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The first half was like most Marquette matches I've seen: lots of ball control for the Golden Eagles, Georgetown attacks being mostly cut off before they really threatened, and a heavy shot advantage for MU. But there weren't any goals to be found, as Georgetown keeper Emma Newins made three saves and Marquette's best chance was blown dead when the referee decided that the ball was trapped under Marquette's Lisa Philbin deep in front of the Hoyas' net.
The second half seemed to start tipping the other way. Georgetown's attacks were a little more sustained, even if they ended up with one fewer shot than they had in the second half. Georgetown's best chance came on an attack where Big East Offensive Player Of The Year Daphne Corboz dished to the left and then got it back for a one on one, but MU keeper Amanda Engel came out and jumped on the ball at the top of the box and smothered out the offense. Marquette had another great chance in the box off of an indirect kick, as Newins couldn't immediately put both hands on the ball. If Mady Vicker had just slowed her charge by one step, she had a chance to pop the ball over the top of Newins and right into the net. But it was not to be.
Then, with less than three minutes left, Taylor Madigan got the ball to Rachel Sloan deep on the right side. Sloan pushed it through to a charging Madigan who was able to get just enough of the ball to stop a diving Newins from securing the ball. Madigan composed herself and the ball, and calmly popped the ball into the far side of the net for the only goal of the game. 150 seconds of tense soccer later and Marquette had clinched their first ever Big East title.
Madigan was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the tournament after recording a goal and two assists in Marquette's three matches. Ally Miller added a Most Outstanding Defensive Player award to next to her Defensive Player Of The Year trophy on the mantle. Madigan and Miller were joined on the All-Tournament team by Maegan Kelly and Amanda Engel, who allowed zero goals in the tournament.
Up Next: The NCAA Selection Show, which start on NCAA.com tomorrow at 3:30pm Central time. The team will be hosting a viewing party at the Sports Annex starting at 3pm, so head on over there and high five everyone in sight!