WSOC Opens 2024 Campaign Thursday at Colorado

The Marquette University women's soccer team (0-0-0, 0-0-0 BIG EAST) opens its 2024 campaign on Thursday, August 15 when the squad travels to Colorado (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big 12) for an 8 p.m. CT match at Prentup Field.

The Golden Eagles will conclude their opening week on Sunday, August 18 at 12 p.m. CT when the team hosts Kansas City (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Summit League).

Allen Makes Debut As Head Coach

Thursday's match will mark the head-coaching debut for Chris Allen, who is in his first season with the Golden Eagles after a successful eight-year run on the staff at Saint Louis.

Allen helped guide SLU to a 131-30-11 overall record, five Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championships (67-6-5 record in A-10), six A-10 tournament titles and six-straight NCAA Championship appearances.

During his tenure, Allen coached five All-America selections, 15 all-region honorees and 25 all-conference team members. A total of 10 players claimed an A-10 player of the year award (offensive, defensive, goalkeeper, rookie) and multiple student-athletes were honored for academic success.

Minutes Available For Returnees & Newcomers

The Golden Eagles return 17 letterwinners, but just six players who started 10-or-more matches in 2023, leaving plenty of opportunity for valuable minutes on the field this season.

Marquette's most experienced returnee is senior Kate Gibson, who has appeared in 52 matches, but the Golden Eagles have a total of just five players with 40-or-more career appearances in the Blue & Gold. Of that group, Maggie Starker (42) will miss extended time to begin the season because of injury.

Head coach Chris Allen and his staff welcome a total of 12 newcomers, seven transfers and five freshmen, to the roster in 2024. The most experienced of the newcomers is senior Tess O'Connell, who appeared in over 60 games while at Rhode Island. Forward Brooke Bisko scored six goals at Eckerd College in 2023 and could add some much-needed scoring.

MU Looking For More Offense

The Golden Eagles finished 5-10-4 overall in 2023, netting a total of just 11 goals on the season.

Junior forward Josie Bieda is the team's top returning scorer with three goals and Kate Gibson, Caroline Cline and Emily Fix all found the back of the net on one occasion.

The goal-scoring by committee trend may continue early in 2024 as Marquette searches for a consistent threat at the offensive end.

Olson Lone Veteran Netminder

Senior goalkeeper Chloe Olson is one of four netminders on the roster, but the only one with collegiate experience.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota, native has started 14 of her 17 appearances, with a majority of the action coming in 2022. She started a pair of matches last season.

Transfers Elise Krone (TCU) and Charlotte Huggard (Purdue) add depth, but didn't see competitive action at their previous stops. Freshman Anna Jenkins rounds out the goalkeeping quartet.

Marquette Returns To Boulder

The Golden Eagles are returning to Prentup Field for the second-straight season, having earned a 1-0 victory on the road on Sept. 20, 2023.

Defender Caroline Cline netted the only score of the match, guiding home a perfectly-executed corner kick into the back of the net from five yards out. Classmates Mia Haertle and Kate Gibson assisted on the score at the 34:01 mark and MU held off Colorado the rest of the way.

Sunday's home opener will mark the first meeting with Kansas City.

Keep up with the Marquette University women's soccer team through social media by following the team on X (@MarquetteWSOC) and Instagram (@MarquetteWSOC) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteWSOC).