WLAX Heads to Tempe for Matchup at Arizona State

Tuesday, February 24

Tempe, AZ

1 P.M. CT (12 P.M. MT)

Marquette University

Arizona State

2/22/2026 11:50:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse

Game Notes (PDF)Watch (ESPN+)Live Stats

Golden Eagles search for first road win of 2026 season.

By: Communications

The Marquette University women's lacrosse team continues their road stretch this Tuesday, taking on Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. First draw is set for 1:00 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.

LAST TIME OUT
Marquette fell 25–7 in its first road test of the season at No. 4 Northwestern, but the Golden Eagles saw six different players score, led by Riley Jenkins' two goals. After keeping things close early with goals from Jenkins, Tess Osburn and CJ Meehan, MU couldn't slow a long Northwestern run before adding late tallies from Hanna Bodner, Sarah Beth Burns and Isabelle Casucci. Freshman goalie Jillian Howell made her first career start, recording four saves, as Marquette moved to its first loss of 2026.

HISTORY VS. ARIZONA STATE
The all-time series between Marquette and Arizona State is tied 1–1, with each team winning once on its home field. The Sun Devils claimed the first meeting in 2020 with an 18–14 victory in Tempe, while the Golden Eagles evened the series in 2025 with a dramatic 18–17 overtime win at Valley Fields.

SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS
Arizona State enters the matchup at 1-2, coming off a dominant 23-9 win over Lindenwood that showcased a potent offensive effort led by Jordyn Behar, Lydia Oldknow and Teagan Ng. That bounce‑back victory followed a narrow 12-11 overtime loss at Oregon and a 14-7 defeat to No. 22 Denver, leaving the Sun Devils showing both scoring firepower and early‑season inconsistency through their first three game.

SCORING PACE AMONG NATION'S BEST
Marquette is averaging 15.75 goals per game, which places the Golden Eagles 10th nationally and 1st in the BIG EAST through four contests. They're also at 22.50 points per game, good for 15th nationally and again first in the league. MU has already produced three games of 17+ goals.

ACCURACY ON POINT
Shot selection and placement have been premium, as MU's .529 team shot percentage sits 12th in Division I and best in the conference, while the team's 24.75 shots on goal per game ranks 13th nationally and No. 1 in the league.

OSBURN STEPPING INTO LEADERSHIP ROLE
Senior Tess Osburn has opened the year with 14 goals (11th nationally) and 19 points (12th nationally) while shooting .667. She's averaging 3.50 goals per game, and she's doing it on 21 total shots.

SERRANO SURGING IN FIRST YEAR
Freshman Dani Serrano has posted 10 goals and 8 assists for 18 points, with the 8 assists ranking 24th nationally and her 2.00 assists per game at 43rd in the country. Her distribution is a big reason MU averages 6.75 assists per game, which sits 22nd nationally and 1st in the conference.

BALANCED SCORING SPREAD ACROSS ROSTER
Marquette's offensive depth has been a hallmark early on, with 12 different players recording at least one point and nine different players scoring multiple goals through the first four games. Beyond top scorers like Osburn (14 goals) and Serrano (10 goals), MU has also seen production from Hanna Bodner (10), Riley Jenkins (7), Sarah Beth Burns (5), and CJ Meehan and Isabelle Casucci (3 each). This scoring distribution has helped MU maintain the No. 1 scoring offense in the conference, as opponents have struggled to key on any single attacker.

TEAM TAKEAWAY
Marquette leans into pressure and it shows: 11.75 caused turnovers per game ranks 11th nationally and first in the conference. On raw totals, MU owns 47 caused turnovers to opponents' 26, part of a +18 overall turnover margin built from just 57 MU turnovers versus 75 by opponents.

EIGHT-METER ADVANTAGE
The Golden Eagles are 12‑for‑16 on free‑position opportunities—.750 to rank 8th nationally and 1st in the league—while opponents are 8‑for‑19 (.421) against MU. The resulting +0.329 percentage gap has been a quiet separator in close sequences, turning fouls drawn into high‑leverage goals and denying the same lifeline on the defensive end.

GROUND BALL HUSTLE
Marquette averages 17.0 ground balls per game, placing the team 38th nationally and top‑four in the conference, with a 68–56 overall edge that keeps extra possessions in blue and gold. Individually, Sofia Santana leads at 2.25 ground balls per game and Taylor Kotschevar adds 2.00, steadying the unit in scramble plays and on clears where small winning margins often decide long runs.

DEFENSE STRONG SHORTHANDED
Despite facing 14 man‑up opportunities, the defense has allowed just one man‑down goal, matching their own one man‑down goal scored. That 1–1 man‑down exchange is notable because MU has faced more total opponent man‑up situations yet has not allowed that disadvantage to alter game outcomes.