The women’s soccer team head to the Valley Fields in Milwaukee tomorrow evening to face No. 13 Marquette. St. John’s will be looking to get back at Marquette after they defeated the Red Storm 3-1 at the Valley Fields on October 3rd.
“To beat Marquette we will have to be mentally tough,” said head coach Ian Stone. “We have to match their relentless energy, but than again we played their earlier in the season and were a goal up and we are better now. But it’s definitely going to be a battle.”
The Red Storm (11-4-3, 4-3-2 Big East) have been playing much better of late and coming into the game against Marquette winning four straight games against Big east opponents. Sophomore forward Rachel Daly has been on a tear all season long, breaking two St. Johns single season records; the single season goals scored record and the single season points record. The Red storm have also got tremendous contributions from the defense, led by freshman keeper Diana Poulin, holding opponents scoreless ten times.
The Golden Eagles (16-3, 9-0 Big East) have had a spectacular season from start to finish, especially in Big East play going 9-0. They are lead by two nationally touted players, senior midfielder Maegan Kelly, who has nine goals and seven assists on the season, and senior defender Emily Jacobson. The defense of the Golden Eagles is just as stout as the Red Storm, with both teams only allowing 16 goals in the regular season.
“I think we need to be confident,” said Miranda Haraughty on Marquette. “We need to work as a team because when we worked as team tonight and in our last game we were able to dominate at some points throughout both games.”
“Marquette is a whole different ballgame,” said Daly. “We know how to break most teams down, but they are a team that is very similar to us actually, but I believe we can do well.”
This game is going to be a tough one for the Red Storm but they are coming into the games with a ton of momentum after a come from behind victory against the Butler Bulldogs and definitely have the scorers and top-notch defense to put away the Golden Eagles.
As for Marquette they need to continue the track they have been as they have won eleven games in a row and have looked almost flawless since late September.
In whatever way this match turns out it’s going to be a tight hard fought game throughout on Friday Nov. 8th at 8pm in Milwaukee.
