Golden Eagles Prepare for Midweek Clash with Utah

Wednesday, March 11

Milwaukee, WI

12 P.M. CT

Marquette University

University of Utah

3/9/2026 5:26:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Watch (ESPN+)Live Stats

By: Communications

The Marquette University men's lacrosse team (3-3, 0-0 BIG EAST) will return to Valley Fields to host Utah (4-2, 0-0 ASUN) on Wednesday, March 11 at 12 p.m. CT. ESPN+ features the broadcast with Matt Yeazel (play-by-play) and Eric Simon (analyst) on the call.

LAST TIME OUT
Marquette erupted offensively in a 21–12 victory over Mercer on March 7 at Valley Fields, scoring the third-most goals in a single game in program history. The Golden Eagles took control early, netting eight goals in the opening quarter and carrying a commanding 15–6 lead into halftime before pulling away in the second half.

Offensively, Nolan Rappis paced the attack with five points (3g, 2a), while Tucker Mullen, Beau Westphal and Brady Nicholas each recorded hat tricks. Carsen Brandt added four points of his own as Marquette's balanced attack produced scoring from multiple contributors. Defensively, Mike Piraino led the way with three caused turnovers and two ground balls, while Peter Detwiler added two caused turnovers and a goal in the win.

HISTORY VS. UTAH
Saturday will mark the fifth all-time meeting between Marquette and Utah in a series that began in 2022. The Utes hold a 3–1 advantage in the match up, though the Golden Eagles claimed the most recent contest via a Bobby O'Grady overtime winner to secure a 12–11 victory in Salt Lake City on March 15, 2025.

The first three meetings in the series were tightly contested, with Utah winning each by two goals or fewer, including a 12–11 decision in Milwaukee in the inaugural match up in 2022

SCOUTING THE UTES
Utah enters the match up with a balanced offensive attack early in the 2026 season. The Utes are led by senior attacker Ryan Stines, who paces the team with 31 points on 19 goals and 12 assists through the first six games. Stines' 31 points are tied for the 10th most in the country, while his 5.17 points per game rank sixth nationally.

Sophomore Luke McNamara has also been a key scoring threat, leading the Utes with 25 goals while adding two assists for 27 total points. McNamara's 25 goals rank second nationally and sit just two behind the NCAA leader, while his 4.17 goals per game also rank second in the country.

Defensively, the Utes are anchored by veteran goalie Colin Lenskold, a longtime presence in net who entered the season as Utah's career saves leader. Utah also relies on defender Nikko DiPonio, who leads the country in both caused turnovers (20) and caused turnovers per game (3.33).

MU COLLECTS THREE BIG EAST WEEKLY AWARDS
On Monday, the league office announced that Brady Nicholas was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, while Nolan Rappis and Mike Piraino were selected to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

Nicholas, turned in a career performance in Saturday's 21–12 win over Mercer, recording his first career hat trick after entering the game with just one goal in his collegiate career. The sophomore defender's three goals helped power Marquette's offense to 21 goals, the third-most in a single game in program history.

Rappis also played a key role in the win, tallying three goals and two assists for a game-high five points to earn his second Honor Roll nod of the 2026 season. Piraino added a strong defensive effort, recording a career-high three caused turnovers and two ground balls to collect his first weekly conference honor of the season.

OFFENSE ERUPTS AGAINST MERCER
Against the Bears on Saturday, the Golden Eagles erupted for 21 goals, marking the third-most goals scored in a single game in program history.

The performance also marked just the fourth time Marquette has scored 20 or more goals in a game, and the first time the Golden Eagles have reached that mark since the 2024 season when MU scored 22 goals against Detroit Mercy on Feb. 13.

Marquette's 32 total points (21 goals, 11 assists) also rank among the top offensive performances in program history, sitting fourth all-time for most points in a single game.

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.