MLAX welcomes Villanova on Saturday to Valley Fields

Game Notes (PDF)

MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University men's lacrosse team continues BIG EAST Conference action with an 11 a.m. Central time game against Villanova on Saturday at Valley Fields.

The contest will air live on GoMarquette.com/watch with Patrick Reed and Dan Avington on the call from inside the Valley dome. Live statistics will also be available.

The Golden Eagles (0-1) are coming off a narrow 10-9 season-opening loss to then-No. 9/10 Denver on Feb. 20 in Milwaukee. Redshirt junior Griffin Fleming tied a career high with four points, including a hat trick, as MU rallied from a 6-1 deficit. Redshirt freshman Sean Richard made eight saves in his first career start for the Golden Eagles and classmate Mason Woodward led the defense with five ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.

Marquette was outshot 49-36 by the Pioneers and lost 13-of-22 faceoffs on the afternoon. The Golden Eagles did force DU into 17 turnovers but struggled against the Pios' ride to the tune of eight failed clears.

Villanova (0-1) also lost its season opener with a 16-1 home loss to then-No. 9 Georgetown on Saturday. Matt Campbell scored the game's first goal for the Wildcats, who entered the game ranked 18th, before the Hoyas closed out the game with 16 unanswered. Jake Carraway scored eight goals for GU in the win over Villanova, which played Will Vitton 45 minutes in net (12 goals against and seven saves).

The Wildcats were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Conference Preseason Poll behind Denver and Georgetown, while Campbell and defenseman Patrick Kennedy were each unanimous selections on the preseason all-conference team. VU went 4-3 in the shortened 2020 season and made its last NCAA tournament appearance in 2018 with a first-round loss to Duke.

Marquette is 3-5 all-time against Villanova and has lost each of the last three meetings. The last win for the Golden Eagles over the Wildcats came in the 2016 BIG EAST Championship semifinals, a 14-9 win at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium in Denver. MU is 1-2 against VU in Milwaukee and 1-1 at Valley Fields.

All Marquette home competitions will continue to be held without fans until further notice in accordance with state and local guidelines.

Keep up with the Marquette men's lacrosse program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteMLax) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMLax).