(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University women’s lacrosse team used a dominant second half to surge past Central Michigan, 19–6, on Friday evening inside the Valley Fields Dome.
Dani Serrano fueled the attack with MU freshman-record nine points (six goals, three assists), including four goals during a decisive third quarter in which Marquette outscored Central Michigan 7-0. Tess Osburn added five goals for her third straight game of 4+ goals, and Eileen Dooley and Hanna Bodner each scored twice. Goalkeepers Mikayla Yang and Jillian Howell combined for seven saves in the win as the Golden Eagles improved to 3-0 for the second straight season.
Marquette outshot Central Michigan 36-21, forced 21 turnovers and finished with a 20-8 advantage on ground balls. Sofia Santana, Mary Velner, and Emily Couri each caused three turnovers for the MU defense.
Marquette opened the game with five goals in the first quarter, getting scoring from Riley Jenkins, CJ Meehan, Bodner, Serrano and Osburn. Central Michigan answered with three goals in the final minutes of the quarter to pull within 5-3, but Marquette held the Chippewas to just three goals over the final three periods.
Dooley scored twice in the second quarter to extend the Golden Eagles’ lead before Central Michigan cut the margin to 7–5 late in the half. From there, Marquette took control, as Serrano scored four straight goals in the middle of the third quarter broke the game open, with Bodner adding another to make it 14-5 heading to the fourth.
Osburn added two more goals in the final period, while Mckenna Farrell and Couri also scored to cap the 19‑goal performance.
UP NEXT
Marquette will kick off a four-game road trip and head away from Valley Fields for the first time in 2026 next week. The Golden Eagles travel to Evanston, Ill. to take on Northwestern next Friday, Feb. 20. Opening draw is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
NOTABLES
- Marquette improved to 3-0 for the second-straight season.
- Marquette’s offense has scored 56 goals through the first three games of 2026, the second-largest mark through three games in program history (57 goals in 2023).
- Freshman Dani Serrano tallied nine points (six goals, three assists), the most in a game by an MU freshman and tied for the third-most in a game in program history.
- Tess Osburn posted a season‑high five goals, recording a season-best nine shots, the most of any MU player this season.
- Eileen Dooley scored two goals, including the game‑winner, which were her first of the season.
- Marquette committed a season‑low eight turnovers, tying the program record for fewest in a game.
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