Thirty-one minutes into Sunday's game versus Northwestern, Wildcat striker Kelsey Hans broke through the Golden Eagles' defense and had only one person to beat in order to tie the match 2-2.

Unfortunately for Hans, that person was redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Laura Boyer.

As Hans raced up the field, Boyer positioned herself between the approaching striker and the goal. And then she waited for "the touch."

"It's a stutter-step almost," Boyer said. "It's that one last touch before (the striker) shoots the ball."

Hans closed to within 15 feet, slowed for a millisecond, and took one touch — the touch.

Just as quickly as Hans had gotten off the shot, Boyer had sprinted up and knocked away the effort.

"Laura is so active and aggressive," said senior defender Heather Goranson. "She lives for those (situations)."

By the end of the weekend, the women's soccer team (2-0-0) had found both a promising start to its 2005 campaign and a new starting goalkeeper.

Or maybe it would be more accurate to say the new starting keeper found the Marquette women's soccer team.

After sitting out most of the 2003 and 2004 seasons at Iowa State University, Boyer decided to leave the Cyclones in search of more playing time.

"I went (to Iowa State) to play soccer," Boyer said. "I just wasn't doing what I wanted to do there."

Boyer decided to visit childhood friends Britni Benage and Ashley Baird at Marquette, where she immediately felt a family atmosphere encompassing the campus.

Since transferring to Marquette in the spring of 2004, Boyer has provided a lot of energy to the women's soccer team.

"She brings a different dynamic," Goranson said of Boyer. "She's such a great spark for all of us."

According to student assistant coach Katie Bissen, Boyer's dynamic is due, in part, to her "typical goalie personality."

Bissen, Marquette's starting goalkeeper for the past two seasons and a four-year letterwinner, explained that goalies are known for being very random and very silly.

On board the team bus to practices, Boyer often will feel the need to get up and dance emphatically to whatever music happens to be playing.

"She moves like she's in the club," said freshman defender Katie Kelly of her goalkeeper. "She has so much energy all the time."

So far this season, Boyer has been able to put that energy to good use. In Friday's game versus then-13th ranked Illinois, Boyer posted a three-save shutout. Sunday, Boyer added five more saves in a win over Northwestern.

"Laura has stepped in and made some crucial saves for us," said head coach Markus Roeders. "She fits in so well with the team. It doesn't feel like she's a new player at all."

Friday's game was of special importance to Boyer, even before the opening kickoff. Standing out at midfield, holding hands with her teammates during the playing of the national anthem, Boyer knew she had made the right decision in becoming a Golden Eagle.

"Sitting out two years makes this all more worthwhile," Boyer said. "I've waited a long time to be a part of something special."

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