The Marquette women’s lacrosse team is still in search of its first Big East conference win following a loss Saturday to the Georgetown Hoyas. The Golden Eagles will have one last chance to earn a victory by traveling to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats, who are also winless in conference play.
Marquette (4-12, 0-6) is on a seven game losing streak and hasn’t won since defeating Detroit 13-5 March 22. During the course of the stretch, opponents are averaging 12.4 goals per game, to the Golden Eagles’ 7.14. For Marquette, it’s usually one half that makes the difference. The Golden Eagles have been outscored in both halves of a game only twice during the drought and have outscored opponents in the second half 11-7 in their last two matchups.
The Golden Eagles are also aided by junior defenseman Elizabeth “Biz” Goslee, who was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll for her performance last week. Goslee picked up five ground balls, five draw controls and forced four turnovers in two games, while leading the team in ground balls (28) and caused turnovers (27). The Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Preseason All-American is living up to her potential, as she ranks fifth in the Big East in caused turnovers per game (1.69) and is tied for 22nd in the country in the category.
Marquette’s opponent for Saturday mirrors the Golden Eagles performances. Cincinnati (2-14, 0-6) dropped nine straight games. The Bearcats are in the conference basement in goals allowed average (13.98) and goals per game (6.81), but despite this, have some serious talent on the field.
Cincinnati boasts the conference’s third leading scorer in Courtney Curtis (2.31 goals per game), the second best defender in terms of caused turnovers with Kyara Byner (1.94) and the fifth best draw player in Skylar DeLemos, who scoops 2.25 draw controls a game. The Golden Eagles struggle in the faceoff circle, so DeLemos could be the Bearcats key to success.
The Golden Eagles will try to end the season on a high note Saturday in Cincinnati at 12 p.m.
