Golden Eagles go Undefeated in Spring Play

April 2, 2008

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette women's soccer team had a strong showing in its first three outdoor games since the 2007 fall season defeating Green Bay, 5-0, and Loyola (Ill.), 2-0, and tying UW-Milwaukee, 1-1, on March 29. All of the games were played on the turf field at Valley Fields with all eligible Marquette players seeing action in many different lineup combinations. Over the course of the day, four different Golden Eagles scored goals.

"Our team is pleased with the first outdoor weekend," said head coach Markus Roeders. "We went undefeated, scored eight goals, our defensive effort was sound, we played hard and the possession game improved. It takes some time to make the transition from small-sided indoor training/games to outdoor competition, but we responded well. Our goal is to get better every weekend and keep experimenting. We tried many different line-ups and players got valuable playing time. It is exciting to have several new 'goal scorers' and that will only help our team as we move forward. Our squad is young in experience and playing these games is hugely important."

Despite out-shooting the Panthers, 9-5, over the course of an 80-minute game, the Golden Eagles couldn't put the go-ahead goal away and walked away with a 1-1 tie over UW-Milwaukee.

The Panthers earned the first goal of the day, and the only goal MU would allow, when Marquette fouled an UW-Milwaukee player in the midfield. UWM served the free kick inside the box and the Golden Eagles were unable to clear the initial service. Another UWM player jumped on the bouncing ball and headed it past keeper Natalie Kulla for the score.

Marquette responded well, with an attacking mindset, and found the back of the net five minutes later. Ashley Bares fought off Panther defenders and laid a short pass to Kristi Laurenzi who was open on the right side and easily knocked it past UW-Milwaukee's keeper.

"The UWM game was a good start for our team. We had some very nice spells possessing the ball but we initially struggled to finish in the offensive third of the field. Our best chances came within 10 minutes of halftime as Katie Miller struck a shot of the crossbar and Ashley Bares headed the ball against the post after a corner. The goal against was unfortunate as we fouled in midfield, their free kick was served long and we weren't assertive enough on the clearance with one of their players heading the goal past Natalie. But we fought hard, played with an attacking mind-set and I am glad we were rewarded with the equalizer five minutes later. The ball got loose insight the 18-yard box, Ashley Bares fought off several defenders and laid the ball off to Kristi who finished it nicely far post."

In its next game, Marquette's offensive power proved to be too much for Green Bay to handle as the Golden Eagles dominated the Phoenix, 5-0, in a 70 minute game. Overall, MU out-shot Green Bay, 19-0. Kelli DeBarge, Anna Sawicki and Laurenzi each added one goal apiece, while Danielle Martens scored two.

Martens got Marquette on the board in the first two minutes into the game as she got herself on the end of a service from Lauren Thut and flicked the ball past GB's keeper with her head.

Eight minutes later, sophomore Anna Sawicki scored with her head on a cross from Martens to make it 2-0. Martens struck again in the 25th minute to make it 3-0, while DeBarge and Laurenzi capped MU's scoring with goals in the 53rd and 62nd minute.

"It was a dominating performance by our team. We came out aggressive from the beginning and created numerous opportunities. It was great to see Danielle get on the score sheet and Kelli scored her first career goal. We saw improvements from the first game. It was an all-around solid performance considering it is early in the spring season," said Roeders.

The Golden Eagles slow start in its third and final game of the day against Loyola didn't deter Marquette from claiming a 2-0 win over the Ramblers. MU overcame a 4-1 shot differential in favor of Loyola in the first half to outshoot the Ramblers, 7-1, in the second frame.

Marquette's lone shot attempt in the first half prove to be all that the Golden Eagles needed to go into half-time with a 1-0 advantage. Martens was able to get on the end of a through ball from Rosie Malone-Povolny and dribble around the keeper to put the ball in the empty net in the 23rd minute.

Sawicki scored the second goal of the game in the 43rd minute. Sawicki beat two defenders and put the ball past Loyola's keeper after Brittany Bares fed her the ball on the right side.

"It was a slow start to the game. Having just played Green Bay and playing against the wind, we struggled with our possession and we couldn't establish a flow. Loyola had a couple of chances and we had to 'fight' the game a bit. Our first-half strike was an excellent finish by Danielle who got on the end of the ball. She kept her composure to go around the goalkeeper and finish the ball. The second half was much more characteristic of how we can and want to play. We dictated the play, defended well and created opportunities," said Roeders.

Marquette will be back in action this weekend when they head to North Carolina to play Duke and UNC Greensboro on Saturday, April 5.