Lacrosse Returns to BIG EAST Action Against Marquette

Saturday, March 28

Cincinnati, Ohio

12 p.m.

Xavier University

Marquette

Lacrosse Returns to BIG EAST Action Against Marquette

03.26.26 | Women's Lacrosse

Watch (ESPN+)Live Stats

Xavier looks for its first BIG EAST win of 2026 after a 14-8 loss to Villanova last weekend.

By: Abbey Curtis, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - The Xavier lacrosse team continues its three-game home stand against Marquette on Saturday afternoon. The Musketeers are coming off a 11-10 thriller against Cal on Tuesday night at Corcoran Field.

Samantha Balara led XU's second half rally with four goals against the Golden Bears including the 10th to bring the Musketeers within one in the final minute of the game. The redshirt junior has scored a career-high four goals in three different contests this season including XU's last two outings.

The Musketeer offense combined for a season-high .385 shot percentage and .846 shot on goal percentage against Cal.

Xavier dropped its BIG EAST opener at Villanova last weekend by a score of 14-8. Balara scored a team-high four goals and also tallied three caused turnovers. Colby Wasson, who ranks in the NCAA top-25 for both ground balls and caused turnovers per game, totaled three ground balls and four caused turnovers against the Wildcats.

XU is 2-1 when scoring at least 10 goals in a game this season. The Musketeers have dropped four games by a score of one this year and hold opponents to just 9.45 goals per game.

First draw against the Golden Eagles is set for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday at Corcoran Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

game information

SATURDAY, MARCH 28 | 12:00 PM

Xavier Musketeers (2-9, 0-1 BIG EAST) vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (6-4, 0-1 BIG EAST)
Cincinnati, Ohio // Corcoran Field
Watch (ESPN+)
Live Stats

about the musketeers

Samantha Balara leads the team with 25 points on 20 goals and five assists. She has scored four goals in each of Xavier's last two outings.
Colby Wasson has a team-high 35 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers. The junior ranks second in the BIG EAST for both ground balls (3.18) and caused turnovers (2.18) per game. She also ranks 12th and 23rd in the NCAA for both stats, respectively.
Goalkeeper Jada Brandon maintains a .469 save percentage, good for second in the BIG EAST and 24th in the nation. The Washington native also averages 7.64 saves per game and 9.66 goals against average, ranking in the top-five of the league's goalkeepers.
Megan Droney broke her own school record for single-season assists with her 13th of the year against Cal. The junior has contributed at least two assists in four different games this season and is second on the team with 22 points.
The Musketeer defense averages a league-best 15.82 ground balls and 10.09 caused turnovers per game. Brandon and freshman goalkeeper Riley Ohrel have combined for a .469 team save percentage that ranks 22nd in the nation.
Head coach Brittney Morris picked up her first win as a Division I head coach on Feb. 20 in the 13-6 victory over Mercyhurst. She is in her first season at the helm of Xavier lacrosse after leading Division III St. Mary's College of Maryland to four-straight United East conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
Morris retained 20 players from last year's squad with the addition of five transfers and seven newcomers.
Samantha Balara, Catherine Gurd and Katelyn McDonnell were named the 2026 team captains.

scouting the GOLDEN EAGLES

Marquette was picked to finish fifth in the 2026 BIG EAST Preseason Poll after a 3-3 league finish last year.
The Golden Eagles dropped their BIG EAST opener to No. 23 Georgetown last weekend by a score of 11-10.
MU is coming off a 13-12 win over UC Davis on Monday where Hanna Bodner and Dani Serrano each scored four goals for the Golden Eagles.
Freshman Dani Serrano has earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week three times this season. She leads the team with 46 points on 24 goals and 22 assists.
Tess Osburn ranks third in the league for her 2.80 goals per game and has scored a team-high 28 goals.
Sofia Santana anchors the defense with 17 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers.
Freshman Jillian Howell has started the last seven games in cage for the Golden Eagles, maintaining a .429 save percentage.
Marquette averages 14.00 goals per game and a league-leading 23.10 shots on goal per game.
Head coach Meredith Black is in her 14th season at the helm of Marquette women's lacrosse.

big east weekly honors

Feb. 23 - Genevieve Hathaway - BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Feb. 23 - Samantha Balara - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
March 9 - Maya Graham - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll

big east preseason honors

BIG EAST Preseason Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in ( )
1. Denver (6) 36 pts.
2. Villanova 28
3. UConn (1) 26
4. Georgetown 24
5. Marquette 16
6. Butler 11
7. Xavier 6

BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^

BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team *
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^
Rayea Davis, A, R-Sr., UConn^
Alex Dorr, DS, R-So., Denver^
Lexi Gwaku, GK, So. Denver
Megan Klingenberg, Sr., D- Denver^
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^
Gracie Driggs, A, Sr., Georgetown^
Sophia Loschert, A, So., Georgetown
Kendall Steer, D, Sr., Georgetown
Hanna Bodner, M, Gr., Marquette^
Lauren Grady, M, Jr., Marquette
Tess Osburn, A, Sr., Marquette^
Mary Velner, D, Jr., Marquette
Rose Christie, M, Jr., Villanova^
Leslie Iorio, M, So., Villanova
Elena Torres, A, R-Jr., Villanova^
Emma Verhoest, DS, Jr., Villanova^