The Marquette women’s lacrosse team will enter Big East play a game below .500 Friday night, as the it welcomes Cincinnati for the Golden Eagle’s annual game to benefit Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

The Golden Eagles begin conference play against a red-hot Bearcat team that won its last five games. A season ago, Cincinnati defeated Marquette 14-5. The Bearcats are led by senior Taylor Young, who scored four goals on four shots in Cincinnati’s last game against Detroit to bring her season total to 12.

“I think they’re similar to us,” coach Meredith Black said. “They have a lot of the same strengths that we have. It’s going to be a tough game. We’re entering Big East play on Friday, and every single game the rest of our season is going to be a battle.”

Young was named to this week’s Big East Honor Roll, along with Marquette freshman Amanda Bochniak, who is also coming off a four-goal game of her own against Winthrop. This is the third time that Bochniak was named to the Big East Honor Roll this season after earning seven points this week for the Golden Eagles.

For the second straight year, Marquette will help spread the word about pancreatic cancer during one of the team’s home games. Last year, the event raised more than $10,000 for PCAN. This year, the team is more than halfway to its goal. Members of the women’s lacrosse team will be in the AMU during the lunch hour Thursday, selling raffle tickets for various prizes. All proceeds will go directly to the charity. Raffle tickets start at $5 for a single ticket and $20 for eight tickets.

“I am thrilled to continue the tradition of hosting a ‘Pan Can’ game again this year,” Black said. “This cause is so important to me personally, and to many of the players on my team. We love to feel that we can make a difference, even if just by spreading awareness about pancreatic cancer.”

Marquette will wear purple in the pre-game warm ups to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer.