Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, February 25
Washington, DC
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Howard
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Eastern Mich.
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Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Lacrosse Downs Howard, 16-5, For Program’s First Road Win
2/25/2024 3:10:00 PM | Lacrosse
A program-record 10 Eagles recorded at least one point; Ditsky stops 11 shots for the win
Box score (PDF) | Photo Gallery
WASHINGTON, D.C. (EMUEagles.com) -- A 9-0 scoring to open the game, which included excellent play on both ends of the field, helped the Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team grab a 16-5 victory over Howard University Sunday, Feb. 25, inside Greene Stadium in Washington, D.C., marking the first road win in program history. The Eagles (1-2), who won their first game in 2024, saw 10 different players record at least one point as 10 different players scored goals and eight different players tallied assists. The Bison (0-4) saw two players score twice but were unable to put a goal on board until 5:32 remained in the second quarter.
How It Happened
The Eagles opened the game on a 9-0 scoring run that included a 5-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md./Northern), Avery Schwab (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin-Scioto), Roya Khaleeli (Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula), Tracy Grollman (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School), and Abby Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) each found the back of the net in the first with Khaleeli netting the first goal of her collegiate career.
Eastern added to its lead with the first four goals of the second quarter as Blackwell, Sydney Lawrence (Plano, Texas/Plano East/Oregon), Ab. Alderman, and Kelsea Dague (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) each scored. After the Bison scored twice, the Eagles closed the stanza with goals from Skylar Hilmer (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry) and the third from Ab. Alderman to give EMU an 11-2 halftime lead. With Hilmer's goal, the Eagles had eight different goal scorers in the game, which broke the previous school record of seven goal scorers that happened four times previously, including at Duquesne University, Feb. 15, the Eagles' most recent game prior to Sunday.
Howard scored first after the intermission before EMU netted four more goals, including two from Grollman to complete her hat trick, the third from Blackwell for her second hat trick in as many games, and the first for Kyleigh Dill (Dover, Del./Dover) on the day. EMU closed its scoring at 13:52 in the fourth as Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) joined the scoring with a goal assisted by Grollman, who completed just the second double hat trick in program history as she finished with three goals and three assists on the day. The previous time that feat was accomplished came April 8, 2023, at Youngstown State University where Lawrence scored four goals and dished three helpers.
The Eastern defense was stout on the day as Giuliana Ditsky (Wyomissing, Pa./Berks Catholic), making her first start in goal this season, halted 11 shots and allowed just five past her. Ditsky, who made saves on the first eight shots she faced, tied for the third-most saves in a game in program history, just one off her best of 12 recorded twice in 2023, most recently at home against Central Michigan University, April 5, 2023. Additionally, the five goals allowed are the fewest in a game in program history as the only other time Eastern allowed single-digit goals to be scored was its 12-7 home win over Delaware State University, March 7, 2023.
Game Notes
» Eastern improved to 1-2 on the year while Howard fell to 0-4.
» The Eagles captured the first road win in program history to snap a 10-game losing streak away from home. EMU was 0-8 on the road last year before dropping its first two games this year.
» The 16 goals scored rank as the most tallied in a road game by the Eagles and the second-most they have scored in a single game behind only the 17-12 win against the University of Detroit Mercy, April 29, 2023.
» The 11-goal margin of victory is the largest in program history, bettering the previous mark of five set in EMU's two previous wins. Prior to the game at Howard, Eastern posted wins of 12-7 over Delaware State (March 7) and 17-12 over Detroit Mercy (April 29) last year.
» Ten Eagles scored at least one goal, which tops the previous record of seven that was recorded four times, including at Duquesne, Feb. 15, the most recent EMU had played prior to today's victory. Additionally, the 10 players with points better the previous record of eight in one game, which was set at Duquesne.
» EMU recorded eight assists, which ranks third in a single game in program history while the 24 points totaled sits second.
» Three players recorded hat tricks for the Eagles, including Abby Alderman, Mackenzie Blackwell, and Tracy Grollman. The hat tricks are the first of the year for both Alderman and Grollman, and the second this year for Blackwell, who scored four goals at Duquesne, Feb. 15. Blackwell now has nine hat tricks for her career to lead the program.
» Roya Khaleeli scored her first collegiate goal to help the Eagles to victory. The freshman, who had not had a shot on goal in the previous two games, found the net with 7:32 to play in the first quarter to put the Eagles ahead, 3-0.
» Tracy Grollman's three assists on the day tied for the second-most in a single game and marked the third time three assists have been tallied in a game this year. Combined with her three goals, Grollman became just the second player in EMU history to record a double hat trick after Sydney Lawrence scored four goals and had three assists at Youngstown State, April 8, 2023.
» As a team, the Eagles recorded a program-record 37 grounds balls. The previous standard was 35 EMU recorded last year, April 12, at home against Kent State University.
» Avery Schwab led the team with six ground balls in the game, which tied a school record. The previous player to record six in one game was Tracy Grollman, who accomplished the feat against Kent State, April 12, 2023.
» Giuliana Ditsky started a game for the first time this season and recorded 11 saves, the third-most in a game in EMU history. She holds the record with 12 saves recorded at home against Central Michigan (April 5, 2023) and at Butler University (March 26, 2023).
» Three players made their season debuts in the game with two of those players seeing their first collegiate action. Sophomore Maggie McCabe (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) was joined on the field by rookies Leah Rings (Comstock Park, Mich./Rockford) and Lexi Smalline (Rochester, N.Y./West Irondequoit).
Historical Notes
» Today's game was the first between the Eagles and Bison.
» With the win, the Eagles claimed their first road victory in program history. Eastern finished its inaugural season (2023) with an 0-8 mark away from home and had fallen in its first two road games of 2024 to stand 0-10 before the win at Howard.
Up Next
The East Coast road trip comes to a close Wednesday, Feb. 28, when the Eagles travel to Dover, Del., for a game against Delaware State. The Eagles and Hornets are set for a noon first draw with the game being streamed on YouTube.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (EMUEagles.com) -- A 9-0 scoring to open the game, which included excellent play on both ends of the field, helped the Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team grab a 16-5 victory over Howard University Sunday, Feb. 25, inside Greene Stadium in Washington, D.C., marking the first road win in program history. The Eagles (1-2), who won their first game in 2024, saw 10 different players record at least one point as 10 different players scored goals and eight different players tallied assists. The Bison (0-4) saw two players score twice but were unable to put a goal on board until 5:32 remained in the second quarter.
How It Happened
The Eagles opened the game on a 9-0 scoring run that included a 5-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md./Northern), Avery Schwab (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin-Scioto), Roya Khaleeli (Rancho Palo Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula), Tracy Grollman (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School), and Abby Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) each found the back of the net in the first with Khaleeli netting the first goal of her collegiate career.
Eastern added to its lead with the first four goals of the second quarter as Blackwell, Sydney Lawrence (Plano, Texas/Plano East/Oregon), Ab. Alderman, and Kelsea Dague (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) each scored. After the Bison scored twice, the Eagles closed the stanza with goals from Skylar Hilmer (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry) and the third from Ab. Alderman to give EMU an 11-2 halftime lead. With Hilmer's goal, the Eagles had eight different goal scorers in the game, which broke the previous school record of seven goal scorers that happened four times previously, including at Duquesne University, Feb. 15, the Eagles' most recent game prior to Sunday.
Howard scored first after the intermission before EMU netted four more goals, including two from Grollman to complete her hat trick, the third from Blackwell for her second hat trick in as many games, and the first for Kyleigh Dill (Dover, Del./Dover) on the day. EMU closed its scoring at 13:52 in the fourth as Amber Alderman (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) joined the scoring with a goal assisted by Grollman, who completed just the second double hat trick in program history as she finished with three goals and three assists on the day. The previous time that feat was accomplished came April 8, 2023, at Youngstown State University where Lawrence scored four goals and dished three helpers.
The Eastern defense was stout on the day as Giuliana Ditsky (Wyomissing, Pa./Berks Catholic), making her first start in goal this season, halted 11 shots and allowed just five past her. Ditsky, who made saves on the first eight shots she faced, tied for the third-most saves in a game in program history, just one off her best of 12 recorded twice in 2023, most recently at home against Central Michigan University, April 5, 2023. Additionally, the five goals allowed are the fewest in a game in program history as the only other time Eastern allowed single-digit goals to be scored was its 12-7 home win over Delaware State University, March 7, 2023.
Game Notes
» Eastern improved to 1-2 on the year while Howard fell to 0-4.
» The Eagles captured the first road win in program history to snap a 10-game losing streak away from home. EMU was 0-8 on the road last year before dropping its first two games this year.
» The 16 goals scored rank as the most tallied in a road game by the Eagles and the second-most they have scored in a single game behind only the 17-12 win against the University of Detroit Mercy, April 29, 2023.
» The 11-goal margin of victory is the largest in program history, bettering the previous mark of five set in EMU's two previous wins. Prior to the game at Howard, Eastern posted wins of 12-7 over Delaware State (March 7) and 17-12 over Detroit Mercy (April 29) last year.
» Ten Eagles scored at least one goal, which tops the previous record of seven that was recorded four times, including at Duquesne, Feb. 15, the most recent EMU had played prior to today's victory. Additionally, the 10 players with points better the previous record of eight in one game, which was set at Duquesne.
» EMU recorded eight assists, which ranks third in a single game in program history while the 24 points totaled sits second.
» Three players recorded hat tricks for the Eagles, including Abby Alderman, Mackenzie Blackwell, and Tracy Grollman. The hat tricks are the first of the year for both Alderman and Grollman, and the second this year for Blackwell, who scored four goals at Duquesne, Feb. 15. Blackwell now has nine hat tricks for her career to lead the program.
» Roya Khaleeli scored her first collegiate goal to help the Eagles to victory. The freshman, who had not had a shot on goal in the previous two games, found the net with 7:32 to play in the first quarter to put the Eagles ahead, 3-0.
» Tracy Grollman's three assists on the day tied for the second-most in a single game and marked the third time three assists have been tallied in a game this year. Combined with her three goals, Grollman became just the second player in EMU history to record a double hat trick after Sydney Lawrence scored four goals and had three assists at Youngstown State, April 8, 2023.
» As a team, the Eagles recorded a program-record 37 grounds balls. The previous standard was 35 EMU recorded last year, April 12, at home against Kent State University.
» Avery Schwab led the team with six ground balls in the game, which tied a school record. The previous player to record six in one game was Tracy Grollman, who accomplished the feat against Kent State, April 12, 2023.
» Giuliana Ditsky started a game for the first time this season and recorded 11 saves, the third-most in a game in EMU history. She holds the record with 12 saves recorded at home against Central Michigan (April 5, 2023) and at Butler University (March 26, 2023).
» Three players made their season debuts in the game with two of those players seeing their first collegiate action. Sophomore Maggie McCabe (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) was joined on the field by rookies Leah Rings (Comstock Park, Mich./Rockford) and Lexi Smalline (Rochester, N.Y./West Irondequoit).
Historical Notes
» Today's game was the first between the Eagles and Bison.
» With the win, the Eagles claimed their first road victory in program history. Eastern finished its inaugural season (2023) with an 0-8 mark away from home and had fallen in its first two road games of 2024 to stand 0-10 before the win at Howard.
Up Next
The East Coast road trip comes to a close Wednesday, Feb. 28, when the Eagles travel to Dover, Del., for a game against Delaware State. The Eagles and Hornets are set for a noon first draw with the game being streamed on YouTube.
Team Stats
EMU
HOW
Shots
26
20
Turnovers
17
10
Caused Turnovers
6
14
Draw Controls
18
7
Free-Position Shots
5
1
Ground Balls
37
28
Game Leaders
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3
A
3
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-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
0
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
1
G
1
A
3
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
6
CT
0
Players Mentioned
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