Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Denver
WLAX Set for BIG EAST Semifinals with No. 17 Denver Thursday
4/29/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Golden Eagles set for first BIG EAST Tournament game since 2023.
The Marquette University women's lacrosse team (9-6, 3-3Â BIG EAST) is set for their first BIG EAST Tournament appearance since 2023, facing off against #17 Denver (13-3, 6-0 BIG EAST) in the semifinal round. First draw is set for 5 p.m. CT from Denver, with ESPN+ featuring the broadcast.
LAST TIME OUT
MU closed the regular season with a 12–10 loss at UConn on Saturday, April 25. Riley Jenkins led the Golden Eagles with four goals, while Hanna Bodner and Eileen Dooley added two each as MU rallied multiple times after falling behind early. Marquette trimmed a four‑goal deficit to one at halftime and again pushed within two late in the fourth quarter, but the Huskies held on. Senior Tess Osburn recorded her 200th career point on an assist in the final period.
MARQUETTE IN THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
Marquette women's lacrosse has made four appearances in the BIG EAST Tournament, holding an 0–4 all‑time record, with each trip marked by a semifinal matchup against a nationally ranked opponent. The Golden Eagles' previous appearance as the No. 4 seed came in 2018, when Marquette fell to top‑seeded Florida, 19–8, in Gainesville. In its other tournament runs, Marquette competed as a higher seed but came up short each time, including a pair of losses to Georgetown and a one‑goal setback at UConn in 2023.
GOLDEN EAGLES RAKE IN BIG EAST AWARDS
Marquette placed six players on the 2026 All‑BIG EAST teams, tying the program record for most honorees in a single season, a mark previously reached in 2022 and 2023. The Golden Eagles were highlighted by unanimous First Team selections Hanna Bodner and Dani Serrano, with Bodner earning BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year honors and Serrano named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, the second time in program history Marquette earned two major league awards in the same season. Tess Osburn was named to the First Team, while Sofia Santana, Riley Jenkins and Gabby Windesheim earned Second Team recognition.
BALANCED AND EFFICIENT ATTACK
Marquette ranks No. 23 nationally and No. 2 in the BIG EAST in scoring offense, averaging 13.67 goals per game, while also sitting No. 24 nationally and No. 2 in the league in points per game (20.60). The Golden Eagles scored 205 total goals, reaching double figures in 13 of 15 games and eclipsing the 20‑goal mark twice.
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE CREATES OPPORTUNITIES
Defensively, Marquette ranks No. 26 nationally and No. 1 in the BIG EAST in caused turnovers per game (10.40), forcing 156 takeaways over 15 games. The Golden Eagles consistently flipped field position through ball pressure, ranking near the top of the conference in defensive disruption.
ELITE SHOT SELECTION
Efficiency continues to separate Marquette on the offensive end, as the Golden Eagles rank No. 22 nationally and No. 2 in the BIG EAST in shot percentage (.458). MU also ranks No. 16 nationally and No. 1 in the conference in shots on goal per game (22.73), consistently generating high‑quality looks rather than volume shooting.
UNSELFISH BALL MOVEMENT
Marquette ranks No. 27 nationally and No. 2 in the BIG EAST in assists per game (6.93), highlighting an offense built on spacing, pace and decision‑making. The Golden Eagles recorded 104 assists on 205 goals, assisting on just over 50 percent of their scoring this season.
SERRANO'S BREAKOUT CAMPAIGN
Freshman attacker Dani Serrano earned unanimous First Team All‑BIG EAST honors and was named unanimous BIG EAST Freshman of the Year after leading the conference in assists and points. Serrano totaled 37 assists and 67 points while adding 30 goals in 15 starts. She ranked first in the BIG EAST in assists per game and points per game and led qualified league players with a .588 shooting percentage. Serrano became the first freshman in program history to earn First Team All‑BIG EAST recognition and the second freshman overall to be named All‑BIG EAST.
BODNER DOMINANT ACROSS THE FIELD
Graduate midfielder Hanna Bodner was a unanimous First Team All‑BIG EAST selection for the second straight season and earned her second consecutive BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year honor. Bodner finished with 34 goals and 41 points while leading the BIG EAST with 72 draw controls. She added 27 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers, ranking among the team leaders in both categories, and paced the conference with six free‑position goals. Bodner continued a run of Marquette midfielders earning the league's top honor for the fourth straight season and became the sixth MU midfielder to do so.
OSBURN STEADY AT THE ATTACK
Senior attacker Tess Osburn earned First Team All‑BIG EAST recognition for the third straight season after previously earning Second Team honors in 2024 and 2025. Osburn led Marquette and ranked second in the BIG EAST with 40 goals while finishing with 56 points. She led the conference with three game‑winning goals and ranked first in the BIG EAST with eight man‑up goals. Osburn also paced the team in shots and shots on goal during her senior campaign.
JENKINS ADDS DEPTH IN THE MIDFIELD
Junior midfielder Riley Jenkins earned the first All‑BIG EAST honor of her career with a Second Team selection. Jenkins finished with 22 goals and 24 points while ranking fourth in the BIG EAST with five man‑up goals. She added 26 draw controls, eight ground balls and nine caused turnovers, and ranked among the league leaders with two man‑down goals.
SANTANA THE ANCHOR OF THE MU DEFENSE
Senior defender Sofia Santana collected the first All‑BIG EAST honor of her career with a Second Team selection. Santana ranked second in the BIG EAST with 24 caused turnovers while adding 23 ground balls across 15 starts. She played a key role in a Marquette defense that ranked first in the conference in caused turnovers per game.
WINDESHEIM THRIVES IN THE DRAW CIRCLE
Freshman draw specialist Gabby Windesheim earned Second Team All‑BIG EAST honors, becoming the third freshman in program history to receive All‑BIG EAST recognition. Windesheim totaled 31 draw controls, ranking second on the team, while starting all 15 games. She became the first Marquette draw control specialist to earn All‑BIG EAST honors since 2022 and just the second draw specialist in program history to receive the distinction.
