Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University lacrosse team hosts Youngstown State for a midweek nonconference matchup Wednesday at Rooney Field.
GAME 12
Youngstown State Penguins (2-10, 2-2 MAC) at Duquesne Dukes (1-10 | 0-6 A-10)
Wednesday, April 8 | 2:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh, Pa. | Rooney Field
Live Stats | Live Updates on @DuqLax Instagram
THE DUKES
Roster | Schedule | Stats
- Last Time Out: Megan Marco and Chelsea Evans each scored three goals, but a first-half deficit proved too much to overcome in a 19-6 loss at VCU on Saturday. Duquesne outscored the Rams 5-4 in the second half after trailing 15-1 at halftime. Gracin Emerson added three assists, becoming the first Duke to surpass 50 assists in a single season.
- NCAA Leaders: Junior Gracin Emerson and senior Emma Raines continue to rank among the nation's leaders. Emerson leads Division I in assists per game (4.73), while Raines ranks No. 1 nationally in shot percentage (70.7%).
- Gracin The Great: Last game, Gracin Emerson became the first player in program history to reach 50 assists in a season and now has 52 through 11 games, ranking third nationally. Emerson leads the country at 4.73 assists per game and is within reach of the NCAA single-season record of 4.63 (Ashley Humphrey, Stanford, 2022). 18 assists over the final four regular-season games would establish a new Division I mark. The East Lansing, Michigan, native has tied the program's single-game assist record (7) twice. Prior to this season, only one seven-assist game had been recorded in Duquesne's previous 29 seasons. Emerson has posted six or more assists in four games and is one of only three Division I players with multiple seven-assist performances this season. Six goals bring her point total to 58, ranking 11th nationally at 5.27 points per game.
- Raining Goals: Emma Raines leads the Dukes with 29 goals and averages 2.64 per game, ranking seventh in the Atlantic 10. Raines has recorded a team-best seven hat tricks this season, including a career-high five in the win at Mercyhurst, and leads Division I with a .707 shot percentage (29 goals on 41 shots).
- The Welch Effect: Freshman Madison Welch ranks second in the Atlantic 10 in draw controls per game (5.82). Welch has set the Duquesne single-game record twice this season with 14 at Mercyhurst and 15 vs. George Mason, earning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors.
- We Shoot, We Score: Duquesne ranks fifth nationally in shot percentage (.511) and third in free-position percentage (.613). The Dukes have scored 119 goals on 233 shots and are 19-for-31 from the free-position arc.
- Program Records This Season: Emerson has tied the single-game assist record (7) twice and set the single-season assist record (52 and counting), while Welch has set the single-game draw control record twice (14 at Mercyhurst, 15 vs. George Mason).
- Defensive Dukes: Three Dukes rank among the top seven in the Atlantic 10 in caused turnovers per game. Chelsea Evans and Casey McBride are tied for fourth (1.82), while Addison Scanlon ranks seventh (1.55). In ground balls per game, Scanlon ranks second (2.64) and Evans seventh (2.18). As a team, Duquesne ranks third in the A-10 in ground balls (16.27), caused turnovers per game (9.55) and draw controls per game (12.82). Freshman goalkeeper Ella Roach is second in the conference in saves per game (8.82).
Streak Spotlight
Gracin Emerson — multiple assists in every game; 3+ points in every game
Megan Marco — goal in six straight and 10 of 11
Faith Conaty — multiple ground balls in five straight
Mia Piocquidio — multiple ground balls in three straight
Casey McBride — multiple ground balls and caused turnovers in back-to-back games
THE PENGUINS
Roster | Schedule | Stats
- Youngstown State enters 2-10 overall and 2-2 in MAC play, most recently earning a 15-7 road win over Detroit Mercy. The Penguins also own a 5-4 win over Robert Morris.
- YSU averages 6.7 goals per game while allowing 14.9. Sophomore Claire Baenziger leads the team with 30 goals and has recorded multiple goals in seven straight games. Baenziger ranks among the top 15 nationally in free-position goals (0.83 per game) and owns a 66.7% conversion rate from the arc.
- The Penguins rank among the top 20 nationally in ground balls per game (17.92). Junior Mackenzie Flannigan is sixth nationally in ground balls per game (3.67) and 21st in caused turnovers per game (2.17).
SERIES HISTORY
Duquesne leads 4-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 19, 2025 at YSU – W, 12-11
First Meeting: Feb. 14, 2022 at DUQ – W, 19-15
Streak: W4
Home/Away Record: (H) 2-0 / (A) 2-0
Notes: All four meetings have been decided by four goals or less. Duquesne earned a 12-11 win last season at Youngstown State in a game that featured five ties and three lead changes.
Chelsea Evans (2),
Addison Scanlon,
Emma Raines and
Gracin Emerson all scored in that contest. Raines also recorded a hat trick in the 2024 meeting at Rooney Field.
30TH SEASON OF DUKES LACROSSE
Duquesne lacrosse is celebrating its 30th season as a varsity program on the Bluff in 2026. The Dukes, who began play in 1997, own an all-time record of 240-241 and have made 15 Atlantic 10 Championship appearances, highlighted by two regular-season co-championships.
UP NEXT
Duquesne celebrates Senior Day on Saturday, hosting La Salle at Rooney Field. Senior recognition will take place pregame beginning at 11:50 a.m., with first draw scheduled for 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne Lacrosse all season online at
GoDuquesne.com, as well as on
X (Twitter),
Instagram, and
Facebook (@DuqLax).
