WLAX Returns Home to Host Central Michigan on Sunday

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MILWAUKEE — The Marquette women's lacrosse team (4-6, 0-0 BIG EAST) returns home this weekend as it plays host to Central Michigan. The Golden Eagles will face the Chippewas (5-5, 3-1 MAC) on Sunday, March 27, at Valley Fields at 12 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed by MUTV, with links for live video and stats available at GoMarquette.com.

Marquette is off to a 4-6 start to the year after dropping a pair of road contests on the west coast last week. It fell 18-12 to San Diego State on Tuesday before dropping a 16-9 decision against Oregon on Sunday. The Golden Eagles now have five of their remaining seven regular-season contests at home. 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 Marquette and Central Michigan have faced off seven times with the Golden Eagles holding a 5-2 advantage in the series. The teams met twice in 2021, Central Michigan winning 11-10 in Mount Pleasant and Marquette winning 15-4 in Milwaukee.

The Chippewas enter the weekend with a 5-5 overall record and a 3-1 mark in league play. Most recently, they posted a 13-7 win at home over Akron on Wednesday. Central Michigan is 2-4 in road contests this season.

Senior midfielder Maggie Diebold has led the squad's scoring efforts this season, finding the net 29 times, while sophomore midfielder Audrey Whiteside has totaled 36 points on 18 goals and a team-best 18 assists. In the net, Erin Owens has started eight of the team's 10 contests, posting a 4-4 record with a 12.80 GAA. The Chippewas are led by head coach Erin Owens, in her sixth season at the head of the program.

SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS

• Central Michigan is off to a .500 start to the year, owning a 5-5 overall record and going 3-1 in MAC contests.

• The Chippewas are coming off a home win, defeating Akron 13-7 on Wednesday.

• Central Michigan went 9-6 last season, including a 7-2 league mark to finish second in the MAC.

• The team is 2-4 on the road this season.

• Senior midfielder Maggie Diebold has led the squad's scoring efforts this season, finding the net 29 times, while sophomore midfielder Audrey Whiteside has totaled 36 points on 18 goals and a team-best 18 assists.

• In the net, Erin Owens has started eight of the team's 10 contests, posting a 4-4 record with a 12.80 GAA.

SERIES HISTORY VS CENTRAL MICHIGAN

• Sunday's contest will be the eighth all-time meeting between Marquette and Central Michigan.

• MU leads the all-time series 5-2.

• The teams faced off twice last season, Central Michigan winning 11-10 in Mount Pleasant and Marquette winning 15-4 in Milwaukee.

Last 5 Meetings

DATE LOCATION RESULT SCORE

3/5/21 H W 15-4

2/21/21 A L 11-12

3/4/20 H W 19-9

3/21/19 A L 7-16

2/16/18 H W 19-7

RECAPPING THE WEEK

• The Golden Eagles played a pair of road contests on the west coast last week, falling to San Diego State and Oregon.

• On Tuesday, Marquette dropped an 18-12 decision in San Diego.

• Despite taking a season-high 41 shots, 30 of which were on goal, MU was unable to keep up with San Diego State's efficient offensive attack.

• Freshman attack/midfielder Elise Smigiel finished with a team-high three goals and an assist on five shots as she recorded the first hat trick of her career. Lydia Foust, Kyra LaMotte, Emma Soccodato and Meg Bireley finished with two goals apiece.

• On Sunday, MU suffered a 16-9 loss at Oregon.

• After keeping things even for a stretch and getting off to a 6-6 start to the game, the Golden Eagles surrendered six-straight goals as Oregon was able to gain separation while limiting MU to just three second-half scores.

• Marquette won the draw control battle 15-13, and took 31 shots in the contest.

• Emma Soccodato and Lydia Foust propelled Marquette's offense as the midfield duo recorded four points apiece. Foust had a team-best three goals to go along with an assist, while Soccodato finished with two goals, two assists and a team-best seven draw controls.

BIRELEY MAKING AN IMPACT EARLY

• Marquette attack/midfielder Meg Bireley has been entrusted with a big role early on in her collegiate career, and has made the most of the opportunity.

• The true freshman has seen the field in all 10 contests for the Golden Eagles this season, and has found the back of the net in eight of those, including each of the past six games.

• Bireley currently ranks sixth on the team with 13 goals scored, and she's had two goals in three-straight contests.

• She has also recorded three assists, 36 shots, five ground balls and two caused turnovers on the season.

HOME, SWEET HOME

• After playing eight of its first 10 games this season on the road, Marquette now returns home for five of its final seven regular season contests of the 2022 campaign.

• The Golden Eagles are a 2-0 at Valley Fields this season, and have won their two home contests by a combined 36-18.

• Marquette has had a winning record at home in four of the past six seasons.

• MU will have four-straight home games against BIG EAST opponents in April as it hosts Villanova on April 9, Butler on April 16, Notre Dame on April 18 and Georgetown on April 24.