Musketeers Drop First Road Test at Eastern Michigan

Saturday, February 14

Ypsilanti, Mich.

2 p.m.

Xavier University

0-2

Eastern Michigan

3-1

Xavier

Eastern Michigan

Musketeers Drop First Road Test at Eastern Michigan

02.14.26 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Maya Graham led the team with two goals.

By: Abbey Curtis, Xavier Athletic Communications

YPSILANTI, Mich. - The Xavier lacrosse team fell to Eastern Michigan, 9-7, on Saturday afternoon in the Musketeers' first road match of the 2026 season. The Musketeers fall to 0-2 while EMU improves to 3-1 on the season.

Six different Musketeers scored in the game including Genevieve Hathaway and Brynley Hodge's first career goals.

XU will look to pick up their first win at Mercyhurst next Saturday.

how it happened

Cameron Yard got the scoring started seven minutes into the contest with a man-up goal off the assist by Megan Droney.

Both teams went cold for the rest of the quarter until EMU converted a free position shot with under a minute left to make it a 1-1 game at the end of the first.

The Musketeer offense lit up in the second quarter, outscoring the Eagles 4-2. Samantha Balara picked up a ground ball and scored just 30 seconds into the second frame to retake the lead for XU.

EMU had a response yet again at the 12 minute mark, but Maya Graham and Claire Slade scored back-to-back goals within a 40 second span to make it a 4-2 game in favor of the Musketeers. Droney assisted Slade's goal for her fourth dime of the season.

Freshman Genevieve Hathaway joined in on the action with her first career goal to extend Xavier's lead to 5-2 before the Eagles responded at the end of the first half to enter the break with a 5-3 score.

EMU built upon their momentum with two straight goals to tie the game at the beginning of the third quarter. Graham responded for the Musketeers with her second of the night and fifth of the young season for a 6-5 Xavier lead.

The Eagles took three more shots to tie but Jada Brandon made two saves to maintain Xavier's advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Brynley Hodge kicked off the final quarter with her first career goal to extend Xavier's lead to two, but EMU stormed back with four straight goals to clinch a 9-7 win.

notables

Maya Graham scored two goals and maintains a team-high five goals and six points on the season.
Megan Droney contributed two assists for the second straight game and now has 25 in her career.
Jada Brandon posted 13 saves for a .591 save percentage.
Sophomore Brynley Hodge and freshman Genevieve Hathaway each recorded their first career goals.
Samantha Balara led the team with five ground balls to go along with three caused turnovers and a goal.
Colby Wasson added four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
Catherine Gurd contributed three ground balls and a caused turnover.
The Musketeers combined for 14 caused turnovers against the Eagles
XU held an opponent to under 10 goals for just the third time in program history.