Xavier University Athletics
Wednesday, April 1
Cincinnati, Ohio
4:30 p.m.
Xavier University
vs
Butler
Lacrosse Wraps Up Home Stand Against Butler
03.30.26 | Women's Lacrosse
The Musketeers and Bulldogs both look to pick up their first BIG EAST win of the season.
CINCINNATI - The Xavier lacrosse team wraps up its three-game home stand on Wednesday evening against Butler. Both teams are seeking their first BIG EAST win of the 2026 season.
The Musketeers are looking to bounce back after a 10-7 loss to Marquette on Saturday. Genevieve Hathaway and Haley Reeck each scored two goals in the contest.
Butler dropped its BIG EAST opener to No. 20 Denver on Saturday by a score of 14-2. The Bulldogs are currently on a three-game losing streak.
XU beat Butler last season in a thrilling 12-11 overtime win in Indianapolis for the program's first ever BIG EAST win. Megan Droney scored the game-winner less than a minute into the overtime period.
First draw is set for 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Corcoran Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 | 4:30 PM
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
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BIG EAST Preseason Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in ( )
1. Denver (6)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 36 pts.
2. Villanova         28
3. UConn (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 26
4. Georgetown            24
5. Marquette        16
6. Butler            11
7. Xavier            6
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BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^
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BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^
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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^
The Musketeers are looking to bounce back after a 10-7 loss to Marquette on Saturday. Genevieve Hathaway and Haley Reeck each scored two goals in the contest.
Butler dropped its BIG EAST opener to No. 20 Denver on Saturday by a score of 14-2. The Bulldogs are currently on a three-game losing streak.
XU beat Butler last season in a thrilling 12-11 overtime win in Indianapolis for the program's first ever BIG EAST win. Megan Droney scored the game-winner less than a minute into the overtime period.
First draw is set for 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Corcoran Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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game information
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 | 4:30 PM
- Xavier Musketeers (2-10, 0-2Â BIG EAST) vs. Butler Bulldogs (3-8, 0-1 BIG EAST)
- Cincinnati, Ohio // Corcoran Field
- Watch (ESPN+)
- Live Stats
about the musketeers
- Samantha Balara leads the team with 27 points on 21 goals and six assists. The redshirt junior averages 5.42 shots per game, ranking fifth in the BIG EAST.
- Freshman Genevieve Hathaway is second on the team with 12 goals and has scored in the past three straight games.Â
- Jada Brandon ranks 17th in the nation among NCAA goalkeepers for her 95 total saves and also ranks 19th with a .475 save percentage.
- Colby Wasson leads Xavier's defense with a team-high 37 ground balls and 27 caused turnovers. The junior is second in the league for caused turnovers per game (3.08) and third for ground balls per game (2.25).
- Mya Miller has a team-high 18 draw controls followed up by Cameron Yard's 16.
- Xavier's defense ranks 19th in the nation with a combined .475 save percentage. XU is second in the BIG EAST for both ground balls (15.75) and caused turnovers (10.08) per game.
- 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 bulldogs
- Butler was picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST this season after an 0-6 league finish a year ago.
- Junior Riley Ryan leads the team with her 32 points on 17 goals and 15 assists. The attacker has scored in all but one of the Bulldogs' 11 games this season.
- Senior Elise Latham has a team-high 28 goals and ranks fifth in the league for her 2.55 goals per game.
- Olivia DiCarlo averages 1.91 ground balls per game, good for fourth in the BIG EAST.
- Patricia Lynn ranks sixth in the league for her 1.73 caused turnovers per game and eighth with 1.73 ground balls per game.
- Samantha Wilson has played all 11 full games in the cage for the Bulldogs, averaging 7.64Â saves per game to rank third among BIG EAST goalkeepers.
- Butler leads the league with a .415 shot percentage.
- Head coach Maggie Zentgraf is in her fourth season at the helm of Butler lacrosse.Â
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
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big east preseason honors
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in ( )
1. Denver (6)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 36 pts.
2. Villanova         28
3. UConn (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 26
4. Georgetown            24
5. Marquette        16
6. Butler            11
7. Xavier            6
Â
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Olivia Ripple, A, Jr., Denver^
Â
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Abby Beran, D, Jr., UConn^
Â
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^
Players Mentioned
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M/DS
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