WSOC Hosts Villanova, Travels To Georgetown This Week

The Marquette University women's soccer team (4-8-3, 1-3-1 BIG EAST) continues BIG EAST Conference play this week with a pair of matches, hosting Villanova at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17 and traveling to Georgetown at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 20.

O'Connell Shoulders Scoring Load

Senior midfielder Tess O'Connell netted her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the 1-1 draw at DePaul on Oct. 6, becoming just the third player since 2018 to net five-or-more scores in a season.

Alyssa Bombacino (7, 2019) and Katrina Wetherell (5, 2021) both led their respective teams in goals and Bombacino was aided by a hat trick in a 3-1 win over Villanova.

The Wilmington, Mass., native netted just one score in her 66 career matches at Rhode Island, but now owns five in 15 outings this year with the Golden Eagles.

Through matches of Oct. 13, O'Connell ranks tied for 10th in the league in goals.

Christianson Not Afraid To Help

Sophomore midfielder Haley Christianson is ranked among the league leaders in assists (5, 4th) and assists per game (4th, 0.33) through matches of Oct. 13.

After not recording point as a freshman in 2023 in 14 appearances off the bench, Christianson has taken advantage of her increased playing time (eight starts in 15 outings) in 2024.

Lineup Featuring New Faces

Through 15 matches of the year, 22 different players have earned at least one starting assignment and of that group, 12 have made their respective first-ever starts for Marquette (multiple collegiate debuts).

Just four players - Emily Fix, Tess O'Connell, Adrianna Alberts and Mia Haertle have started all 15 matches.

Injuries have also been a factor in lineup combinations, with 12 players missing at least one match, including a trio (Ruhland, Downs, Keiper) who won't play at all in 2024.