Women's Lacrosse: Marquette 13, Winthrop 6

Last year, Marquette suffered a 17-7 loss to Winthrop in the first game in MU Division 1 history.  In this year's return match, I expected a closer battle.  Instead, what I got was Marquette blitzing the Eagles from South Carolina by opening up a 4-0 lead in the first seven minutes of the game before leading 9-1 at the half.

I mean, WHAT?

Marquette outshot Winthrop 18-2, outhustled them to ground balls 10-5, and obliterated them on draw controls 10-1.  I mean, just an old fashioned Stone Cold Steve Austin mudhole stomping.

The second half started off just like the first, with Marquette popping in two more goals in the first eight minutes.  That made the score 11-1, and for the first time in program history, the 10 goal lead running clock was activated because of Marquette's lead, not their deficit. WU and MU would trade the next two goals to turn the clock off and then back on again.

Winthrop would score the next four goals of the game to make the game look closer than it was, since they didn't start the run until there was just over 12 minutes left in the game.  WU's third goal of their brief run raises an interesting point about the women's lacrosse rulebook.  At that point of the game, Marquette had swapped Emma Salter in for Sarah Priem in net.  Salter committed a foul inside the fan that resulted in the refereeing crew issuing her a yellow card.  That resulted in a two minute man advantage for Winthrop AND a free position shot.  Priem came back on the field and another Golden Eagle went off to ensure MU was down a player, but as the goalie, she was required to stand outside the fan as Sydney Cope was allowed to easily toss the ball in the net without any resistance of any kind.

My question is this: Why do fouls on the goalie result in the goalie coming out of the net for a free position shot, ESPECIALLY ones where it results in a yellow card for the goalie?  Why not just award the goal to the fouled player and everyone can just move on with their lives?  Is the chance that the free position shot could miss with absolutely no defense stopping the shooter THAT HIGH?

Anyway.

Marquette moves to 4-5 on the season, doubling last year's win total in just nine games.  Claire Costanza was a dynamo for the Golden Eagles, recording three goals and three assists for a game high six points.  Amanda Bochniak continued her stellar freshman campaign with a hat trick of her own and an assist for four total points.  Sarah Priem only had to make two saves to pick up the win.  Winthrop got four points (2G, 2A) from Shannon Gallagher, while Marquette held Winthrop's leading scorer, Jenna Kasmarik, to just one goal on two shots.

Up Next: Marquette plays their first ever official Big East contest on Friday when they host Cincinnati at 6pm.  MU played a full Big East schedule last year, but wasn't an official member of the conference.  The Bearcats are 6-3 on the season and have won five in a row.  It will be the Big East opener for both squads.