will be a month of reckoning as EMU faces the teams with which they shared the 2025 title: Akron on March 28 and Robert Morris on April 18, which doubles as Senior Day.
Finishing the job: The road to Moon Township and NCAA glory
The road to the postseason leads directly to Moon Township, Pennsylvania, where the MAC Tournament is scheduled for April 30 and May 2. For the Eagles, the mission is clear: break through the semifinal barrier that has previously halted their progress and finish the job as the league's sole champion.
Bolstered by the defensive expertise of EMU alumnus and new assistant coach McGuire, and a versatile class of 11 incoming recruits, the program is better equipped than ever to handle the gauntlet of the 2026 season. As the Eagles prepare for the opening draw on Feb. 6, it is evident that the rapid rise of Eastern Michigan lacrosse is far from over — it is only just getting started.
