WLAX to Host Kent State, Travel to San Diego

Full Notes (PDF)

MILWAUKEE — The Marquette women's lacrosse team (3-4, 0-0 BIG EAST) returns home this weekend following a six-game road trip to host Kent State, before traveling west to take on San Diego State. The Golden Eagles will face the Golden Flashes (2-6, 0-0 MAC) on Saturday, March 12, at Valley Fields at 3 p.m. (CT), then travel to San Diego, California on Tuesday, March 15 to take on the Aztecs (2-3, 0-0 MPSF) at Aztec Lacrosse Field at 5 p.m. (CT). Both games will be streamed, with links for live video and stats available at GoMarquette.com.

Marquette is off to a 3-4 start to the year after splitting a pair of road contests last week in New York. It handed Canisius its first loss in a 14-9 decision on Friday before falling to Niagara 12-9 on Sunday. MU was picked fifth in this year's BIG EAST preseason coaches' poll after going 7-9 overall and 4-6 in conference play a season ago.

All-time, the Golden Eagles are 1-0 against Kent State after a 19-8 win last year, and 0-1 against San Diego State, the only meeting coming in Marquette's inaugural season in 2013.

Kent State is 2-6 so far in 2022, and has lost three-straight including a 20-6 loss at Central Michigan on Thursday. Junior attacker Kenzie Sklar leads the team's scoring attack with 18 goals this year, while sophomore attacker Jackie Wolford is close behind with 16.

San Diego State yet to play at home this season, starting the year with a 2-3 mark. The Aztecs posted a 18-5 win at Oregon on Feb. 27, and will host No. 10 Princeton on Sunday. Senior attacker Deanna Balsama leads the nation in both scoring (5.2) and shots on goal (7.8) per game. Sam Horan has played every minute in goal this year for the Aztecs, allowing 14.3 goals per contest.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES

• Kent State is off to a rocky start in 2022, owning a 2-6 overall record, 0-3 in MAC contests. The two wins came in February over Presbyterian and Wofford.

• The Golden Flashes are on a three-game losing streak, and most recently suffered a 20-6 loss against Central Michigan on Thursday, Mar. 10.

• Kent State went 5-10 last season, winning four games in conference and finishing fourth in the MAC.

• Attacker Kenzie Sklar leads the team in scoring with 18 goals and sophomore Jackie Wolford has totaled 16 goals. Senior midfielder Abby Jones leads her squad in assists with eight.

• Junior goalkeeper Madison Flannigan has played in eight games between the pipes, making 71 saves in 404 total minutes in the cage.

SERIES HISTORY VS KENT STATE

• Marquette is 1-0 all-time against the Golden Flashes, picking up a 19-8 win in February of last year.

• MU out-shot Kent State 34-19 in the contest, while Leigh Steiner scored a game-high four goals to go along with an assist and a caused turnover.

SCOUTING THE AZTECS

• San Diego State is 2-3 to begin the season, all five games being against non-conference opponents and all five being played on the road.

• The Aztecs most recently defeated Oregon 18-15 on Sunday, Feb. 27.

• San Diego State has a matchup set for Saturday against No. 10 Princeton at Aztec Lacrosse Field.

• SDSU went 5-9 overall last year before falling 14-11 to Fresno State in the MPSF Semifinals.

• Attacker Deanna Balsama paces the Aztecs with 26 goals on the year, while senior midfielder Bailey Brown and sophomore attacker Brook Waddell tie for a team-high four assists.

• Senior netminder Sam Horan has seen every minute in the cage for her team, owning a 2-3 record with 52 saves and 71 goals allowed in 300 minutes.

SERIES HISTORY VS SAN DIEGO STATE

• The Golden Eagles and the Aztecs have faced off just once all-time, a meeting in MU's first season of competition in 2013.

• San Diego State won the contest 19-5.

RECAPPING THE WEEK

• The Golden Eagles capped a six-game road trip with a 1-1 week in New York.

• On Friday, Marquette won a 14-9 contest in Buffalo, N.Y. to hand Canisius its first loss of the season.

• Kyra LaMotte and Shea Garcia each posted hat tricks, combining for nine goals and two assists.

• Despite being out-shot 22-13 in the first half, Amanda Rumsey made 10 saves for the Golden Eagles to keep things even at 5-5 at the half. Marquette then outscored Canisius 9-4 the rest of the way to secure the win.

• On Sunday, MU suffered a 12-9 loss at Niagara.

• After establishing a 3-1 lead early in the contest, MU fell behind as it allowed six-straight goals by Niagara. The second half was even, each team scoring five times, but the Golden Eagles were unable to overcome their slow offensive start.

• Mary Schumar found the net three times for her first-career hat trick, while Marquette's six other goals were distributed between six different players.

• Niagara caused 15 turnovers and out-shot Marquette 29-22.

LAMOTTE EARNS FIRST BIG EAST HONORS

• For her performance in MU's games against Canisius and Niagara last week, Kyra LaMotte was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

• The graduate attacker totaled seven points on the week with six goals and an assist, while also causing two turnovers.

• Against Canisius, she had a game-high five goals and an assist while taking 11 shots, seven of which were on target.

NEXT WOMAN UP

• After losing five all-BIG EAST players and seven starters from last year's squad and dealing with multiple injuries to key players early in the 2022 campaign, Marquette has relied on several newcomers and other young players stepping up this season.

• Eight of MU's 14 goal scorers this season either weren't on the team or didn't score at all last season.

• Six players (LaMotte, Blee, Powers, Rumsey, Chmielewski, Murray) who had never started a game for Marquette have made at least five starts already this season.

• Seven of the team's eight true freshmen have already appeared in multiple contests and played meaningful minutes this season.