WLAX Hosts No. 23 Georgetown in BIG EAST Opener Saturday
Golden Eagles open league play in Valley Fields for first time since 2021.
The Marquette University women’s lacrosse team is set to open BIG EAST conference play this Saturday, hosting No. 23 Georgetown. First draw is set for 11 a.m. CT from Valley Fields, with ESPN+ featuring the broadcast.
LAST TIME OUT
Marquette closed its five‑game road stretch with a gritty 6-5 win at Niagara, improving to 5-3 behind a dominant defensive effort and a hat trick from Hanna Bodner. Sarah Beth Burns delivered the game‑winner on a free‑position shot with 10:29 remaining, while the MU defense forced 14 turnovers—including three from Taylor Kotschevar—and held the Purple Eagles to just one goal over the final 12 minutes. Goalkeepers Jillian Howell and Mikayla Yang combined for key late stops as the Golden Eagles earned their first one‑goal victory of the season.
HISTORY VS. GEORGETOWN
Georgetown holds an 11-4 advantage in the all‑time series against Marquette, a matchup defined by tight finishes and occasional breakthroughs for the Golden Eagles. MU earned notable wins in 2019 (14-12), 2021 (15-9), 2022 (14-12) and 2023 (14-12), including two victories on the road in Washington, D.C. However, Georgetown has taken each of the last two meetings, continuing a trend of competitive, high‑scoring affairs between the programs.
SCOUTING THE HOYAS
Georgetown enters Saturday’s matchup ranked No. 23 nationally and owns a 5-3 record, most recently falling in a tight 11-10 contest vs. Penn on March 15. The Hoyas are strong defensively, allowing just 7.75 goals per game, backed by goalkeeper Leah Warehime, who owns a .479 save percentage across 57 saves. Offensively, Georgetown averages 10.63 goals per game and is paced by attacker Anne McGovern (30 points: 20G, 10A) and Gracie Driggs (24 points: 19G, 5A), while Sophia Loschert adds another 18 goals.
BLACK, PROGRAM EARN 100TH WIN
Head coach Meredith Black, now in her 14th year leading the program she built from the ground up, led Marquette to the 100th win in program history on March 6 at Youngstown State. Since guiding MU into its inaugural 2013 season, Black has taken the team from start‑up status to national relevance, highlighted by a program‑record 15-4 season and NCAA Tournament berth in 2023, followed by another 10‑win campaign in 2025.
TRIO OF GOLDEN EAGLES EARN BIG EAST HONORS
Marquette collected three conference honors this week as Hanna Bodner was named BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week after powering the Golden Eagles’ 6-5 win at Niagara with three goals, four ground balls, a draw control and two caused turnovers. Freshman Gabby Windesheim earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, dominating the circle with a career‑high nine draw controls, accounting for more than 80% of MU’s draws in the road victory. Senior defender Taylor Kotschevar landed on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll with three caused turnovers, two ground balls and a draw in the defensive battle.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE MEETS STOUT DEFENSE
Marquette’s attack has been both prolific and precise, averaging 14.63 goals per game on 117 goals from 228 shots for a .513 shooting percentage; that shooting clip currently leads the BIG EAST and ranks No. 7 nationally. Georgetown presents one of the nation’s stingier defenses, allowing 7.75 goals per game behind an elite .954 team clear rate and .479 save percentage from Leah Warehime. Saturday’s game features a true strength‑on‑strength matchup between MU’s finishing and volume (28.5 shots per game) and GU’s organized back line.
EIGHT-METER EDGE
The Golden Eagles continue to convert at an elite rate on free positions, going 20-for-30 (.667), leading the BIG EAST and ranking No. 2 nationally entering the weekend. Sarah Beth Burns tops MU with five free‑position goals, while Serrano (three), Tess Osburn (two), Hanna Bodner (two) and Riley Jenkins (two) add balance; Georgetown counters at .484 (15‑for‑31).
SERRANO’S BREAKOUT CAMPAIGN
Freshman Dani Serrano has emerged as one of the most productive newcomers in the nation with 37 points (19G, 18A), ranking No. 45 in total points nationally and No. 2 in the BIG EAST. Her 4.63 points per game ranks No. 31 nationally and No. 2 in the league, while her .655 shot percentage is No. 3 nationally and also first in the BIG EAST among high‑volume shooters.
MIDFIELD MAGIC FROM BODNER, WINDESHEIM
Hanna Bodner combines 19 goals on .500 shooting with a team‑best 28 draw controls, and Marquette’s overall draw rate of 13.75 per game currently ranks third in the BIG EAST and top‑40 nationally. Freshman Gabby Windesheim adds 24 draws—including nine in the win at Niagara—to strengthen possession in a matchup with a Georgetown side that is a modest +5 on draws (82-77).
TURNING PRESSURE INTO POSSESIONS
Marquette’s pressure has seen an uptick, as the Golden Eagles now force 10.63 caused turnovers per game, which leads the BIG EAST and ranks No. 20 nationally, fueling a +18 edge in total CTs (85-67). Sofia Santana (12) and Mary Velner (11) headline the takeaways and will test a Hoya clearing unit that has been among the nation’s best.
OSBURN, SERRANO POWER TOP LINE
Dani Serrano leads MU with 37 points (19G, 18A) and her 18 assists pace the BIG EAST, while her .655 shot percentage sits among the nation’s top handful this week. Senior Tess Osburn fronts the goal‑scoring column with 24, has two game‑winners, and has generated 42 shots at .571 accuracy, giving MU a reliable 1‑2 scoring punch against a disciplined Hoya defense.
MIDDLE-FRAME MOMENTUM
The middle quarters have been decisive for MU; the Golden Eagles have produced 36 second‑quarter goals and 30 third‑quarter goals through eight games, repeatedly flipping game states out of halftime. Georgetown has also started fast with a 47–26 combined edge across first and second quarters.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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