(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) The Marquette University women’s soccer team (3-6-2, 0-1-0 BIG EAST) opened BIG EAST Conference play with a 1-0 setback at Butler (6-2-1, 1-0-0 BIG EAST) on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday’s action marked the official start of Marquette’s 20th season in the BIG EAST Conference.
The Golden Eagles fell behind 1-0 in the opening 10 minutes of action after the Bulldogs headed home their second corner-kick opportunity of the contest. Netminder Eise Krone kept MU withing striking distance at the intermission with a career-best matching seven saves in the opening 45 minutes.
Krone finished the match with a personal-high nine stops. Butler concluded the afternoon with a 17-5 advantage in shots, including a 10-1 margin on goal, and Marquette wasn’t able to create the equalizer prior to the conclusion of regulation.
“We were certainly hoping for a bit more out of our BIG EAST opener,” head coach Chris Allen said. “We had limited attacking opportunities, zero corner kicks, easily conceded possession, a set piece goal against us and uncharacteristic spacing issues from our center backs.
“From a positive standpoint, despite not having a very good game from our perspective, we were still in it enough to keep ourselves in the game late against a very good Butler team thanks in large part to Elise Krone’s ability to manage the space behind our back line and make come critical saves. “Our issues are all correctable, so I’m excited for a full week of practice prior to hosting Creighton on Sunday.”
NOTES
- Elise Krone returned to the starting lineup in goal for the first time at Western Michigan on Aug. 25
- Marquette is now 13-7 all-time in BIG EAST openers
- Krone’s 10 saves are the 10th-highest single-game total in program history
UP NEXT
The Golden Eagles continue BIG EAST Conference play on Sunday, Sept. 29 when the team hosts Creighton for a 1 p.m. CT match at Valley Fields.
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