WLAX Opens Season With 16-13 Win Over Cincinnati

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette women's lacrosse team defeated Cincinnati, 16-13, on Saturday afternoon at Valley Fields to open up the 2022 season.

Leigh Steiner, Emma Soccodato and Shea Garcia all posted hat tricks to lead the Golden Eagles (1-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) to a win over the Bearcats (0-1, 0-0 AAC), the first win in a season opener in program history.

Garcia also finished with a team-high three assists to eclipse the 100-point mark in her career. Mary Schumar added two goals and two assists, and Lydia Foust and Kyra LaMotte chipped in two goals apiece.

Amanda Rumsey, a graduate transfer from Butler, spent all 60 minutes in goal and notched 14 saves with a save percentage of .519 in her MU debut.

"I feel really good. I'm glad we came out with a win," head coach Meredith Black said. "It wasn't easy, not that we expected it to be, but I think our team fought hard and we had a lot of ups and downs which is typical in a first game, but I'm proud of our team for being able to just overcome."

Marquette got off to a fast start in the second quarter, scoring four goals through the first four minutes of the period, two of which came from Garcia. Junior attacker Hannah Greving later tacked on a goal with just under two minutes left in the half, sending the Golden Eagles into the break with a 9-6 lead.

LaMotte helped extend Marquette's lead in the third quarter, scoring both of her goals, which included her first as a Golden Eagle. Steiner and Soccodato also found the back of the net on free position shots, and Rumsey made three saves between the pipes.

After facing a 2-1 deficit in the first quarter, three unanswered goals from Steiner, Soccodato and Schumar gave Marquette an early two-goal edge. MU never trailed again in the contest.

Cincinnati scored three goals in the final three minutes of action, but the Golden Eagles were able to hold off the Bearcats to earn the victory.

UP NEXT:
The Golden Eagles will hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to Evanston, Illinois, on Monday night for a meeting with No. 4 Northwestern at 6 p.m. CT.

Keep up with the Marquette women's lacrosse program all season long through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteWLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteWLax) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteWLax).