BIG EAST Play Arrives Saturday for MLAX

Saturday, March 28

Milwaukee, WI

11:30 A.M. CT

Marquette University

Providence College

3/26/2026 3:42:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Game Notes (PDF)Watch (ESPN+)Live Stats

By: Communications

The Marquette University men's lacrosse team (4–4, 0–0 BIG EAST) opens its 13th season of BIG EAST Conference competition Saturday morning when it hosts Providence (4–6, 0–0 BIG EAST) in the league opener. ESPN+ will feature the broadcast, with Matt Menzel (play-by-play) and Eric Simon (analyst) on the call.

LAST TIME OUT
Marquette closed out its nonconference schedule with a 15–10 victory at Bellarmine on March 21 in Louisville. After falling behind 3–0 early, Marquette responded with an explosive 8–2 run to take an 8–5 lead into halftime. The Golden Eagles continued to control the game defensively in the third quarter, holding Bellarmine scoreless while extending the lead to 10–5 entering the final frame. Bellarmine mounted a fourth-quarter rally to cut the deficit to two, but Marquette answered with three late goals to secure the win.

Nolan Rappis led the offense with a season-high seven points (4g, 3a), while Carsen Brandt and Matt Caputo each added four points. Andrew Bowman recorded a hat trick, and Jackson Nichols paced the defensive unit with a career-high three caused turnovers and three ground balls.

HISTORY VS. PROVIDENCE
Marquette and Providence meet for the 14th time in program history, with the Golden Eagles holding a 7–6 advantage in the all-time series.

Providence claimed last season's matchup, 14–2, and has won three straight and five of the last seven meetings.

SCOUTING THE FRIARS
Providence enters Saturday's matchup at 4–6, coming off a 1–1 week with a 12–3 win over Quinnipiac and an 18–17 overtime loss to Air Force.

The Friars are led offensively by Rhett Chambers, Richie Joseph, and Matt Lazzaro. Chambers has emerged as one of the top playmakers in the country, leading the team with 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists), which ranks seventh nationally, while his 25 assists are tied for third in the NCAA. He also ranks among the national leaders in assists per game (2.11).

Joseph, a unanimous Preseason All-BIG EAST selection and the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, remains a consistent scoring threat. He is tied for the team lead in goals and ranks third in total points. The senior has totaled 147 career points (110 goals, 37 assists) and ranks fifth in program history in goals and tied for 11th in points.

Lazzaro, a transfer from Penn State, has made an immediate impact with 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists), ranking second on the team in scoring.

MARQUETTE TRIO EARNS BIG EAST HONORS
For the second time this season, three Golden Eagles earned a Weekly Honor. Two weeks after Brady Nicholas, Mike Piraino and Nolan Rappis all earned Weekly Accolades during the same week, Adam Slager, Nolan Rappis and Jackson Nichols all shined against Bellarmine to earn their honors this week.

Slager was named BIG EAST Specialist of the Week, winning a season-high 14-of-21 faceoffs and collecting a game- and season-high six ground balls. Slager played a pivotal role in Marquette's 11-2 run after an early deficit, consistently giving the offense extra opportunities. He contributed in transition with two assists off faceoff wins.
collecting a game-high six ground balls. He played a pivotal role in Marquette's 11–2 run, consistently creating extra possessions, and added two assists in transition.

Nolan Rappis earned a spot on the Weekly Honor Roll after posting a game-high seven points (4g, 3a). Following a 3–0 deficit, Rappis scored Marquette's first goal to spark an 11–2 run, contributing to nearly half of the team's scoring.

Jackson Nichols was also named to the Honor Roll after recording a career-high three caused turnovers and three ground balls. He anchored the defensive effort during Marquette's decisive run and added his first career goal thanks to a long range heave during a clear attempt.

ELITE EFFICIENCY IN THE CLEARING GAME
Marquette has established itself as one of the top clearing teams in the country through the first half of the 2026 season. The Golden Eagles rank third nationally with a .917 clearing percentage, successfully completing 166 of 181 attempts.

AMONG NATION'S BEST IN BALL SECURITY
Marquette has taken exceptional care of the ball throughout the 2026 season, ranking fourth nationally and first in the BIG EAST with just 12.8 turnovers per game.

FACEOFF UNIT LEADS THE WAY
The trio of Ty Ambush, Adam Slager, and Chandler Caster has split time as Marquette's primary faceoff unit this season, combining for a 107–219 record (.511) at the X. The Golden Eagles' .511 faceoff winning percentage leads the BIG EAST, providing a consistent possession advantage.

Slager leads the group with a .536 win percentage, while Ambush has taken on the bulk of the workload, winning 47 of 95 attempts. The trio's balance and effectiveness have played a key role in controlling tempo and creating additional opportunities for the Marquette offense.

FOREVER GOLDEN EAGLES
On the evening of Friday, September 5th, men's lacrosse student-athletes Noah Snyder and Scott Michaud passed away in a vehicular accident near campus.

Noah, a business administration student from Getzville, New York, was one of six children. Scott, a biomedical sciences major from Springboro, Ohio, was a goalie and is survived by two brothers. Both were standout students, earning BIG EAST All-Academic Team honors in their first year at Marquette. They were beloved members of the program whose leadership, positivity and commitment to their teammates left a lasting impact on the Marquette lacrosse family.

The Golden Eagles continue to honor their legacy, united in brotherhood and inspired to carry forward the standard they helped build. The team wears helmet decals and jersey patches, incorporates their jersey numbers into team-issued gear. Head coach Jake Richard was also gifted custom shoes featuring silhouettes of Noah and Scott. At the conclusion of every team huddle, one player or coach will call out "43," with the team responding "88," ensuring their presence remains part of everything the program does.