MU Prepares For Saturday's Match With Providence
10/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 24, 2008
Game Day Links:
Game notes vs. Providence College (PDF)
Live streaming audio (WMUR)
MILWAUKEE -- Marquette will play its final regular season home match Saturday at Valley Fields when the Golden Eagles host the Friars of Providence College. Kick off has been moved up to 3 p.m. Live streaming audio will be available, courtesy of Marquette Radio (WMUR).
MU is coming off a 2-0 win over UW-Milwaukee. It was the Golden Eagles highest offensive output since their 4-1 rout over Bryant University in the season opener. With three BIG EAST games remaining, Marquette can still earn enough points to earn a spot in the conference tournament.
Providence was ranked as high as No. 16 by Soccer America, but a string of four straight losses dropped the Friars out of the national rankings. The Friars have since won three of their last four contests, including a 1-0 win over UConn.
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day at Valley Fields, recognizing service men and women and their families. Tickets are $2 at the gate for those who show a valid military I.D.
Saturday's Time Change
Saturday's game against Providence College was originally scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The game has been moved to a 3 p.m. start time to allow Marquette students and fans to attend the annual "Marquette Madness" event which tips off the men's and women's basketball seasons. Doors to the Al McGuire Center will open at 6 p.m. for the free event. All fans are invited to attend.
Series History
Providence College owns a 2-0-0 advantage in the all-time series. Marquette is still looking for its first goal against the Friars, who enter Saturday's contest ranked 13th in NCAA?Division I?in shutout percentage (0.57). MU dropped a 2-0 decision at Providence last season with both Friars goals coming in the second half. The Golden Eagles lost by a 1-0 margin in the Friars' only other appearance at Valley Fields in 2006.
BIG EAST Tourney Still Within Sight
Even though Marquette currently sits in last place in the Blue Division standings with five points (1-5-2 BIG EAST), the Golden Eagles are still within reach of a postseason berth with three league games remaining. The top six teams in each division earn a spot in the 12-team BIG EAST Championship. Mathematically, Marquette can catch all but Notre Dame (5-1-2, 16 points) within the division. UConn (13), Georgetown (12), Providence (10), West Virginia (10), Seton Hall (10) and Pittsburgh (7) are still battling for position.
Last Time Out
Calum Mallace gave Marquette a 1-0 halftime lead over UW-Milwaukee with his goal in the 43rd minute and Tom Lynn provided some much needed insurance with his goal midway through the second half as the Golden Eagles reclaimed the Milwaukee Cup, a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the annual cross-town derby, this past Wednesday at UWM's Engelmann Field. The Panthers out-shot the Golden Eagles 16-11, with many of those shots taken at point-blank range. UWM had trouble hitting the target on a few of those strikes while MU?goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski recorded five saves. Billy Von Rueden assisted on both Marquette goals.
Close, But No Cigar
Six of Marquette's seven losses this season have been 1-0 setbacks (Syracuse, St. John's, URIC, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Connecticut). The Golden Eagles were victims of eight losses decided by a single goal in 2007, including three consecutive 1-0 setbacks to open BIG EAST play.
Looking Ahead
Marquette will close out the 2008 regular season with a pair of BIG EAST road contests. The Golden Eagles will travel to West Virginia next Wednesday, Oct. 29. MU then heads to the nation's capitol for a Nov. 1 match up against Georgetown.
