WLAX Continues Homestand with Cincinnati Sunday

Sunday, February 8

Milwaukee, WI

12 P.M. CT

Marquette University

Cincinnati

Buy Tickets

Marquette Women's Lacrosse defeats Eastern Michigan 20-9 at Valley Fields in Milwaukee, WI on February 6th, 2026.

Photo by: Marquette Athletics

2/7/2026 2:05:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

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Golden Eagles continue longest running series in program history with Bearcats

By: Communications

The Marquette University women's lacrosse team is set to continue their season-opening homestand on Sunday, hosting Cincinnati at Valley Fields. Opening draw control is set for 12 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

LAST TIME OUT

MU opened the 2026 season with a 20–9 victory over Eastern Michigan on Friday afternoon at the Valley Fields Dome. The Golden Eagles scored early and often, using a balanced offensive effort and strong draw control play to pull away after a competitive opening quarter.

Notables from MU's game against Eastern Michigan:

MU's 20 goals were tied for the most in a season opener
Seven different Golden Eagles found the back of the net
Senior Tess Osburn equaled her career-best in points with seven
Osburn's four goals moved her to 115 career goals, tying for sixth all-time in program history, and 151 career points, three shy of eighth all-time
Junior Riley Jenkins secured new career-highs in goals (four) and points (four)
Hanna Bodner added three goals, marking her ninth career game with three or more goals.
Freshman Dani Serrano recorded an impressive collegiate debut with three goals and three assists for six points.
Freshman Ella Mautz tallied two goals and one assist in her first collegiate appearance
Jillian Howell made her collegiate debut in goal, recording eight saves while allowing just two goals in the second half

HISTORY VS. CINCINNATI

Marquette leads the all-time series 10–3, having won eight of the last nine meetings between the programs, including winning four consecutive games from 2022–25. MU has won each of the last three meetings overall at Valley Fields.

Last season, MU defeated the Bearcats, 15-9, on the road. After Cincinnati scored just 10 seconds into the game, the Golden Eagles answered with four straight goals and took a 6–3 lead after one quarter. Cincinnati cut the deficit to four twice in the third quarter and again early in the fourth, but Marquette answered each surge, with Hanna Bodner and Tess Osburn each recording hat tricks.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS

Cincinnati opened its season with a 17–9 win over Xavier on Feb. 6, building an early lead and pulling away late. The Bearcats scored six goals in the first quarter and held a 10–2 advantage at halftime before adding seven more goals in the fourth quarter. Alyse Keels led Cincinnati with six goals, while Lexie Wolfe added four goals and two assists as the Bearcats outshot Xavier 40–31 and held a 21–7 edge in draw controls.

Cincinnati enters the 2026 season after finishing 8–9 in 2025, continuing its rise under head coach Gina Thomas in its second year competing in the Big 12. The Bearcats return key offensive contributors led by Paige Selhorn, a 2026 Preseason All–Big 12 selection, and bring back a veteran-heavy roster featuring multiple juniors and seniors. Cincinnati averaged nearly 12 goals per game last season and showed the ability to compete in tight contests.

FRESHMAN IMPACT IN SEASON OPENER

Marquette's freshman class made an immediate impact in the season opener, contributing across multiple areas in the 20–9 win over Eastern Michigan. Dani Serrano led the group with six points in her collegiate debut, recording three goals and three assists. Ella Mautz added three points on two goals and an assist, while Gabby Windesheim played a key role in Marquette's possession game. Goalkeeper Jillian Howell played the entire second half and allowed just two goals, making eight saves.

HIGH POWERED OFFENSE

Marquette's offense featured efficiency and balance, scoring 20 goals on 30 shots while placing 25 shots on goal. Seven different Golden Eagles scored goals, and seven players recorded multi‑point performances, highlighting the depth of the attack early in the season.

BY THE NUMBERS (2025)

10 - Marquette wins in 2025, marking the third 10-win season in program history.
13.94 - Goals per game, ranking third in the BIG EAST and among the top scoring offenses nationally.
20.81 - Points per game, third in the BIG EAST during the 2025 season.
33.1 - Shots per game, the highest average in the BIG EAST.
312 - Ground balls, ranking second in the BIG EAST.
172 - Caused turnovers, third in the BIG EAST and an average of 10.8 per game.
.850 - Team clearing percentage (255-of-300), one of the top marks in the BIG EAST.
45 - Goals by Tess Osburn in 2025, the most among returning players.
45/52 - Goals and draw controls by Hanna Bodner, who ranked among BIG EAST leaders in both categories.

FOUR EARN PRESEASON HONORS

Marquette placed four student-athletes on the Preseason All-BIG EAST team, led by unanimous selections Tessa Osburn and reigning BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year Hanna Bodner.

Junior attacker Lauren Grady and junior defender Mary Velner also earned preseason honors after All-BIG EAST Second Team honors in 2025.

RETURNING PRODUCTION

Marquette returns a significant portion of its field production from a 10-win 2025 season, bringing back 66% of its goals (148 of 223) and 64% of its total points (213 of 333) from players on the 2026 roster.

The Golden Eagles also return 59% of assists, 62% of shots, 66% of ground balls, 67% of draw controls, and 69% of caused turnovers, highlighting continuity across all areas of the field.

MARQUETTE WELCOMES 10 FOR 2026

Marquette welcomes a deep and versatile freshman class for the 2026 season, highlighted by attackers Dani Serrano and Ella Mautz, who add scoring potential to the Golden Eagle offense, and midfielders Megan Hansen, Gabby Windesheim, Emily Couri, and Mia Oh, bolstering depth and competition through the middle of the field.

Defensively, newcomers Eliza Agate, Finley Breen, and Annabel Carlin strengthen a young back line, while Jillian Howell joins the goalkeeper unit, giving Marquette added options as the program looks to integrate youth into key roles this spring.

2025 SEASON RECAP

Marquette enters the 2026 season following a 10–6 campaign in 2025, marking the third 10-win season in program history. The Golden Eagles played 11 games decided by five goals or fewer last season.

Offensively, Marquette averaged 13.94 goals per game, fourth-best single-season scoring average in program history. The Golden Eagles reached double figures in scoring in 12 of 16 contests, including six games with 18 or more goals.

HOME SWEET HOME

Valley Fields continues to be a stronghold for the Golden Eagles, as Marquette posted a 6–2 home record in 2025 and is 1-0 so far in 2026. MU has now won 12 of its last 16 games on its home turf.

MARQUETTE MISC.

The Golden Eagles have recorded 10 or more wins in three of the last four seasons.
The Golden Eagles cleared at an .850 clip (255-of-300), one of the best marks in the BIG EAST.
Graduate midfielder Hanna Bodner and Senior attacker Tess Osburn scored 45 goals last season, the seventh-most in a single season in program history.
Marquette produced five players with 14 or more points in 2025 who return for 2026.