Different goalie, same result.

The Golden Eagles defeated St. Francis (Pa.) 1-0 on Sunday with sophomore Andy Kroll manning the goal.

This, after Marquette pulled out a 1-0 victory over the Drake Bulldogs on Friday night behind the strong play of sophomore goalkeeper Steven Grow.

"It was just a feeling," said head coach Steve Adlard as to how he decided whom to start in goal.

Adlard's intuition served him well all weekend long, but especially on a muggy Sunday afternoon when his players seemed to be suffering through the warm weather.

The heat "affects your ability to think straight," Adlard said. "It also affects your energy level."

To combat the balmy conditions, Adlard made frequent substitutions throughout the game.

One such substitution led to the game-winning goal for the Golden Eagles.

In the 75th minute, senior midfielder Blair Kohlmeyer sent a pass toward the top of the box that was met by junior midfielder Richie Harris.

Harris pounded a one-timer over Red Flash goalkeeper Bobby Pipech's head and into the back of the net. The goal came just minutes after Harris had subbed into the game.

"Blair just crossed (the ball), and I made a run at it," Harris said. "It feels really good to get my first collegiate goal."

The weekend was full of firsts for the Golden Eagles.

Sunday marked the first meeting between Marquette and St. Francis.

The game also provided coaches and fans with their first good look at the future of the Golden Eagles.

Seven freshmen got in on the action against the Red Flash. At one point late in the first half, five freshmen were on the field at the same time.

With less than five minutes to go in the first half, freshman midfielder Andy Gill and freshman defender Aleksandar Bjelic worked to shut down a St. Francis attack and cleared the ball out of Marquette territory.

Surging up the field, freshman midfielder Mike Klemm led a breakaway with freshmen midfielders Nick Kay and Jamie Zarse to his right and left respectively.

The counterattack may not have resulted in a score, but it did provide the young players with much-needed collegiate experience.

"Playing time really builds your confidence as a player," Klemm said. "It also helps us build confidence as a team because everyone gets comfortable playing with one another."

Freshman midfielder Dan Addis and freshman forward Duncan Silvert-Noftle have also made a significant impact so far this year. Both players have already claimed spots in the starting lineup.

Although Adlard maintains that he was inserting "fresh legs, not freshmen" into Sunday's match, the head coach was quick to praise his youngest players.

"The freshmen played great (Sunday)," Adlard said. "They created chances; they got some shots. They really took it to the other team."

Creating scoring opportunities was something the Golden Eagles had struggled with Friday night versus Drake. The Bulldogs outshot Marquette 18-8.

Fortunately for the Golden Eagles, they took the only shot that scored.

Five minutes into the match, a scramble ensued at the top of the Bulldogs' box. The ball bounced around between players before dying in open space.

Junior midfielder Pat Knoelke beat a Drake defender to the ball and got off what turned out to be a shot.

The ball careened wide right of the goal and bent at the last second, curling just inside the far post.

"Me and (a Drake defender) went at (the ball), and it went off me," Knoelke said of his first collegiate goal. "Luckily, it went in."

Knoelke's goal was the only luck Marquette would need on a night when Grow stepped in to make nine saves and post his second shutout of the season.

"My team expects me to make those saves," Grow said. "It's routine. It's what we train for."

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 13, 2005.