Liza Oakley Makes Collegiate Head-Coaching Debut as Bucknell Visits Youngstown State

Bucknell will open its 2026 women's lacrosse season at Youngstown State on Friday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m., with the Bison traveling to Youngstown for a season opener that doubles as a milestone for the home program. The Bison will face a Penguins squad led by Liza Oakley, a former Bucknell assistant, in her collegiate head-coaching debut.

Youngstown State athletics announced a 16-game slate for the season. “Sixteen games across three months complete the make-up of the 2026 Youngstown State Women's Lacrosse schedule, Head Coach Liza Oakley announced Monday.” The schedule gives Penguins fans eight home opportunities, and the first three games will be staged inside the Watson and Tressel Training Site on Feb. 6 vs. Bucknell, Feb. 8 vs. Old Dominion, and Feb. 15 vs George Mason. “Penguins fans will have eight opportunities to cheer on their team at home this Spring, including the first three games of the season inside the Watson and Tressel Training Site on Feb. 6 vs. Bucknell, Feb. 8 vs. Old Dominion, and Feb. 15 vs George Mason.”

LaxNumbers publishes a full 16-game list with times and opponents that aligns with the YSU highlights. The schedule lists Feb. 6 at 18:00 vs Bucknell, Feb. 8 at 12:00 vs Old Dominion, Feb. 15 at 12:00 vs George Mason, and the full slate through Apr. 25 with road stops at Monmouth (NJ), UMBC, Robert Morris, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit Mercy, Duquesne, and Akron, plus home dates against Marquette, Massachusetts, Kent State, Central Michigan, and Eastern Michigan. LaxNumbers records the Current Season Record - All Games (W-L-T): 0-0-0 GF=0 GA=0 for Youngstown State, noting that game scores are not yet posted.

One discrepancy in public data is the head coach listing on third-party sites. LaxNumbers lists Rob Harris as head coach in its team info block, while Youngstown State’s athletics department material and the Bucknell brief identify Liza Oakley as head coach and note her collegiate head-coaching debut. Reporters and local followers should note that the official team communication names Oakley as head coach; “All start times are subject to change,” the YSU release adds.

Youngstown’s 2025 results provide additional context for local expectations, with Getsomemaction excerpts showing competitive outcomes such as a 13-14 overtime loss to Lindenwood, a 20-9 home win over Detroit Mercy, and narrow losses to Akron and Duquesne among listed games. Those results underline the margins that could decide early-season regional matchups.

For residents who follow Penguins athletics, the season opener offers a chance to see a new head coach take the helm and to map how Youngstown State will compete in the Mid-American Conference season ahead. For news and updates throughout the 2026 women's lacrosse season, follow @YSUwlax on X.