WSOC Postseason Push Comes Down to Senior Night
Marquette looks to close the regular season with a win and a return to the BIG EAST Tournament
MILWAUKEE – With a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament on the line, the Marquette University women’s soccer team (7-3-8, 3-2-4 BIG EAST) heads into its regular-season finale Saturday, Nov. 7, with an opportunity to secure its first tournament berth since 2017. The Golden Eagles can punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over Providence (5-4-9, 3-3-3 BIG EAST) at 6 p.m. CT at Valley Fields. The match will stream on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
The Golden Eagles fell 1-0 to Villanova on Oct. 31 at Valley Fields, as the Wildcats scored in the 11th minute and held on for the victory despite a second-half surge from the Golden Eagles. Villanova outshot Marquette 7-2 in the opening half, but the Golden Eagles responded after the break, out shooting the Wildcats 8-6 and putting all six of their shots on goal in the second half.
Gabi Retana recorded Marquette’s first shot on goal in the 59th minute, sparking a stretch of five shots on target between the 59th and 75th minutes. Ava Jack Shaw, Clare Shea and Capri Oliviero each put attempts on goal during that stretch, while Olivia Hernandez added another in the 86th minute. Villanova made six saves to preserve the shutout, while Mia Hurd recorded one save for the Golden Eagles.
Path to BIG EAST Tournament
With two BIG EAST Tournament spots remaining, a six-team race comes down to the final matchday. Marquette enters Saturday tied with Seton Hall for third place with 13 points, one points ahead of Providence (12 points). The top four teams advance to the tournament.
The Golden Eagles can secure their first BIG EAST Tournament berth since 2017 with a win over Providence, regardless of other results. A draw would also clinch a berth if any of the following occur: Villanova beats or draws with UConn, St. John’s defeats Seton Hall or Creighton defeats DePaul. A loss would eliminate Marquette.
A win would secure the No. 3 seed if St. John’s beats or draws with Seton Hall or DePaul beats or draws with Creighton. Marquette can also earn the No. 3 seed with a draw if Villanova beats or draws with UConn and St. John’s defeats Seton Hall, or if Creighton defeats DePaul and St. John’s defeats Seton Hall.
With a draw, Marquette can secure the No. 4 seed if Villanova beats or draws with UConn and Seton Hall beats or draws with St. John’s. The Golden Eagles would also earn the No. 4 seed if Creighton defeats DePaul and Seton Hall beats or draws with St. John’s. The third scenario requires DePaul to beat or draw with Creighton, UConn to defeat Villanova and St. John’s to defeat Seton Hall.
A Season of Shutouts
While Marquette continues to find its offensive rhythm, the Golden Eagles have been anchored by a strong defensive effort throughout the 2026 campaign. The back line and goalkeeping unit have helped keep opponents off the scoreboard, giving Marquette a chance to compete in close matches and remain in the hunt for a BIG EAST Tournament berth.
Marquette has recorded seven shutouts this season, tied for the fourth-most in the BIG EAST alongside Creighton. Only Villanova and Seton Hall, with 10 shutouts apiece, and Xavier, with eight, have posted more clean sheets. The Golden Eagles’ seven shutouts are also the most by a Marquette squad in a single season since 2019, when the program recorded 12.
Freshman goalkeeper Mia Hurd has played a key role in the defensive success, contributing to Marquette’s seven shutouts while establishing herself as one of the nation’s top first-year goalkeepers.
The program’s single-season record stands at 17 shutouts, set during the 2012 campaign.
Marquette Honoring Nine Seniors
The Golden Eagles will honor nine seniors on Saturday prior to the regular-season finale, recognizing Haley Christianson, Carly Christopher, Paige Dziedzic, Emily Fix, Elise Krone, Ella McAleenan, Kiley McMinn, Capri Oliviero, and Sarah Sirdah.
Senior Night History
Senior Night is a meaningful occasion to recognize the student-athletes who have helped define the program’s culture and success. Over the past nine seasons, Marquette has recorded a 4-2-2 mark in Senior Night contests, often delivering competitive performances that highlight the leadership and contributions of its senior class.
The Golden Eagles’ most recent Senior Night win came last season with a 3-0 victory over Seton Hall. Prior to that, the last win on senior night came in the 2020-21 season with a 2-1 victory over DePaul. In recent years, Marquette has consistently competed in close matchups on this occasion, continuing a tradition that celebrates the dedication and legacy of its seniors as they take the field for their final home appearance.
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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