The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team closed the first chapter of its 2026 campaign on Sunday afternoon, falling 16-9 to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. While the final score favored the visitors, the contest served as a showcase for the individual talent and defensive grit that have defined the Eagles' record-breaking non-conference run.
A promising start and a Bearcat surge
The afternoon began with a flash of brilliance from the Eagles’ Maryland connection. Just two minutes into the first quarter, Tracy Grollman found Mackenzie Blackwell, who buried a shot to give Eastern an early 1-0 lead. However, the momentum was short-lived as Cincinnati responded with an overwhelming offensive display. The Bearcats embarked on an eight-goal run, capitalising on their dominance at the draw circle to build an 8-1 lead midway through the second period.
Eastern managed to stem the tide before the half when Blackwell scored her second goal of the day, again assisted by Grollman, making it 8-2. A late Cincinnati goal sent the Eagles into the locker room trailing 9-2, facing a steep uphill climb.
Grollman’s historic playmaking
The story of the game for Eastern Michigan was the playmaking of Tracy Grollman. The Annapolis native finished the day with five assists, tying the single-game program record previously set by Sydney Lawrence in 2024.
Perhaps more significantly, Grollman became the first player in program history to surpass 50 career assists, bringing her total to 52. Her vision was the engine of the Eagles' offense, as she assisted on five of Eastern’s nine goals, including tallies by Stella Burke, Kendall Nagle, and Emerson Henry in the second half.
Blackwell and the offensive effort
While Grollman facilitated, Mackenzie Blackwell continued her pursuit of the EMU history books. Blackwell recorded her sixth hat trick of the season. With three goals on the day, Blackwell now sits at 195 career points, just five away from becoming the first Eagle to reach the 200-point milestone.
The offense also saw contributions from Emma Reichert, who scored twice in the final minutes of the game. Both of Reichert's goals came on the woman-up advantage, moving her into a tie for third on the program's single-game chart for advantage goals. Emerson Henry also added two goals, moving her into second on the team in total goals.
Defensive stand and turnovers records
While the scoreline suggests a dominant Bearcat offense, the Eagles' defense played with remarkable intensity. Eastern Michigan recorded 22 caused turnovers, tying the program’s single-game record. Twelve different Eagles contributed to this total, illustrating a collective defensive effort.
Leading the charge was goalie Maddy Porter, who posted a standout defensive stat line. Porter recorded five caused turnovers, tying the Eastern single-game record, while also scooping up a career-high eight ground balls and making four saves. Erin Humphrey and Karly Low also provided significant defensive support, with Humphrey collecting four ground balls. As a team, the Eagles secured 28 ground balls, a season-high.
The draw control disparity
The primary obstacle for Eastern was the battle for possession. Cincinnati’s Morgan Handzel delivered a historic performance at the draw circle, securing 24 draw controls to tie the NCAA single-game record. This dominance allowed the Bearcats to control the pace of the game, winning the overall draw control battle 26-1. Despite Eastern’s ability to force turnovers, the sheer volume of possessions generated by Handzel proved too much to overcome.
Looking ahead to MAC play
The loss moves the Eagles to 5-4 as they conclude their non-conference slate. Despite the result, the team enters league play having already set a program record with five non-conference wins, including a victory over a 'Power 4' opponent.
The Eagles will now pivot to Mid-American Conference (MAC) action. They are scheduled to host Kent State University on Saturday, March 14, at Scicluna Field for the conference opener. The game, set for a 1 p.m. start and streaming on ESPN+, marks the beginning of the Eagles' quest for a conference title. After a non-conference season defined by individual records and defensive milestones, Eastern Michigan looks ready to challenge the best of the MAC.
