
Photo by: Marquette University
WSOC Hosts Marquette Challenge Cup
8/26/2024 9:57:00 AM | Women's Soccer
MU, UIC, Milwaukee and Minnesota participating in four-team event
The Marquette University women's soccer team (0-3-1, 0-0-0 BIG EAST) will host a pair of matches this week in the Marquette Challenge Cup, which enters its second year in 2024.
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The Golden Eagles welcome UIC on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. CT and Minnesota at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 1.
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Milwaukee will also face the Gophers (Aug. 29) and Flames (Sept. 1) to complete the four-team field. Â The tournament winner will be determined by the two-match results and an all-tourney team will be named.
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In 2023, Milwaukee claimed the cup with a win over Minnesota and a draw against Denver.
Gibson Hero In Hometown Draw
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Kansas City native Kate Gibson headed home an Alexa Maletis corner kick with 12 seconds left in regulation to allow Marquette to rally for a 1-1 draw against Kansas City on Sunday afternoon at Valley Fields.
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Playing in her 51st career game for MU, the St. Teresa's Academy product netted her first goal since scoring on Sept. 21, 2023 versus DePaul in a 2-1 victory.
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Unfortunately for MU, Gibson's goal is the only ball to find the back of the net through four matches. Â The team's offensive struggles span back to 2023, when the squad netted just 11 goals the entire season.
Lineup Features New Faces
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Marquette's starting lineup in the opener against Colorado featured six players making their respective first-career starts with the Golden Eagles, including three collegiate debuts.
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In each of the first four outings in 2024, at least one player was on the field for the opening whistle for the first time. Â A total of 11 players have now made their starting lineup debut for the Blue & Gold this season.
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Allen Makes Debut As Head Coach
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The season opener marked the head-coaching debut for Chris Allen, who is in his first year with the Golden Eagles after a successful eight-year run on the staff at Saint Louis.
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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.
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During his tenure, Allen coached five All-America selections, 15 all-region honorees and 25 all-conference team members. Â 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.
MU Honors Dr. Lovell In 2024
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The Marquette women's soccer team, and all programs at MU, will honor former president Dr. Michael R. Lovell this season by wearing patches on its uniforms in 2024-25.
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Dr. Lovell passed away in June after a courageous battle with cancer and was a tremendous ambassador for the university and greater Milwaukee community.
  Â
Dr. Lovell served at Marquette for 10 years and was a strong supporter of all the student-athletes at the university and a familiar face in the crowd at hundreds of competitions during his tenure.
MU Faces Familiar Opponents
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The Golden Eagles have faced both UIC and Minnesota in recent seasons.
  Â
MU is 1-1-1 all-time against the Flames, with all three meetings coming since 2021. Â Marquette has earned a pair of wins over the Gophers in a series that dates back to 1993 and includes a meeting in the 2008 NCAA tournament.
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The Golden Eagles welcome UIC on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. CT and Minnesota at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 1.
  Â
Milwaukee will also face the Gophers (Aug. 29) and Flames (Sept. 1) to complete the four-team field. Â The tournament winner will be determined by the two-match results and an all-tourney team will be named.
  Â
In 2023, Milwaukee claimed the cup with a win over Minnesota and a draw against Denver.
Gibson Hero In Hometown Draw
  Â
Kansas City native Kate Gibson headed home an Alexa Maletis corner kick with 12 seconds left in regulation to allow Marquette to rally for a 1-1 draw against Kansas City on Sunday afternoon at Valley Fields.
  Â
Playing in her 51st career game for MU, the St. Teresa's Academy product netted her first goal since scoring on Sept. 21, 2023 versus DePaul in a 2-1 victory.
  Â
Unfortunately for MU, Gibson's goal is the only ball to find the back of the net through four matches. Â The team's offensive struggles span back to 2023, when the squad netted just 11 goals the entire season.
Lineup Features New Faces
  Â
Marquette's starting lineup in the opener against Colorado featured six players making their respective first-career starts with the Golden Eagles, including three collegiate debuts.
  Â
In each of the first four outings in 2024, at least one player was on the field for the opening whistle for the first time. Â A total of 11 players have now made their starting lineup debut for the Blue & Gold this season.
   Â
Allen Makes Debut As Head Coach
  Â
The season opener marked the head-coaching debut for Chris Allen, who is in his first year with the Golden Eagles after a successful eight-year run on the staff at Saint Louis.
  Â
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.
  Â
During his tenure, Allen coached five All-America selections, 15 all-region honorees and 25 all-conference team members. Â 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.
MU Honors Dr. Lovell In 2024
  Â
The Marquette women's soccer team, and all programs at MU, will honor former president Dr. Michael R. Lovell this season by wearing patches on its uniforms in 2024-25.
  Â
Dr. Lovell passed away in June after a courageous battle with cancer and was a tremendous ambassador for the university and greater Milwaukee community.
  Â
Dr. Lovell served at Marquette for 10 years and was a strong supporter of all the student-athletes at the university and a familiar face in the crowd at hundreds of competitions during his tenure.
MU Faces Familiar Opponents
  Â
The Golden Eagles have faced both UIC and Minnesota in recent seasons.
  Â
MU is 1-1-1 all-time against the Flames, with all three meetings coming since 2021. Â Marquette has earned a pair of wins over the Gophers in a series that dates back to 1993 and includes a meeting in the 2008 NCAA tournament.
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Players Mentioned
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