For the Marquette women’s soccer team, Saturday’s match wasn’t just another game. However, if you listen to senior defender Kerry McBride and coach Markus Roeders after Marquette’s (17-2-0, 10-1-0 Big East) 2-0 win over South Florida (6-8-4, 2-6-3 Big East), they make a pretty convincing case it was.
“It’s always special when we win, but I don’t think it’s any different than any other win we had this season,” McBride said. “We’ve had a really great season, everyone has worked really hard, and I think we’re just ready for what’s next.”
Roeders added: “It’s just something that we want to do every time we come out, and I think we have something special at home. Some things don’t ever change, and we just want to win. I’m really proud of our ladies, and I think they’ve shown all year how good they are.”
No matter what the team says, a win to clinch a share of a third consecutive American Division Big East championship is not just another game.
The title is Marquette’s seventh in program history, and its 17 wins are the most in regular season play and third-most in program history.
The Golden Eagles already knew they would be the No. 2 seed in the Big East Championship tournament and would take on Notre Dame (9-6-3, 6-3-2 Big East), the No. 3 seed from the National Division, before they took the pitch.
West Virginia (14-4-0, 10-1-0 Big East) defeated Pittsburgh (2-13-4, 1-8-2 Big East) 1-0 Friday night to ensure that. South Florida was just playing for pride and a chance to ruin Marquette’s division-clinching bid and a special night for the seniors.
It was not meant to be.
The Golden Eagles avenged last year’s 3-2 loss to the Bulls in the Big East Championship tournament semifinals last year by dominating every facet of the game, including allowing just one shot on goal.
“I’m just really proud of everyone, and it’s great to do this three years in a row,” said senior Natalie Kulla, who picked up her 42nd career shutout. “But I’m just kind of taking in the moment right now.”
Prior to the game Kulla, McBride, senior forward Lindsey Page and student manager Aleks Vidakovich were honored for their contributions to the program over the last four years — or five, in Kulla’s case.
After, they were holding trophies and posing for pictures for the third straight year.
The regular season record won’t mean much if Marquette doesn’t succeed in the postseason, though, and that time begins Sunday.
With Notre Dame coming to Valley Fields on Sunday, a team Marquette defeated
3-2 in overtime on Sept. 25, the Golden Eagles will be looking to advance to the semifinals of the Big East Championship tournament for the fourth straight season.
Although it is difficult to beat an opponent twice in a season, it’s even tougher to bet against this team at home. The win over South Florida pushed Marquette’s home unbeaten streak to 19 games.
“I think Notre Dame is maybe the most difficult matchup we could ask for, but we’re playing them at home,” Roeders said. “I think they will be better than they were last time, but I also think we will be better.”
The confidence that this squad is showing on the field is going to be difficult to slow down Sunday and then again when it hosts an NCAA Tournament regional in two and a half weeks.
