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With Marquette's women's soccer team coming into Friday afternoon's game against New Mexico on a three game losing streak, the last thing you really wanted to see was the Golden Eagles finding themselves in an early hole. That's what happened, though, as Dylann O'Connor brought things into the box in the 11th minute and pushed a shot past Amanda Engel to give the Lobos an early 1-0 lead.
That made it four goals allowed by MU in just 36:11 of combined game time from the mark where Nebraska scored the first of three second half goals this past Sunday. That's the kind of the thing that makes your heart and stomach switch places in your chest as you try to follow along with only live stats to guide your way.
The good news is that Marquette would only allow one more shot in the first half and finished with a 5-3 advantage in that department. Things completely tilted in the Golden Eagles' favor in the second half, as they forced UNM goalie Cassie Ulrich to make saves on the first two shots of the half. That was followed up by Jacie Jermier ripping home a free kick to level things at 1, giving her goals on free kicks in two straight games.
The very next shot of the game came just 108 seconds later, when MU freshman Eli Beard bent a shot from 20 yards out on the left side past Ulrich to give Marquette the lead that they would not give up. The goal is the first of the collegiate career for the freshman from Portland, Oregon. With a 4-0 lead in shots already, Marquette doubled up New Mexico the rest of the way in that department, 6-3, with only one Lobos shot in the 90th minute needing the attention of Engel to preserve the MU win.
Engel made two saves, essentially bookending the game, to pick up the win for Marquette. Ulrich made seven saves for New Mexico, including five in the second half. Ashley Handwork and Mary Luba made their return to the lineup for Marquette after missing the Nebraska game due to injuries.
Up Next: The Colorado College Invitational title will be on the line on Sunday, when Marquette faces off with the host Tigers. CC (2-1-1) beat Weber State 5-2 on Friday, powered by four second half goals, including two from star forward Jessie Ayers. That match will start at 12:30 Central, and it looks like the Tigers will provide free video streaming.