#12/#13 Marquette women's soccer finished off the weekend by securing the 2011 MKE Cup with a 2-1 win over NR/#23 Long Beach State. Maegan Kelly got things started quickly by registering her second goal of the season in the 5th minute off a Kate Reigel pass. The Golden Eagles kept the pressure on through the first half, generating 3 more shots on goal to LBSU's 1 shot before an Alex Balcer free kick in the 40th minute turned into a Nadia Link header that found its way past Natalie Kulla, tying the score with the first goal the Golden Eagles have allowed all season. Link's goal also broke Kulla's 290:13 scoreless streak, dating back to last season's finale against Florida State in the Sweet 16.
Marquette responded the way you want to see a team respond, getting 2 more shots in the first half and 5 shots in the first 20 minutes of the second half before Rachael Sloan beat two defenders on the dribble to find Lisa Philbin for a 15 foot shot into the back of the net to give Marquette the lead for good. From there, the Golden Eagles coasted to the win, denying LBSU from taking another shot on goal until an Alex Balcer desperation attempt as play ended went wide. Marquette's usual 2 way power was on display again here. Kulla only had to make 1 save on 5 LBSU shots, while her LBSU counterpart, Kaitlyn Gustaves, had to work to keep her team in the game, making 7 saves on 15 Marquette shots.
After the jump: Men's soccer season starts and volleyball looks to bounce back from a season opening loss!
Coach Louis Bennett's men's soccer team took to Flames Field in Chicago on Saturday night for a season opening match vs Illinois-Chicago. With seniors Calum Mallace and Michael Alfano sidelined due to injury, 4 freshmen got to see their first collegiate action while Marquette played UIC to a standstill through the first 45 minutes. But, in the 58th minute, UIC's Ned Pavlovic snared a MU turnover and fired it past keeper David Check for a 1-0 lead for the Flames. A little over 90 seconds later, Joe Radice took a Jesus Torres pass and finished it for a 2 goal advantage. Marquette frantically tried to rally, including a burst of 4 corner kicks in a 37 second span in the 85th minute, but only managed freshman Axel Sjoberg's first career goal in the 88th minute to pull within 1 before full time ended the match with UIC taking a 2-1 victory.
After a Friday night loss to Saint Louis, the Marquette volleyball team was given two chances to rebound on Saturday as the Hawkeye Challenge continued. They took advantage of both, with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-11) morning win over Central Michigan and a 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-21) evening victory over host Iowa.
Courtney Mrotek got her first career start and took advantage against CMU, tying her career total of kills with 11 in the match, while Ashley Beyer led the team with 12 kills. Quick points through seven service aces helped power the Golden Eagles to the straight sets victory.
Iowa took the first set of their match with Marquette, but the Golden Eagles fought through 9 ties and 8 lead changes in the second set to even things up. Ciara Jones and Carol Henney recorded kills for the first two points of the 3rd set and Marquette took control of the momentum, recording consecutive 25-21 wins for the match victory. Henney, Mrotek and Chelsea Heier all recorded career highs during the match. Henney and Mrotek had seven and nine blocks, while Heier hit her best mark in two categories with 48 assists and nine digs. Both Heier and middle hitter Danielle Carlson were named to the all tournament team.