Women's Lacrosse to Host Fellow First-Year Program Eastern Michigan on Sunday

Sunday, March 12

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

Eastern Michigan

WLAX - Game Preview vs Eastern Mich 2023

Women's Lacrosse to Host Fellow First-Year Program Eastern Michigan on Sunday

03.11.23 | Women's Lacrosse

Watch Live Stats Game Notes

Both the Musketeers and the Eagles are newcomers to the division one lacrosse field

By: Dianna Lewis, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's lacrosse hosts Eastern Michigan for the program's second home game of the season on Sunday, March 12. First draw is slated for 2 p.m. from Corcoran Field.

The Musketeers are looking to earn their fourth win of the season.

Xavier and Eastern Michigan are two of six Division I lacrosse programs competing in their inaugural season.

THE MATCHUP VS EASTERN MICHIGAN

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (3-3) vs EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (1-2)
Game Info - Sunday, March 12 - 2 p.m. ET - Corcoran Field
Live Video (Flo) - http://bit.ly/3SX8S9z
Live Stats - http://bit.ly/3YZwsV6

ABOUT THE EAGLES

2023 Record: 1-2
2022 Postseason: None
Series History: First Meeting

NOTABLES

• Xavier leads the BIG EAST in caused turnovers per game (11.20), while ranking 28th in the NCAA. The Musketeers currently rank second in the conference in ground balls recovered per game (17.80), while ranking 20th in the NCAA.

• With a free position percentage of .629, the Musketeers rank third in the NCAA with 22 free position goals off of 35 free position shots.

• Lola Mancuso ranks tied for third in the BIG EAST in goals per game (3.60) and tied for sixth in points per game (4.40). The freshman attacker ranks 13th in the NCAA in goals per game.

• Hannah McFeeters (3rd) and Samantha Balara (5th) rank in the top-five in the BIG EAST for caused turnovers per game. McFeeters averages 1.80 per game, while Balara adds 1.67 per game.

• Marina Piszczor ranks first in the BIG EAST in saves per game (12.00), while ranking fifth in save percentage (.492). The freshman goalkeeper ranks third in the NCAA in total saves (69).

LAST TIME OUT

• The Musketeers are coming off a 15-14 road loss at Wofford on Tuesday, March 7.

• Eight different players scored in the game, paced by Lola Mancuso who scored four goals. Riley Halloran recorded three, Sawyer Walker posted two, and Claire Slade who contributed one goal and three assists.

• Marina Piszczor made nine saves in 60 minutes of action in goal.

BIG EAST HONOREES

• Riley Halloran was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll on Monday, March 6. The Houston, Texas, native is the second Musketeer to earn weekly honors from the BIG EAST this season.

2023 HONOREES
Feb. 27 - Lola Mancuso - Freshman of the Week
Mar. 6 - Riley Halloran - Honor Roll

SCHEDULE NOTES

• The inaugural spring schedule consists of five home games and nine road games. Xavier opens its six-game BIG EAST schedule on Saturday, April 1 at Butler.

• Xavier will play teams from seven different conferences this season: BIG EAST, Big Ten, PAC-12, Horizon League, Big South, Southern and Mid-American.

• The Musketeers will also compete against another first-year program in Eastern Michigan. The two squads will play at Corcoran Field on Sunday, March 12.

• Xavier will participate in BIG EAST regular-season play, but is ineligible for the conference tournament. The Musketeers will be eligible for the conference tournament in 2024.

PROGRAM NOTES

• Head coach Meg Decker was hired to lead the Xavier program in July of 2021. She was previously the head coach at Hartford from 2016-21. Prior to Hartford, she was an assistant coach at VCU (2014-16). Decker played collegiately at Navy (2008) and Loyola University Maryland (2010-11).

• Grace Beshlian was hired as an assistant coach in July of 2022 after spending the 2021 season as an assistant coach at William and Mary. The two-time All-BIG EAST performer played collegiately at UConn from 2016-20.

• Xavier's inaugural squad consists of three graduate students, four juniors, two sophomores and 20 freshmen.

UP NEXT

• The Musketeers are back in action on Sunday, March 26 at Michigan. First draw is set for 1 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.