The Massachusetts women’s lacrosse team took on Eastern Michigan on Saturday, but despite the high-scoring potential on both sides, the game was largely defined by turnovers and the battle for possession.
UMass (12–2, 5–0 Mid-American Conference) ultimately pulled away from the Eagles (8–6, 3–2 MAC) in a 14–4 win. Though, early stretches were far from clean. The Minutewomen entered averaging 16.92 goals per game, the second-most efficient offense in the nation, but both teams struggled to protect the ball.
“I think we needed to clean up our turnovers,” head coach Jana Drummond said. “We had a lot [of them] in the first half … we’re really focusing on those details moving forward.”
Eastern Michigan finished with 24 turnovers while UMass committed 18, and the separation came in how each side handled the plays that followed those giveaways.
Those totals aligned with each program’s national profile. The Minutewomen rank 39th nationally with 13.38 turnovers per game, while the Eagles sits 69th with 14.46. Saturday’s numbers immediately reflected those tendencies. Their 24 marked a season high, surpassing their previous worst outings of 20 against both Vanderbilt and Kent State. UMass’ 18 matched their own season high, previously set against Akron on April 4.
The difference began on the ground.
The Minutewomen collected 24 ground balls to Eastern Michigan’s 17, repeatedly turning loose balls into extended possessions. They entered the contest averaging 18 ground balls per game, just under the Eagles’ 18.69. UMass won the majority of the 50/50 plays in a matchup where clean sequences were rare. Every ground ball became a chance to reset, and the Minutewomen capitalized consistently.
The first half reflected that lack of rhythm. Eastern Michigan and UMass traded turnovers back and forth, often within the same minute, preventing either side from building sustained pressure.
The Minutewomen generated flashes of control but couldn’t fully capitalize, while the Eagles struggled to maintain possession long enough to settle into their offense. Even when Eastern Michigan created space, the ball rarely stayed in one stick long enough to develop a full possession.
“Overall, we started a bit sluggish,” Drummond said. “So, if we can take care of those areas, we’ll be in a better spot.”
It wasn’t until the third quarter that UMass found a more stable stretch.
The Minutewomen committed just two turnovers in the frame, marking its cleanest quarter of the afternoon, and began to dictate tempo. With longer, more composed possessions, they outscored the Eagles 4–1.
“[Coming out of halftime] it was ‘Let’s support each other’ [and] a lot of it was trying to run the ball up the field.” Drummond said.
UMass also added to the possession battle on the defensive end. The Minutewomen entered ranked fourth nationally with 12.54 caused turnovers per game. Comparatively, Eastern Michigan’s ranked 24th with 10.62, and that pressure showed throughout.
UMass finished the day with 17 caused turnovers, creating opportunities for ground balls and clear attempts that helped them string together more consistent sequences. Three of those caused turnovers came from goalie Bayley Duffy, marking a career high for the redshirt freshman. She also recorded six saves on 10 shots.
“If defense caused a turnover, our expectation is offense is going to come out there [and] play the way they should,” Drummond said. “If we can just execute a bit more, take a moment and recognize how we’re playing for each other, we’ll be in a better spot.”
Offensively, Dylan Lyons embodied the game’s chaotic nature. The Minutewomen attacker scored four goals, tied for the team lead on the day, and also committed four turnovers.
The Eagles, meanwhile, struggled to generate the same defensive disruption. Defender Annika Wozney recorded three caused turnovers and two ground balls, helping them total 13 caused turnovers.
The two teams rarely converted those moments into offensive momentum. Only one of their four goals came during a stretch following a forced turnover, and Eastern Michigan only posted 10 shots on goal for the day.
“Taking those opportunities in the future to clean it up will be very important for us going forward,” Drumond said.
UMass will be back in action on Saturday, April 18, to face Detroit Mercy. The opening draw is set for 12 p.m.
Kate Endres can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @Kate_e_endres.
