Akron Hosts Youngstown State in Key MAC Showdown

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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron lacrosse team returns to the friendly confines of InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field this Saturday, April 9, as the Zips host Youngstown State in a Mid-American Conference showdown at 2 p.m. The contest could go a long way in determining the final seeding for the inaugural MAC Championships as the top-four league finishers qualify for tournament play.

SCOUTING AKRON:
Junior Alexis Kiefer (West Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore Noelle Boyd (Murrysville, Pa.), who own 80 and 70 shots, respectively, have headlined Akron's offensive efforts this season. Kiefer, Boyd, sophomore Anjali Silverheels (Hamburg, N.Y.), junior Kaija Kunttu (Zionsville, Ind.) and freshman Izzy Szejk (Camp Hill, Pa.) have posted a team-high 26, 24, 11, nine and eight goals, respectively, while Boyd has registered team-best marks in goals (26), assists (5), points (31), shots on goal (57), draw controls (85) and ground balls (34), while ranking second in shots (70). Sophomore GK Ashley Lapp (Missouri City, Texas) has turned in 111 saves for Akron on the year.

Boyd rates first in the MAC in draw controls (85) and draw controls per match (6.54), second in ground balls (34) and ground balls per outing (2.62), sixth in shots (70), seventh in goals (26) and shots per contest (5.38) and ninth in goals per game (2.00). Kiefer is ranked third in shots (815) and shots per tilt (6.08) and 10th in ground balls per game (1.77). Lapp ranks first in the conference in goals against average (12.11) and in save percentage (.446), second in saves (111) and ground balls (33) and third in saves (8.54) and ground balls (2.54) per outing.

Additionally, junior Abby McMullen is rated third in the league in caused turnovers (19) and caused turnover per outing (1.46), fourth in ground balls (29) and ground balls per tilt (2.23), ninth in draw controls (36) and 10th in draw controls per match (2.77), while junior Jenna Ridener (Cincinnati, Ohio) rates third in caused turnovers (19) and caused turnover per outing and sixth in ground balls (24) and ground balls per match (1.85). Junior Julia Frombach (Avon, Ohio) is ranked fifth in caused turnovers (18) and caused turnovers per match (1.38), while sophomore Mackenzie Kirwan (Appleton, Wis.) rates sixth in caused turnover per outing (1.29), eighth in ground balls per game (1.85) and 10th in caused turnovers (9) and ground balls (14).

SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE:
Akron is meeting Youngstown State for the fourth time in program history with the Zips owning a 2-1 series advantage over the Penguins. Youngstown State stands at 5-7 on the campaign, including a 3-2 mark in the Mid-American Conference, following a 20-11 setback versus Central Michigan on April 2. Freshman Natalie Calandra-Ryan directs Youngstown State's offensive attack with team-high marks in goals (40), points (56), shots (93), shots on goal (66), draw controls (60), ground balls (24) and caused turnovers (24), while ranking second in assists (16). Senior GK Savannah Clarke has collected 110 saves on the campaign for the Penguins. Youngstown State is led by second-year head coach Theresa Walton, who owns a 7-14 ledger as a head coach.

ZIPS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS:
Goalkeeper Ashley Lapp is rated 20th in the NCAA in saves (11), 38th in ground balls per match (2.54), 39th in saves per game (8.54), 44th in save percentage (.446) and 51st in goals against average (12.11). Boyd is ranked 16th in draw controls per contest (6.54) and 30th in ground balls per tilt (2.62), while Alexis Kiefer is 56th in shots per game (6.15). Abby McMullen and Jenna Ridener are rated 45th, respectively, in caused turnovers per match (1.46).

As a team, Akron is ranked first in the NCAA in ground ball per game (21.85), 20th in caused turnovers (9.23), 37th in draw control percentage (.521), 41st in save percentage (.450) and 52nd in scoring defense (11.92).

IN OUR LAST MEETING WITH YOUNGSTOWN STATE (MARCH 3, 2022 - YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO):
The University of Akron women's lacrosse team dropped a 12-11 Mid-American Conference decision at Youngstown State on March 3 in Youngstown, Ohio.

Full match recap (click here)

UP NEXT:
Akron closes out the road portion of its Mid-American Conference slate traveling to league-leading Robert Morris for a noon match on Saturday, April 16.

Akron Hosts Youngstown State in Key MAC Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Noelle Boyd

Julia Frombach

Alexis Kiefer

Mackenzie Kirwan

Kaija Kunttu

Ashley Lapp

Abby McMullen

Jenna Ridener

Anjali Silverheels

Izzy Szejk

The University of Akron Athletics