A tale of two halves at InfoCision Stadium
On Saturday, March 28, the Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team traveled to Akron, Ohio, for a pivotal Mid-American Conference (MAC) showdown against the University of Akron Zips. In a series that has become defined by razor-thin margins, this meeting followed the trend, with Akron securing a 10-9 victory. The loss brings the Eagles' overall record to 7-5 and 2-1 in the MAC, while Akron remains atop the conference standings at 3-0.
Explosive opening frame
The Eagles began the contest with a display of offensive efficiency, jumping out to a 5-1 lead in the first quarter. The momentum started immediately when Emerson Henry won the opening draw control, leading to a goal by Katheryn Wilson just 41 seconds into the game. Eastern quickly doubled its advantage at the 10:08 mark when Tracy Grollman found Kelsea Dague for a score.
The scoring barrage continued throughout the first period with goals from Henry, Amber Alderman, and Emma Reichert. Defensively, goalkeeper Maddy Porter stood tall, notably saving a free-position attempt before launching a long pass that sparked Reichert’s goal with 2:44 remaining in the stanza.
Mid-game momentum shift and historic milestones
The second quarter proved to be the turning point, as the host Zips held Eastern scoreless while netting three goals to narrow the gap to 5-4 at halftime. Despite the scoring drought, the period was historic for junior Mackenzie Blackwell. With less than a minute remaining in the half, Blackwell secured her 250th career draw control. She remains the only player in EMU history to surpass the 150, 200, and 250 draw control milestones.
The third quarter saw a back-and-forth battle. Kelsea Dague opened the half with a goal just 37 seconds in, assisted by Grollman. After an Akron response, Blackwell netted a goal at the 12:39 mark to reclaim a two-goal lead. However, the Zips finished the third quarter on a 3-0 run, taking their first lead of the game at 8-7.
Final stanza and statistical leaders
Freshman Emma Reichert tied the game at 8-8 early in the fourth quarter, marking her fifth multi-goal game of the season. Akron responded with two consecutive goals to take a 10-8 lead with under four minutes to play. Roya Khaleeli brought the Eagles within one score after an assist from Grollman with 1:11 remaining, but the Zips' defense held firm in the final minute to secure the win.
Tracy Grollman was a primary catalyst for the Eastern offense, finishing with a team-high four points on one goal and three assists. Her performance made her the first player in program history to surpass 60 career assists. Defensively, Maddy Porter and Karly Low led the team with two caused turnovers each, while Porter also collected a team-high five ground balls.
Look ahead: Mitten state rivalry
The Eagles will look to regroup as they return to Ypsilanti for a three-game conference home stand. The stretch begins on Saturday, April 4, when Eastern welcomes Central Michigan University to Scicluna Field. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start and will be broadcast on ESPN+ as the Eagles look to improve their standing in the Mid-American Conference.
