WLAX To Open BIG EAST Play at No. 21 UConn

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The Marquette women's lacrosse team (5-6, 0-0 BIG EAST) kicks off BIG EAST play this weekend as it travels to Storrs, Connecticut to face the No. 21 UConn Huskies. The Golden Eagles will face the Huskies (9-1, 0-0 BIG EAST) on Saturday, April 2, at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at 11 a.m. (CT). The game will be streamed on FloSports, with links for live video and stats available at GoMarquette.com.

Marquette enters league play with a 5-6 record on the year and just one upcoming non-conference contest remaining. Most recently, the Golden Eagles posted a 19-13 win over Central Michigan at Valley Fields on Sunday to keep their unbeaten streak at home alive.

After playing eight of its first 10 games on the road, MU will 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, Marquette and UConn have faced off eight times with the Huskies holding a 7-1 advantage in the series. The teams met twice in Milwaukee in 2021, Connecticut winning both wih a 18-13 win in the first contest and a 14-13 win in the second.

The Huskies enter conference play with a 9-1 overall record to rank No. 21 in the most recent IWLCA Coaches Poll. Most recently, they posted a 20-8 win at home over Columbia on Wednesday. Senior midfielder Sydney Watson, a 2021 First Team All-American, leads the team with 34 goals, 10 assists and 8.33 draw controls per game, sixth in the NCAA. In the net, Landyn White has started all 10 contests while making 106 saves. The Huskies are coached by Katie Woods, in her 12th season at the head of the program.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES

• UConn has started the year on a strong note, standing at a 9-1 overall record entering conference play.

• The Huskies are in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, capped off by a 20-8 victory over Columbia on Wednesday. UConn's only loss on the year came on Feb. 19 to No. 13 James Madison.

• Connecticut finished 2021 with a 12-7 record, going 7-3 in conference last season. The Huskies fell to No. 15 Denver in the BIG EAST Championship and earned an at-large NCAA bid before a loss to No. 11 Virginia in the opening round.

• UConn is yet to lose at home this year, owning a 5-0 record in Storrs.

• Senior midfielder Sydney Watson, a 2021 First Team All-American, paces her team with 34 goals and 10 assists, adding 8.33 draw controls per game (6th in NCAA). Watson, Kate Shaffer (29 goals, 10 assists) and Lia LaPrise (25 goals, 12 assists) are three of the BIG EAST's top five point producers this year.

• Senior goalie Landyn White has been the Huskies' starting netminder in all 10 games on the year. The reigning 2nd Team All-BIG EAST selection has stopped 106 shots and allowed 104 goals in 545 minutes.

SERIES HISTORY VS CENTRAL MICHIGAN

• Saturday's matchup will be the ninth all-time between MU and UConn.

• The Huskies own a 7-1 edge over the Golden Eagles in the series.

• Last year the squads met twice in Milwaukee, the first a 14-13 UConn win and the second an 18-13 Huskies victory.

Last 5 Meetings

DATE LOCATION RESULT SCORE

3/21/21 H L 13-14

3/19/21 H L 13-18

4/28/18 H W 15-14

4/12/17 A L 14-17

4/9/16 H L 13-15

LAST TIME OUT

• Marquette remained perfect at home last week as it hosted Central Michigan on Sunday, posting a 19-13 win.

• The Golden Eagles relied on high-powered, high-volume offense, tying a program record with 34 shots on goal while out-shooting the Chippewas 42-25 in the game.

• Nine different MU players scored in the contest, led by senior midfielder Lydia Foust who tied her career high with five goals. Mary Schumar also recorded a hat trick as she found the net three times.

• After going down 2-0 early in the first quarter, Marquette responded by scoring five unanswered goals in a span of just 2:42. It took a 10-9 lead into the half, then held Central Michigan to just four goals through the final two periods as it was able to gain separation and secure the win.

• Marquette won 23 of a possible 35 draw controls, led by Mary Blee's 11.

• Freshman Brynna Nixon spent the final 45 minutes in net for the Golden Eagles and recorded six saves.

SHEA'S ON FIRE

• Marquette attacker Shea Garcia has spearheaded the offense in her senior season, having a career year and putting up some of the best individual numbers in the conference.

• The Manhasset, New York, native has started in all 11 games and leads the Golden Eagles in goals (28) and points (40).

• Garcia ranks in the top ten in the BIG EAST in goals per game (7th), points per game (4th), assists per game (T-6th) and shots per game (5th).

• She has recorded 12 assists, five ground balls and five caused turnovers on the season while shooting 44.4 percent.

FOUST NAMED MIDFIELDER OF THE WEEK

• Following her performance in Marquette's 19-13 win over Central Michigan on Sunday, Lydia Foust was recognized by the conference as the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week.

• Foust, a senior, tied her career high with five goals in the contest, while also recording an assist, three ground balls and three caused turnovers. She took eight shots in the game, seven of which came on goal.

• This was the first weekly honor of the season for Foust, who was named to the preseason all-BIG EAST team.