Since Sept. 27, the Marquette women’s soccer team has been in the comforts of Milwaukee, hosting five Big East matches at Valley Fields. During that span, the Golden Eagles went 2-1-2 but could have arguably walked away 4-1.
“Overall, I’m pleased because we played well in all five games,” coach Markus Roeders said. “The two ties were disappointing, though, because we didn’t finish our chances in those games.”
In games against Pittsburgh and Providence, Marquette dominated the play on the field but was unable to break the goal line. In those two matches, the team fired 50 shots but to no avail.
“If we could have turned them into wins it would have been fantastic and would have reflected a little better on how we played,” Roeders said. “We’ve gotten better because of what has happened, though, and we can’t look back. We just need to keep moving forward.”
The Golden Eagles head to Cincinnati tomorrow to start a four-game road trip, which wraps up the Big East season. Junior defender Stephanie Vasos admitted a sense of comfort at home, but insisted that the team will not be fazed by the upcoming travel.
“We’re comfortable at home, and it’s always a little different playing on the road,” Vasos said. “But from now on we control our own destiny, so we have to stick to our same game plan.”
Vasos has played a key role for Marquette this season off the bench, scoring two goals, including the team’s first in its 3-2 overtime win against Connecticut.
“I was ecstatic,” Vasos said about her goal Friday night. “I knew that if we could just get one goal before they had any chance of getting a third that we could win the game.”
After last weekend, the Golden Eagles cracked the top 25 in Soccer America’s poll, coming in at No. 22. Marquette is 9-4-2 overall and 3-2-2 in conference and in good position to make it back to the NCAA Tournament. Because of what’s at stake, senior midfielder Michelle Compty knows the team cannot take any game lightly from here on in.
“We’re really focusing on the goal ahead and how important it is to come together when the time is right,” Compty said. “If we fall apart right now, there could be no hope for the postseason.
“These last couple games are very critical, and we have to win these games and go out on a good note.”
First up for the Golden Eagles is Cincinnati, which has recorded just four points in its last six games. Cincinnati (7-7-1, Big East 2-4-1) sits sixth in the Big East National Division with seven points.
Unlike Marquette, the Bearcats have played their last five games on the road, but end the season with four games on their home field.
“There’s always the travel factor, which takes a toll on us, but you can’t use that as an excuse,” Compty said. “When it comes down to it you have to be ready when the whistle blows.”
The last two seasons, Marquette and Cincinnati have battled to 1-1 draws and Roeders believes this team is capable of breaking that norm.
“For us there’s extra motivation, because we have tied them the past two years,” he said. “We have some momentum, and I feel that we have performed pretty well on the road, so we’ll take that forward into this weekend.”
