Marquette women’s soccer earned themselves a 2-0 first half lead for the fourth straight game. For the first time in that streak, those two goals were enough to win.
The Golden Eagles knocked off the Seton Hall Pirates 2-1 on Thursday night via goals from Darian Powell and Carrie Madden.
“We’re happy about the win,” head coach Markus Roeders said. “I thought we had a great start. … It’s good to, again, put some goals on the scoreboard.”
Powell gave Marquette the lead just three minutes and sixteen seconds into the contest. Madison Dunker sent the ball in from a free kick and the ball got loose on the far side of the box. Morgan Proffitt took control of the ball and slid it right across the goal line, where Powell finished it off for her third goal of the season.
In the 26th minute Carrie Madden got in behind the Pirate defense with nobody to beat but the keeper. She calmly knocked it past Anna MacLean for her second goal in two games and her third this season.
The Golden Eagles kept the pressure up throughout the half, but were unable to add to their lead.
Seton Hall cut the lead in half in the 51st minute when Katie Landes caught Maddy Henry off-guard with a header.
“I thought the goal against us was a little bit unfortunate,” Roeders said.
It was looking like Marquette’s pattern of giving back two goal leads was going to continue, but the defense tightened up, securing the win.
Ryley Bugay made her first start of the season in place of Caroline Fink. Bugay occupied a deeper position in midfield than Fink traditionally does, providing additional cover for the back line.
“The dynamic with Ryley (Bugay) and Mo (Proffitt) helping each other in front of that back line,” Roeders said. “I think that’s an important part. Hopefully going forward it’s going to help us.”
Marquette squandered a number of clear chances to put the game away in the second half.
“Scoring is hard. If it was easy everyone would do it,” Powell said. “I think that’s probably something we’ll focus on in practice.”
Powell made her second start of the season, playing in the “hole” behind the forwards.
“Felt really good actually, I haven’t played that center midfield position very much,” Powell said. “I liked it a lot better, I got to move inside those gaps, get the ball a little more.”
Powell played 65 minutes tonight as she continues to see her health improve.
“My body feels so much better, my foot had really no pain tonight,” Powell said. “Just feeling good out there really gives me confidence.”
The Golden Eagles outshot the Pirates by a 14-3 margin, but Marquette missed the net a whopping 12 times.
“Could we have had four or five more? I don’t know,” Roeders said. “At the end of they day you’ve got to execute. We’re just happy with the win.”
Notes:
- Marquette has scored 10 goals in their last four games after scoring just seven goals in their first eight games.
- Carrie Madden is in good form, scoring in three of the last four games.
- The Golden Eagles are undefeated (4-0-1) at home this season.
- Maddy Henry is still in search of her first career shutout.
- Liz Bartels played as a forward tonight, shining in a different role. Roeders caller her “one of the two or three best” players for Marquette on the night.
- Marquette (5-5-2, 1-1-0) hosts St. John’s (6-1-4, 1-0-1) on Sunday at Valley Fields.
