Urgency has spread throughout the women's soccer team. It has trickled down from the seniors, the only members who experienced NCAA tournament play in 2002, to underclassmen like freshman defender Katie Kelly, who rewarded head coach Markus Roeders Sunday for starting her with a 40-yard game-winning goal.

This group will set the standard for the program in the newly formed Big East for years to come after Roeders and associate head coach Frank Pelaez established Marquette as the dominant women's soccer program in Conference USA for nine years.

Such is the burden.

"We have a lot of senior leadership, and I think that helps a lot," said senior midfielder Julie Thompson. "I mean, we're kinda playing for something. It's our last year, in a new conference. I feel like we're playing a lot harder."

In a pair of victories over Big Ten opponents in last weekend's Milwaukee Cup, Marquette knocked the ball around with a swagger that was absent last season when the team went 12-8-1 and finished third in C-USA.

"Experience is huge at this level," said senior midfielder Sarah Uyenishi. "We have a lot of seniors that play a lot. There's a ton of leadership on the field. The younger girls are learning and listening."

To be fair, the team's cohesiveness should be expected, for the core of last year's squad remains. Only goalkeeper Katie Bissen needed a replacement in the starting lineup. Sophomore transfer Laura Boyer debuted last weekend and did not miss a beat.

The seniors in midfield remain the strength of the squad, but with a slightly different look. The relentless Lindsay Michuda still disrupts the opponent's attack, which enables Thompson to make forward runs. Senior Heather Goranson, however, has moved from a wide midfield role to central defense. Uyenishi has moved from her sweeper role last year to assume a defensive midfield position.

"It was a challenge for both of us at the beginning," Goranson said. "Whatever that is gonna work best for the team is what we want to try to do."

"At this level you gotta be able to play anywhere," Uyenishi said. "Everyone, not just us, has done a great job of adjusting."

Junior Michelle Pitzl, a converted defender, impressed during the opening weekend games because of her aggressiveness and strong tackles.

Up front, junior Meghan Connelly must build upon last year's steady production (six goals, six assists). But the key will be to find a consistent complement to Connelly. Sophomore Christy Zwolski staked an early claim with the game-winner against Illinois.

Marquette hopes the Illini will become the first of many high-profile victories this season at Valley Fields.

The semifinals and championship of the Big East tournament will be held at Valley Fields, but the Golden Eagles will likely have to defeat either West Virginia or Connecticut — both of which were nationally ranked in most preseason polls — to advance that far. In addition, defending national champion (and the favorite to win it again, no less) Notre Dame visits Marquette in a regular season duel on Sept. 30.

Marquette would have it no other way. The target no longer rests on the team's back. The Big East powers are the ones who should be worried, according to Goranson.

"I think (being an underdog) is an ideal role for us," she said. "They don't know what we're bringing … We can have more upsets like we did this weekend."

They'll need to if they dream of an NCAA tournament bid.

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 1, 2005.