Marquette WLAX 2022 Season Preview

2/5/2022 12:47:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Young group looks to "separate from the pack"

By: Dan Avington (COMM '22)

MILWAUKEE - The 2021 season was an up-and-down affair for Marquette women's lacrosse.

Due to COVID-19, the team missed out on a full preseason and some of the crucial team-building activities that come with it.

"The biggest hurdle of last year was COVID and all the feelings of that, it was a huge distraction from playing lacrosse," head coach Meredith Black said. "Beyond that, we were missing that connection with each other and the team chemistry."

MU finished with an overall record of 7-9 and missed out on the conference tournament.

But entering this spring, there is a new mindset among the Golden Eagles.

"Everyone is on the same page, everyone is reaching for the same goals," Black said. "Everyone is willing to do whatever it takes to make this team successful."

Despite a difficult non-conference slate in addition to a loaded BIG EAST schedule, Marquette is aiming high.

"Our goal is to separate from the pack. It might not happen in one year, but we want to be able to dominate," Black said. "Our goal is to win the BIG EAST Championship, we think we can. Denver is the only team we haven't beat in our conference, but we played them to double overtime last year. I feel like we're capable of beating them, and our team believes that too."

And it's not only the coaching staff who believes the team can reach new heights.

"Marquette women's lacrosse is going to win the BIG EAST," junior defender Ellie Henry said. "We definitely have that expectation, and it's because we know the hard work we've put in. We know it's not easy to get there, which is why we're working so hard now for that."

ATTACK

The offense will look far different than in previous years, with starters Caroline Steller, Megan Menzuber and Lindsey Hill having graduated.

But the unit still boasts some experience due to the return of senior Shea Garcia and the addition of transfer Kyra LaMotte.

In four years at Furman, LaMotte scored 108 goals and earned First Team All-SoCon honors as a senior. Her addition will help "fill the gap" of the three graduating starters.

"She's going to be a huge part of our offense this year," Garcia said. "I'm really excited to play with her. She brings a lot of things to complement our offense."

Garcia, the former BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, registered 30 points a year ago in 15 games, and will once again be a vital part of the offense, but now in a different role.

"I am now going to be playing up top mostly, and before I usually played behind," Garcia said. "I'll definitely be more of an offensive threat for dodging, which I'm really excited about."

Returners Hannah Greving and Mary Schumar will both see expanded roles in the attack group after strong 2021 seasons.

"I'm really excited for our offense," Garcia said. "Everyone in our offense is going to step up big time, there's a lot of trust in each and every one of us. We want to put up some big points."

MIDFIELD

While the attacking personnel will see a drastic difference, the midfield unit returns a number of "heavy hitters."

Reigning First Team All-BIG EAST midfielder Lydia Foust will pace the unit after a 28-goal output in 2021.

5-foot-11 sophomore Leigh Steiner will also do heavy lifting for Marquette's midfield. In her debut season, the Minnesota native totaled 27 points in 16 contests.

Junior Emma Soccodato will see a good deal of time for the Golden Eagles after starting every game in 2021. Freshman Meg Bireley has impressed early, and Elise Smigiel will vie for minutes out of the midfield as well.

"I'm definitely excited about our midfield," Foust said. "We definitely have people filling their shoes, and they've done a great job all fall and preseason. It's just going to be putting all the pieces together. We have the same great assets, but it's just going to be finding those connections and building those up."

DRAWS

At the draw control circle, MU will have to replace Emily Cooper, who finished her career No. 2 in Marquette history with 187 draw controls.

Taking up the mantle will be junior Mary Blee and sophomore Josie Kropp, who each saw reserve time last year for the Golden Eagles.

"These two are really good," Black said. "They're similar to Coop in that they have a really specialized skill at the draw, and they each have a very different draw so they give us two good looks. If one isn't working, we have a backup which is nice."

But even with the graduation of Cooper, Henry believes MU's draw unit can achieve great things.

"We are a team capable of dominating every team we play against on the draw," Henry said. "Mary Blee and Josie Kropp are like the dynamic duo, one has a specialty in this and the other has a specialty in this. They work so well together, talking to each other and figuring out what works best."

DEFENSE

The defense loses two all-conference performers, but still looks to be one of Marquette's strongest groups.

"We have a lot of depth in the defensive spot, we're excited about our defense," Black said. "We'll have a freshman starting on defense and a lot of young players out there. It's super young, but they're good."

The anchor of the defense remains as Henry comes back for another season, returning from a year where she contributed 14 ground balls, 13 caused turnovers and 23 draw controls.

Sophomore defender Audrey Brett appeared in all 16 games a season ago, the only true freshman to do that for MU, and is poised for a starting slot.

But youth comes in at each of the other spots, as freshman Jasmine Murray looks to fill a starting role and sophomore Faith Chmielewski will see increased time.

Junior Kate Pearson, who started 8 games last year before a season-ending knee injury, will also factor into the rotation upon return from injury.

"The exciting thing about practice right now is that there are four or five girls rotating in and each day you see one stand out," Henry said. "Everyone is fighting for these spots, which makes our team so much better because we constantly have that drive. You're working so hard because you want to earn your spot, but you're also pushing everyone to get better."

GOAL

Between the pipes, Marquette must replace two of its most accomplished players in Julianna Horning and Sophia Leva.

But making up for the loss are two newcomers, both of whom will see time as MU's netminder.

Transfer Amanda Rumsey comes to Milwaukee from BIG EAST-rival Butler, where she served as a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. The graduate student was third in the conference in saves per game, and made a career-high 18 saves against Marquette on her senior day.

The other option in the cage is 5-foot-10 freshman Brynna Nixon, who hails from Washington. Nixon was a three-time all-conference selection in high school and held a 60.5% save percentage at Fife High School.

"Mandy came from Butler and she's really strong, then our freshman Brynna is also really strong," Black said. "I don't know who's going to start, actually. They're both righties but they're different in a lot of ways. That will go down to the wire on who plays at that position."