After snapping Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s 24-game home win streak and taking the nation’s top team to the brink of defeat three days later, Marquette women’s soccer coach Markus Roeders had only positive things to say about his team.

“Our approach, the way we played and executed our game plan was a huge step forward for our team,” Roeders said. “If we continue to do that, it should lead to us winning more games.”

Following a 1-1 record and second-place finish at the Inn at St. Mary’s Classic over the weekend, the Golden Eagles now return to Valley Fields.

Marquette will play host to Wisconsin-Green Bay tonight and is hungry for a victory against an in-state rival.

“You have to approach every game with the same level of excitement and intensity,” midfielder Rosie Malone-Povolny said. “We definitely showed well against North Carolina, and that confidence will help us in any game, especially Green Bay.”

Malone-Povolny has been a workhorse for the Golden Eagles since stepping foot on campus three years ago. Now a junior, she has started 44 out of a possible 47 games and rarely comes off the field.

“I just feel fortunate to play, because we have so much talent on the team,” she said.

If this talented Golden Eagles squad sticks to the basics and creates more scoring chances, it should have no problems against the Phoenix.

“If we do what we’ve been doing so far and work on creating more offensive opportunities, good things will happen,” Roeders said.

UW-Green Bay comes into the game with a less than impressive 1-3 record, but all three losses have been decided by one goal. It will also be UW-Green Bay’s fifth-consecutive road game, a stat Marquette will certainly take note of.

“You have to take advantage of your home field,” Roeders said. “There’s nothing better than being home.”

Malone-Povolny understands the importance of winning at home and thinks it affects how the team performs.

“It definitely makes a huge difference on how you play,” she said. “No one likes to lose at home, so I think that ups the ante a little bit.”

The Phoenix have recorded just three goals this season and it won’t get easier tonight against the solid back line of Marquette.

A big reason for the early defensive success is freshman defender Ally Miller, who has filled the shoes of her older sister Katie in the stopper position.

“We make a pretty good team in the back and communicate well together,” Miller said about playing alongside her sister. “It’s been really fun and fortunate that we can play together.”

As for playing at home, Miller has enjoyed the atmosphere at Valley Fields and looks forward to the UW-Green Bay match tonight.

“It’s a really fun environment playing for your classmates and your school,” Miller said.

This season, the Golden Eagles have formed a solid and unified back line, allowing just three goals through five matches.

“They’ve really started to form a collective unit,” Roeders said.