Marquette University Athletics
Marquette Soccer Hosts Pair of Spring Games Saturday
4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
2016 Spring Schedule MILWAUKEE -- The Marquette University men's soccer team will jump back into spring competition with its first two games at Valley Fields on Saturday, April 2. The Golden Eagles will play a split doubleheader by taking on UW-Green Bay at 9 a.m. and UW-Parkside at 7 p.m.
Head coach Louis Bennett invites fans out to Valley Fields for both games as they are open to the public and, with the newly renovated West turf field, equipped with seating for up to 1,400 spectators.
The Golden Eagles are coming off a disappointing 2015 season in which they went 5-10-2 (1-7-1 BIG EAST). Saturday's pair of games will mark the team's first competition since taking on Northwestern in an indoor facility near Chicago back on Feb. 19.
First up on the day's slate is UW-Green Bay. The Phoenix recorded a 5-10-3 record in 2015 and finished ninth out of 10 teams in the Horizon League with a league record of 2-5-2. Marquette was scheduled to play Green Bay for a spring game last year, but the match was canceled due to inclement weather. The last matchup between the two teams was in 2013 and the game ended in a 3-3 draw.
For the nightcap, Marquette will welcome the UW-Parkside Rangers to Valley Fields. The Rangers tallied a 6-8-3 record during the 2015 season and tied for eighth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a 6-6-3 league mark. The Golden Eagles also played UW-Parkside in a spring game last year.
Fans will not only have the chance to see the team's host of returning players, including senior-to-be Louis Bennett II, but also five of the team's newest additions, as shown below from the team's announcement on Twitter in February:
Happy to announce our first 2016 signee...Coming to us from FC Basel (Switzerland): Jan Maertins! #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/jgzzEZlaj3
-- Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) February 4, 2016
Our next '16 signee is another WI product, a forward from Chicago Fire Academy: Connor Alba! #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/fBFv7M4rsl
-- Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) February 4, 2016
Next up, a versatile defender from Chicagoland area, he played for Sockers FC: Patrick Seagrist! #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/l2Vb2EJpMR
-- Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) February 4, 2016
Our next signee is from Norway (German born) & played for Norwegian club ÃÆ'Æ'ââ'¬¦sane: Anton von Hofacker! #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/nkQnIZLitn
-- Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) February 4, 2016
Our next '16 signee is a GK and another in-state product, hailing from Cambridge: Noah Heim! #WeAreMarquette pic.twitter.com/JHH27F8gvE
-- Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) February 4, 2016
Following Saturday's matches, the Golden Eagles round out April with three more spring matches at Valley Fields. They are scheduled to take on the UW-Milwaukee April 8, MKE Torrent April 23, and the UW-Madison for the spring finale, April 30. Additionally, the team will have an alumni game on April 16 at 5 p.m.
Keep up with the Marquette men's lacrosse program all season long through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteSoccer).
