WLAX Takes Down Xavier 22-7

MILWAUKEE — The Marquette women's lacrosse team (12-1, 2-0 BIG EAST) extended its win streak to nine Saturday afternoon, defeating Xavier 22-7 inside the Valley Fields Dome.

"We're really happy we were able to play hard and get everyone in, which is always nice," said Marquette head coach Meredith Black. "I think this was overall a good game. We played full-speed and it gave us an opportunity to work on some things that we needed to work on."

The Golden Eagles used a record-filled afternoon from Shea Garcia to help secure the win and build on their best win total in program history. Garcia scored a program-record eight goals, including seven in the first quarter alone, and also became the team's all-time points leader and first MU player to ever reach 200 points in a career.

In what was the first-ever meeting between Marquette and first-year program Xavier, the Musketeers scored first and got a handful of first quarter goals to make it a 5-4 lead early on. It was all MU the rest of the way though, as the Golden Eagles scored 17 of the game's next 20 goals.

It took Garcia just 6:45 to pick up a hat trick, and 14:56 to tie the program scoring record with her seventh goal She would then break the record with her eighth midway through the third quarter.

As a team, Marquette tied the program record for assists in a game with 14 led by senior attacker Mary Schumar's six. Schumar also had two goals, a pair of ground balls and a caused turnover in the game. 11 different Golden Eagles scored in the contest.

MU also came just one draw control shy of tying the program's all-time single game mark, dominating Xavier 24-8 in the circle. Senior defender Ellie Henry led the way in that category, totaling nine draws and also leading the squad with four caused turnovers.

In net for Marquette, sophomore Brynna Nixon played 55 minutes with five saves before freshman Ava Sprinkel came in for the final stretch and made one save.

Marquette now sits tied with Denver atop of the BIG EAST standings with its first-ever 2-0 start to league play.

Xavier was led by Sawyer Walker, who had two goals and an assist.

UP NEXT: The Golden Eagles remain at home next weekend as they host No. 25 UConn on Saturday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at Valley Fields. Links for live stats and stream will be available on gomarquette.com.

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).